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Online Retail Behemoth’s Monopolistic Tactics Under Fire; RedCloud’s AI-Powered Platform Empowers SMBs

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Amid accusations of monopolistic practices against Amazon by the FTC and 17 state attorneys general, Justin Floyd, CEO of RedCloud®, introduces Open Commerce as a revolutionary alternative. RedCloud’s AI-powered platform empowers small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) with instant inventory visibility, reducing inefficiencies, and preventing counterfeit goods. Floyd criticizes traditional eCommerce as predatory and calls for a transparent trading system to promote fairness and growth, positioning Open Commerce as a game-changer in online retail.

LONDON, June 10, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — According to Google, a monopoly is “the exclusive possession or control of the supply of or trade in a commodity or service.” In September 2023, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and 17 state attorneys general concluded that Amazon, the world’s largest online retailer, fits that bill, alleging in a lawsuit that Amazon is a monopolist that employs anti-competitive and unfair methods to perpetuate its supremacy in the eCommerce domain illegally. (1) Justin Floyd, Founder and CEO of RedCloud, observes, “In the current eCommerce climate, it seems as if there is no real viable alternative to Amazon. But there is: Open Commerce, which is poised to unseat eCommerce as the best way for online retailers to do business. The second generation of eCommerce is here, and it’s time to set this retail revolution in motion.”    

“In the current eCommerce climate, it seems as if there is no real viable alternative to Amazon. But there is: Open Commerce, which is poised to unseat eCommerce as the best way for online retailers to do business.”

The world needs an open and transparent trading system that unlocks the supply chain and empowers businesses to grow and flourish. That system is Open Commerce. RedCloud is on a mission to democratize the way online retail is done. RedCloud’s AI-powered platform cuts through the chaos by providing millions of small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) with instant visibility of their inventory, helping to resolve inefficiencies and identify and prevent counterfeit goods from entering the supply chain.

Among the FTC’s allegations against the retail giant is Amazon’s “exclusionary conduct” that stifles the growth of current and emerging competitors with “punitive and coercive tactics” and “preventing its current or future rivals from attracting a critical mass of shoppers and sellers.” (1) Third-party sellers, primarily small and medium-sized businesses, are responsible for 60% of Amazon’s total sales. (2) Third-party sellers are Amazon’s most valuable commodity; however, a survey by Marketplace Pulse reports that Amazon siphons off 50% of all third-party sales—a 15% referral fee, a 20% to 35% Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) fee, and up to 15% for advertising and promotions. (3)

Then there’s “Project Nessie,” an algorithm deployed by Amazon to control pricing. Nessie identified profitable products and raised their prices, encouraging other online retailers to do the same, inflating consumer spend. According to the FTC, Nessie generated over $1 billion in excess profits for Amazon. (4) The FTC lawsuit also points to Amazon’s “anti-discounting strategy” that punishes third-party sellers if they offer lower prices by dropping them so far down the search results hierarchy that they essentially disappear into oblivion. (1)

Reuters examined a trove of Amazon’s documents, including emails, strategy papers, and business plans, revealing a corporate strategy to create knockoffs of its competitors’ products. The internal documents showed that Amazon studied the proprietary data of other brands on its site to identify and copy products as a “reference” or “benchmark.” They replicated the products and then rigged search results to steer consumers to Amazon’s private brands. (5)

Another issue is the proliferation of counterfeit items on Amazon’s platform, which reportedly comprises up to 60% of its products. (6) One study analyzed a whopping 33.5 million reviews for Amazon’s bestselling products and found that 43% of them were fake. (7) Social media influencers can earn over $2,000 per month through Amazon Vine or the Amazon Influencer Program to review and recommend products. (8)
Floyd contends, “Amazon creates an artificial economy for consumers. Its lack of transparency creates an illusion of what it means to shop online. By not providing accurate information, people frequently must buy the same item three times over until they get what they were looking for in the first place. And despite the massive number of products available, consumers actually have fewer choices because they are Amazon’s choices.”

There is a common misconception that most third-party sellers owe their existence solely to Amazon, and there is some truth to that within the framework of traditional eCommerce. However, industry giants are not immune to shifts in consumer behavior. Blockbuster Video, once the unquestioned leader in at-home entertainment, was done in by the convenience, choice, and instant gratification of on-demand streaming services.
Traditional eCommerce is predatory and controlling, solely benefitting big-tech providers who own all the data and try to own the entire supply chain. This centralized model is eradicating small businesses by restricting access to the tools needed to drive growth.

Floyd explains, “Third-party sellers are two million strong. Imagine amassing that strength to turn the tables. It’s all about purchasing power. If you get the purchasing right, then the selling takes care of itself. Open Commerce grants SMBs more autonomy and freedom to engage with trusted trading partners who provide authentic, top-quality products, leveling the playing field of online trade.”

RedCloud’s Intelligent Open Commerce Platform™ gives SMBs the keys to the eCommerce kingdom.

About RedCloud    
RedCloud Technology, founded in 2012, stands as a “Rebel Alliance,” leading a bold, second-generation e-commerce transformation. Rejecting the high fees of tech giants, RedCloud leverages AI-driven supply chain solutions to empower smaller businesses, giving them the tools to compete with major corporations. Their democratized, cloud-based platform provides real-time financial visibility, offering a level playing field that breaks free from the dominance of conventional marketplaces. RedCloud embodies a fairer, more inclusive digital commerce future where Davids can stand tall against Goliaths. For more about RedCloud Technology visit their website at https://redcloudtechnology.com/.

References:

Staff in the Office of Technology and The Division of Privacy and Identity Protection. “FTC Sues Amazon for Illegally Maintaining Monopoly Power.” Federal Trade Commission, 5 Dec. 2023, ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2023/09/ftc-sues-amazon-illegally-maintaining-monopoly-power.Pymnts. “Amazon Says Third-Party Sellers Drive 60% of eCommerce Sales.” PYMNTS.Com, 24 May 2023, pymnts.com/amazon/2023/amazon-independent-sellers-make-up-60percent-of-ecommerce-sales/.Amazon Is Taking Half of Third-Party Seller Revenue – Thestreet, thestreet.com/investing/heres-how-much-amazon-takes-from-every-third-party-sale. Accessed 15 May 2024.Press, Associated. “Amazon Used an Algorithm to Essentially Raise Prices on Other Sites, FTC Says.” Maryland Daily Record, 2 Nov. 2023, thedailyrecord.com/2023/11/02/amazon-used-algorithm-to-secretly-raise-prices-and-destroyed-internal-messages-ftc-says/#:~:text=Amazon%20used%20a%20secret%20algorithm,against%20the%20e%2Dcommerce%20giantAmazon Copied Products and Rigged Search Results, Documents Show, reuters.com/investigates/special-report/amazon-india-rigging/. Accessed 15 May 2024.Sravanthi Munagapati Sravanthi works as a Marketing Manager at SellerApp. She helped successful D2C brands launch. “A Quick Guide on Amazon Counterfeit Products 2023.” SellerApp Blog, 26 Oct. 2023, sellerapp.com/blog/amazon-counterfeit-products/.Millions of Amazon Reviews Fake, Study Finds | Cybernews, cybernews.com/security/millions-amazon-reviews-fake/. Accessed 15 May 2024.Loper, Nick. “7 Real Ways to Get Paid for Amazon Reviews in 2024: $2000+/Mo.” Side Hustle Nation, 15 Mar. 2024, sidehustlenation.com/get-paid-for-amazon-reviews/.

Media Inquiries:
Karla Jo Helms
JOTO PR™
727-777-4619
jotopr.com

Media Contact

Karla Jo Helms, JOTO PR™, 727-777-4629, khelms@jotopr.com, jotopr.com

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SOURCE RedCloud 

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Regulators and audit leaders discuss audit quality and confidence in Canada’s financial reporting

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OTTAWA, ON, May 4, 2026 /CNW/ – Last week, the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI), together with the Canadian Public Accountability Board (CPAB) and the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) co-hosted a roundtable that brought together senior representatives from audit firms, accounting professional bodies, standard setters, and regulators.

The event provided an opportunity for participants to share perspectives on risks affecting audit quality and the importance of high-quality financial statement audits to maintaining Canada’s trusted and credible capital markets. The dialogue focused on emerging trends, the evolving risk environment, and ways to strengthen public confidence in financial reporting.

Topics discussed this year included:

Current and emerging risks and their implications for audit quality.Rapid technological developments, including Artificial Intelligence (AI).Governance, culture, and ethics within audit firms and across the reporting ecosystem.Fraud risks linked to financial crimes, geopolitical tensions, technological change, and third-party reliance.Expectations and challenges in auditing and assessing financial statement disclosures in a volatile environment.

The roundtable underscored the importance of continued collaboration between regulators and the audit profession to support high-quality audits and maintain public trust in financial reporting across the Canadian capital markets.

Key takeaways

Canada’s financial system remains resilient, but a more complex and dynamic risk environment makes it essential to identify and prioritize the current and emerging risks that matter most.External auditors play an essential role in maintaining integrity, trust, and confidence in financial reporting, particularly amid heightened uncertainty and expanding volumes of information.Regulatory coordination and clear guidance in relation to current and emerging risks help reduce regulatory overlap, promote strong risk management, and lay the groundwork for sustainable growth.Technology is advancing quickly. Areas like AI are changing how decisions are made–creating both opportunities and new risks. Regulators continue to modernize their approaches to keep pace, and audit firms are rapidly adopting new technologies that can enhance audit quality while keeping a high level of skepticism.Gaps in governance, culture, and ethics can lead to breaches in trust in any organization. Given that auditors play a key gatekeeper role, strong oversight, clear accountability, and ethical judgment are essential.As fraud becomes more sophisticated, organizations need to strengthen prevention and detection strategies. With management leading prevention efforts, and regulators and auditors applying a risk-focused lens, technology provides an opportunity to strengthen defences.Financial statement disclosures, particularly those involving estimates, judgments and uncertainty, remain an area where improvements are needed. Auditors play an important role in challenging the clarity and robustness of these disclosures to support better decision-making and reinforce market confidence.

Quotes

“High quality audits are essential to financial system resilience. As risks evolve, from technology to geopolitics to market uncertainty, strong collaboration between regulators and audit professionals helps ensure Canadians can continue to rely on transparent and trustworthy financial reporting.”

– Peter Routledge, Superintendent of Financial Institutions

“Strong audit quality depends on continuous dialogue and a shared understanding across the regulatory and audit ecosystem. Forums like this roundtable help ensure CPAB’s work remains responsive to emerging risks while staying firmly anchored in our mandate to protect investors and support confidence in Canada’s capital markets.”

– Sonny Randhawa, CEO, Canadian Public Accountability Board

“Today’s roundtable serves as an important forum for collaboration, enabling the CSA and the accounting profession to exchange views on emerging risks and further strengthen confidence in Canada’s capital markets. The CSA appreciates the significant collaboration with audit firms, other regulatory agencies, standard setters and professional bodies to date, and we look forward to building on this strong foundation.”

– Stan Magidson, Chair of the Canadian Securities Administrators

SOURCE Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions

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All-in-One, AI-Powered Fleet Innovations Unveiled at Annual Lytx Protect Conference

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Next-Generation Fleet Management Solutions Unify AI with Best-In-Class Telematics, Video Safety, and Operational Insights

SAN DIEGO, May 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Lytx® Inc., the industry pioneer of video and safety-driven efficiency, has introduced a suite of integrated technologies designed to transform fleet operations. Announced at the Lytx Protect Conference®, Lytx’s annual customer conference, the new solutions set a new benchmark for all-in-one platforms that empower fleets to achieve clarity, control, and actionable results. Highlighted at the event, LytxOne™ joins Lytx+™ as two all-in-one solutions built to deliver industry-leading video safety and telematics with equal depth, intelligence, and integrity.

“LytxOne is a purpose-built platform designed from the ground up,” said Chris Cabrera, Chief Executive Officer at Lytx. “We created a unified architecture where video safety, telematics, maintenance, compliance, and asset tracking work seamlessly together. We’re deeply committed to providing our customers with multiple all-in-one pathways that deliver a new standard for fleet technology, transforming operational complexity into total clarity and scalable control for fleets of every size.”

All-in-One Platforms
Developed as an all-in-one solution, LytxOne merges video safety, telematics, maintenance, compliance, and asset tracking into a single platform. No more juggling fragmented systems – the new solution delivers simplicity, scalability, and direct access to essential tools for fleets of any size. LytxOne is currently available for purchase through direct and reseller partner channels, with Lytx’s Driver Safety Program to be integrated in Q3/Q4 2026.

Launched in 2025, Lytx+ provides fleets with another innovative, all-in-one fleet management solution powered by video. It combines award-winning video safety features with leading telematics technology, removing the need for multiple systems or vendors.

Also announced at Protect ’26, Lytx is further expanding its all-in-one footprint through a new collaboration with Platform Science. The integration brings Lytx’s video technology to Platform Science’s Virtual Vehicle, connecting drivers, solutions, data, and devices into a single system built for enterprise trucking.

Supporting each of the all-in-one platforms, the Lytx AI Assistant is designed to transform safety, maintenance, and compliance data into concise, actionable insights as needed. Users no longer need to search through reports or wait for data to be retrieved. Currently in beta with select customers, the AI Assistant synthesizes fleet information, enabling organizations to make timely and well-informed decisions.

AI-Powered Visibility
Bringing intelligence to every angle, Auxiliary Cameras and Lytx’s 360 Hub Kit integrate up to eight HD views across sides, rear, cargo, and blind zones. All footage is cloud-synced and enhanced with AI for instant detection and response to safety events, empowering operators to more closely monitor and protect their assets, vehicles, and worksites. The Lytx 360 Hub Kit will be available in Q3 2026.

With planned support for fixed-site cameras at yards, job sites, and facilities coming in Q1 2027, Lytx extends its all-in-one AI-powered platform beyond vehicles, providing operators with a unified view of moving and stationary assets. More details will be revealed closer to launch, highlighting Lytx’s commitment to enabling true operational unity.

Unified Asset Management
Lytx introduces a comprehensive, platform-native asset tracking portfolio that offers battery-powered and vehicle-powered trackers for a wide range of fleet assets, including forklifts, loaders, trailers, containers, and other high-value equipment. Designed to provide real-time visibility and insights, these trackers enable fleets to efficiently locate, utilize, and protect their assets, with all data seamlessly integrated into dashboards for unified operational management. Several options are available now, with more planned for release throughout 2026.

“At Lytx, we’re redefining fleet management by unifying advanced AI and all-in-one architecture to deliver unmatched clarity, control, and operational insight,” said Cabrera. “From the launch of LytxOne, to AI-powered safety innovations, to integrated asset tracking, our purpose-built solutions empower fleets of every size to simplify complexity, anticipate risk, and connect their people and assets like never before.”

About Lytx
Every day, companies send their most valuable assets into the world. Their people. Their equipment. Their reputations. For nearly three decades, Lytx has given fleets the tools to manage and protect all the assets they have in motion — helping them stay connected with their field operations so they can focus on delivering value and growing their businesses. Using proprietary machine vision and artificial intelligence technology to power our video safety and video telematics solutions, Lytx helps protect and connect more than 6.3 million drivers and thousands of fleets, including more than half of the 10 largest carriers in North America. Lytx’s powerful network of partners and resellers further extends the reach and impact of our technologies across more than 90 countries. For more information about Lytx or to connect with us, visit www.lytx.com, LinkedIn@lytx on X, Facebook or YouTube.

Contact:
Jason Andersen
press@lytx.com 

 

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SOURCE Lytx, Inc.

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Fractal EMS Cuts Pricing and Streamlines Contracting to Help Developers Move Faster

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New “Customer-First Pricing” and “Rapid Contracting” make it easier than ever to deploy the industry’s leading EMS platform.

AUSTIN, Texas, May 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Fractal EMS, the market leader in front-of-the-meter solar, BESS, and data center EMS and SCADA, today announced two major customer-focused improvements: meaningfully reduced pricing across its product portfolio and a streamlined contracting process designed to shorten the path from award to notice-to-proceed. Together, the changes are intended to lower the total cost and complexity of deploying projects at a moment when developers, IPPs, and utilities are racing to bring gigawatts of new capacity online.

What’s Changing for Customers
1) Lower Pricing: Fractal EMS has reduced pricing by up to 25%, with additional volume-based discounts for portfolio customers. Through a strategic combination of supply chain optimization and breakthroughs in control architecture, Fractal EMS has unlocked efficiencies that position Fractal as the market’s price leader. These technical and operational advancements enable Fractal to deliver a premium, high-performance platform at the industry’s most competitive price point, maximizing profitability for our partners without compromising on quality or security.

2) Streamlined Contracting: The new contract is less than 50% in length. Working directly with customer legal and procurement teams, Fractal has consolidated its agreement, scope of work, and warranty terms into a single, plain-language package. The combined effect is straightforward: less time spent in red lines and procurement cycles, more time spent commissioning megawatts.

“Our customers told us two things very clearly: bring the price down and make it easier to do business with you. So, we did both. We rebuilt our pricing from the ground up, and we tore up the old contracts in favor of something a customer can read in an afternoon. The goal is simple – make Fractal the lowest-friction way to put a high-performance, U.S.-made EMS on a project.” – Daniel Crotzer, CEO, Fractal EMS

3) New “A La Carte” Flexible Scope: While remaining the only provider capable of delivering full, turnkey vertical controls, Fractal EMS is introducing a flexible, A La Carte approach. Partners can now select a core EMS offering or customize the scope by choosing from: networking, BMS, SCADA, PPC/MPC, cybersecurity, analytics, and monitoring. This modularity ensures that Fractal EMS can integrate seamlessly into any project configuration and be the best partner for OEMs and EPC providers.

4) Global Partnerships: Fractal EMS continues to expand its global footprint, having successfully deployed 15+ GW of advanced control solutions across Europe, South America, Australia, Canada, and the United States. We are actively seeking to forge lasting, high-impact partnerships with utilities, developers/IPPs, suppliers, and EPCs who require bankable performance and seamless integration. At the core of every collaboration is a deep commitment to customer success and long-term reliability, ensuring that our partners’ critical energy assets operate with maximum uptime and security, regardless of geography or grid complexity.

These changes also reinforce Fractal’s open, multi-OEM approach. Because Fractal’s controls work across battery and PCS suppliers, customers can adopt the new pricing, contracting, and scoping framework without changing the rest of their project stack — and without sacrificing cybersecurity, U.S.-made hardware, and investment-grade controls that have made Fractal the choice for utility-scale developers.

Availability
The new pricing and streamlined contracting framework are effective immediately for all new requests and are being offered to existing customers on a project-by-project basis. Customers and prospective customers can request the updated pricing sheet and master agreement template at fractalems.com or by contacting their Fractal account representative.

About Fractal EMS
Fractal EMS delivers a comprehensive, fully integrated energy management and SCADA platform that combines advanced software, hardware controllers, seamless system integration, robust cybersecurity, and powerful analytics for storage, solar, hybrid, and data center projects. Supported by a 24/7 remote operations center (NERC-CIP Medium), Fractal EMS offers hardware-agnostic, turnkey controls across BMS, EMS/PPC, MPC, and SCADA—all unified on a single, flexible, and scalable architecture. Fractal EMS confirms that its control hardware meets Non-Prohibited Foreign Entity (Non-PFE/FEOC) and domestic designations. This ensures that projects utilizing Fractal EMS are fully compliant with the latest federal requirements and domestic content incentives. For more information, visit www.fractalems.com.

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SOURCE Fractal EMS Inc.

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