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RedCloud Revolutionizes E-Commerce, Reducing SMBs’ Dependency on Giant Fulfilment Ecosystem

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2 years ago

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Despite initial hopes for equitable e-commerce, many small businesses now face operational and financial challenges within restrictive ecosystems dominated by major players. Justin Floyd, CEO of RedCloud, advocates for Open Commerce technologies that empower SMBs and FMCG sellers to reclaim control over pricing, inventory, and fulfillment, fostering a healthier and more competitive digital marketplace.

LONDON, Nov. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — According to a recent survey, 91% of small business face operational challenges and 93% struggle with financial difficulties, primarily due to inflation, rising cost of goods, services and wages. (1) Major e-commerce giants —controlling over 37.6% of the market— have leveraged their dominance to impose rules that place smaller players at a disadvantage. (2) The promises of e-commerce as an equalizer have failed, with small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) and distributors increasingly challenged in navigating these dominant platforms. “Restricted access to quality inventory, shrinking margins, and heavy reliance on third-party fulfillment services have pushed many to rethink their strategies”, points out Justin Floyd, Founder and CEO of RedCloud. “The first generation of e-commerce was supposed to bring us a world in which we had more choice, more convenience, lower pricing. That’s not happening.”

“Open Commerce technologies empower SMBs to control pricing, inventory, and fulfillment independently, breaking free from restrictive ecosystems. ‘We create a better market for everyone, lifting all boats,’ says Justin Floyd, CEO of RedCloud.”

E-Commerce Under Siege: Rising Counterfeits and Customer Discontent
Data indicates that the current e-commerce landscape is contributing to several significant issues:

Decline in product Quality and “Junkification”: The internet is flooded with countless identical products featuring the same photos but listed under different names and prices. (3) Third-party sellers are purchasing generic items from manufacturers, rebranding them, and listing them at inflated prices. These listings are often accompanied by generic or fake reviews, misleading consumers into believing they are legitimate user-approved products.Increased Counterfeits: Over 7 million counterfeit products were identified and disposed of in 2023, an increase of one million compared to the previous year. (4) These counterfeits range from luxury bags covered in cadmium paint to makeup containing harmful levels of aluminum or bacteria, both of which can cause rashes, eye infections, and allergic reactions. (5)Customer dissatisfaction: Reports indicate a decline in U.S. customer satisfaction with the largest traditional e-commerce retailer, as shown by the American Customer Satisfaction Index, which monitors over 400 major companies. The retailer’s score fell to 83 out of 100, down from its peak of 88 in 2013. (6)

Squeezing Every Penny with Restrictive Pricing
One of the most harmful practices is exploitative, restrictive pricing, where e-commerce giant’s pressure smaller sellers into restrictive pricing agreements. Retailers must adhere to these agreements, dictating prices they can charge, which often results in razor-thin margins.
Businesses are cornered into accepting lower profitability just to maintain their presence on these platforms. Their algorithm reinforces this by applying incentives or penalties based on how well sellers maintain their stock levels.
This is especially damaging for FMCG sellers, who already operate on thin margins. Any inventory disruptions lead to penalties, further squeezing profits in a fast-paced e-commerce environment.

Additionally, many sellers face restrictions on their ability to sell the same products on competing platforms or through their own websites, being penalized for offering lower prices elsewhere, effectively cornering businesses into relying on them as their primary sales channel at unprofitable terms. (7) “This system forces suppliers to comply, even if it requires offering products at a loss elsewhere to maintain high rankings on the platform”, points out Floyd.

Locked into Fulfilment Services and Inventory Control
Many small businesses depend on these e-commerce platforms not just for selling but also for fulfillment services, such as warehousing, shipping, and customer support. This creates an unhealthy reliance on these platforms because businesses become locked into their ecosystems.
They rely heavily on search engine rankings on the platform’s marketplace and pay fees for every service, often reducing profit margins to nearly unsustainable levels. If they don’t comply with the platform’s pricing or policies, they risk being de-prioritized in search results or penalized in other ways. (7)

Adding to this, inventory control has become another major obstacle. Even when SMBs manage to source inventory from alternative channels, e-commerce platforms may reject it if it doesn’t meet their stringent requirements.
This creates a bottleneck that prevents businesses from diversifying their supply chains or operating independently from the platform. As Floyd notes “Sellers find themselves caught in this complete crossfire. They are forced to buy from the giant’s platform with anti-competitive pricing, restrictive access to quality inventory, and locked into their distribution capabilities. It’s completely one sided.”

A vision for the future
E-commerce doesn’t have to be monopolized by a few giants, disruptive technologies like Open Commerce can reshape the landscape. Open Commerce platforms, such as RedCloud, can empower small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) to break free from restrictive ecosystems, giving them control over their pricing, inventory, and fulfillment processes.
By decentralizing the digital marketplace, these platforms enable businesses to regain autonomy and avoid the pitfalls of excessive pricing and dependency on third-party services. Floyd highlights: “That’s what Open Commerce stands for: we create a much more accessible and better market for everybody, and when we do that, all the boats rise together. Small businesses are empowered with the tools that they could have only dreamed of 20 years ago.”

About RedCloud    
Based in London, UK, RedCloud Technology was founded in 2014 and stands as a “Rebel Alliance,” leading a bold, second-generation e-commerce transformation. Rejecting the high fees of tech giants, RedCloud leverages AI-enabled supply chain solutions to empower smaller businesses to compete with major corporations. Their democratized, platform provides 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. Visit https://redcloudtechnology.com/.

References:
1.    Corcoran, Emily Wavering , et al. “2023 Report on Employer Firms: Findings from the 2022 Small Business Credit Survey.” Small Business Credit Survey (SBCS), 8 Mar. 2023, https://doi.org/10.55350/sbcs-20230308. Accessed 22 Oct. 2024.
2.    Chevalier, Stephanie. “U.S. Leading E-Retailers by Market Share 2023 | Statista.” Statista, Statista, 22 May 2024, http://www.statista.com/statistics/274255/market-share-of-the-leading-retailers-in-us-e-commerce/.
3.    Herrman, John. “Why Does It Feel like Amazon Is Making Itself Worse?” Intelligencer, 30 Jan. 2023, nymag.com/intelligencer/2023/01/why-does-it-feel-like-amazon-is-making-itself-worse.html.
4.    Amazon. Brand Protection Report. Mar. 2024. https://brandservices.amazon.com/progressreport
5.    Steele, Chandra. “The Ugly Truth about Amazon Beauty.” PCMAG, PCMag, 17 Sept. 2019, http://www.pcmag.com/opinions/the-ugly-truth-about-amazon-beauty. Accessed 21 Oct. 2024.
6.    Coppola, Daniela. “U.S. Customer Satisfaction with Amazon.com from 2000 to 2024.” Statista, http://www.statista.com, 18 Sept. 2024, http://www.statista.com/statistics/185788/us-customer-satisfaction-with-amazon/.
7.    Dudley, Renee. “The Amazon Lockdown: How an Unforgiving Algorithm Drives Suppliers to Favor the E-Commerce Giant over Other Retailers.” ProPublica, 26 Apr. 2020, http://www.propublica.org/article/the-amazon-lockdown-how-an-unforgiving-algorithm-drives-suppliers-to-favor-the-e-commerce-giant-over-other-retailers.

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Air Products to Expand Integrated Gas Supply Network for Semiconductor Manufacturer in Taiwan

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23 minutes ago

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July 22, 2026

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New investment to support next-generation facility expansion

TAIPEI, July 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Air Products (NYSE:APD), a world-leading industrial gases company, today announced Air Products San Fu has been awarded a long-term agreement to support a semiconductor manufacturer’s expansion in Taiwan. The project will supply multiple new semiconductor fabs and back-end packaging facilities, supporting growing demand driven by artificial intelligence and high-performance computing.

Air Products San Fu will build, own, and operate four large state-of-the-art air separation units and bulk gas supply systems with new underground pipeline systems. The company will supply a range of industrial gases, including nitrogen, oxygen, argon, and helium to support the customer’s semiconductor operations.

The new underground pipeline systems will be connected to Air Products’ existing pipeline network in Taiwan, further enhancing supply reliability, operational efficiency, and resilience.  

“Air Products is honored to be selected by our strategic customer to support their continued growth, building on our proven track record and strong long-term partnership,” said Paul Yang, President, Air Products San Fu. “This project further reinforces our role as a trusted supplier in Taiwan and reflects our long-term commitment to grow with our customers. It also underscores our world-class performance in safety, reliability and operational excellence, which are critical to meeting the increasingly demanding requirements of the electronics industry.”

Air Products has been serving the Taiwan market through Air Products San Fu for more than 70 years and has established leading supply positions across key science parks with extensive pipeline networks. The company operates one of the world’s largest ultra-high purity nitrogen pipeline systems in Southern Taiwan and is the first gas company in Taiwan awarded ISO9002 and ISO14000 certifications. 

This latest project further strengthens Air Products’ integrated supply footprint across both front-end semiconductor manufacturing and back-end advanced packaging, reinforcing its position as a key supplier to the electronics industry in Taiwan.

Air Products has served the global electronics industry for more than 40 years, supplying industrial gases safely and reliably to many of the world’s leading technology companies.

About Air Products

Air Products (NYSE: APD) is a world-leading industrial gases company in operation for over 85 years focused on serving energy, environmental, and emerging markets and generating a cleaner future. The Company supplies essential industrial gases, related equipment and applications expertise to customers in dozens of industries, including refining, chemicals, metals, electronics, manufacturing, medical and food. As the leading global hydrogen supplier, Air Products develops, engineers, builds, owns and operates some of the world’s largest hydrogen projects. Through its sale of equipment businesses, the Company also provides turbomachinery, membrane systems and cryogenic containers globally.

Air Products had fiscal 2025 sales of $12 billion from operations in approximately 50 countries. For more information, visit airproducts.com or follow us on LinkedIn, X, Facebook or Instagram.

This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s expectations and assumptions as of the date of this release and are not guarantees of future performance. While forward-looking statements are made in good faith and based on assumptions, expectations and projections that management believes are reasonable based on currently available information, actual performance and financial results may differ materially from projections and estimates expressed in the forward-looking statements because of many factors, including the risk factors described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2025 and other factors disclosed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by law, we disclaim any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the assumptions, beliefs or expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances upon which any such forward-looking statements are based.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/air-products-to-expand-integrated-gas-supply-network-for-semiconductor-manufacturer-in-taiwan-302831489.html

SOURCE Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.

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Air Products to Expand Integrated Gas Supply Network for Semiconductor Manufacturer in Taiwan

Published

23 minutes ago

on

July 22, 2026

By

New investment to support next-generation facility expansion

TAIPEI, July 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Air Products (NYSE:APD), a world-leading industrial gases company, today announced Air Products San Fu has been awarded a long-term agreement to support a semiconductor manufacturer’s expansion in Taiwan. The project will supply multiple new semiconductor fabs and back-end packaging facilities, supporting growing demand driven by artificial intelligence and high-performance computing.

Air Products San Fu will build, own, and operate four large state-of-the-art air separation units and bulk gas supply systems with new underground pipeline systems. The company will supply a range of industrial gases, including nitrogen, oxygen, argon, and helium to support the customer’s semiconductor operations.

The new underground pipeline systems will be connected to Air Products’ existing pipeline network in Taiwan, further enhancing supply reliability, operational efficiency, and resilience.  

“Air Products is honored to be selected by our strategic customer to support their continued growth, building on our proven track record and strong long-term partnership,” said Paul Yang, President, Air Products San Fu. “This project further reinforces our role as a trusted supplier in Taiwan and reflects our long-term commitment to grow with our customers. It also underscores our world-class performance in safety, reliability and operational excellence, which are critical to meeting the increasingly demanding requirements of the electronics industry.”

Air Products has been serving the Taiwan market through Air Products San Fu for more than 70 years and has established leading supply positions across key science parks with extensive pipeline networks. The company operates one of the world’s largest ultra-high purity nitrogen pipeline systems in Southern Taiwan and is the first gas company in Taiwan awarded ISO9002 and ISO14000 certifications. 

This latest project further strengthens Air Products’ integrated supply footprint across both front-end semiconductor manufacturing and back-end advanced packaging, reinforcing its position as a key supplier to the electronics industry in Taiwan.

Air Products has served the global electronics industry for more than 40 years, supplying industrial gases safely and reliably to many of the world’s leading technology companies.

About Air Products

Air Products (NYSE: APD) is a world-leading industrial gases company in operation for over 85 years focused on serving energy, environmental, and emerging markets and generating a cleaner future. The Company supplies essential industrial gases, related equipment and applications expertise to customers in dozens of industries, including refining, chemicals, metals, electronics, manufacturing, medical and food. As the leading global hydrogen supplier, Air Products develops, engineers, builds, owns and operates some of the world’s largest hydrogen projects. Through its sale of equipment businesses, the Company also provides turbomachinery, membrane systems and cryogenic containers globally.

Air Products had fiscal 2025 sales of $12 billion from operations in approximately 50 countries. For more information, visit airproducts.com or follow us on LinkedIn, X, Facebook or Instagram.

This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s expectations and assumptions as of the date of this release and are not guarantees of future performance. While forward-looking statements are made in good faith and based on assumptions, expectations and projections that management believes are reasonable based on currently available information, actual performance and financial results may differ materially from projections and estimates expressed in the forward-looking statements because of many factors, including the risk factors described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2025 and other factors disclosed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by law, we disclaim any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the assumptions, beliefs or expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances upon which any such forward-looking statements are based.

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SOURCE Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.

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UOB partners Visa to launch new Visa Infinite tiers across ASEAN in landmark multi-market launch of such scale

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23 minutes ago

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July 22, 2026

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More than 300,000 cardholders will enjoy expanded suite of premium benefits as UOB strengthens its regional leadership in premium payment solutions.

SINGAPORE, July 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — UOB has partnered with Visa, a global leader in digital payments, to relaunch several card products across its five key markets (Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam) under Visa’s newly introduced premium card tiers, Visa Infinite Privilege and Visa Infinite Private.

UOB is progressively upgrading its suite of affluent and high-net-worth (HNW) card solutions to the new Visa Infinite tiers, reinforcing the Bank’s leadership in premium card innovation. With the relaunch, more than 300,000 UOB Visa Infinite cardholders across ASEAN will be upgraded to higher card tiers, giving them access to an expanded suite of premium benefits. All other cardholders will continue to enjoy their existing privileges, with no downgrades across the portfolio. Eligible UOB Visa Infinite cardholders will be notified of their new card tiers via UOB’s official channels from September onwards, with no action required from them.

UOB is currently Visa’s largest card issuer in ASEAN[1] and brings an unparalleled regional footprint and customer base, serving over 8.5 million customers across the region. As the first Visa issuer across ASEAN to execute a launch of this scale across multiple markets, UOB and Visa are setting a new benchmark for regional card offerings, delivering elevated privileges and experiences to affluent cardmembers in the region. This collaboration is timely as affluent spending in ASEAN experiences strong growth. The number of new UOB affluent cardholders[2] grew over 10 per cent year-on-year in 2025, while card billings for this segment surged more than 25 per cent in the same year.

Visa unveiled its refreshed Visa Infinite offering in Asia Pacific on 16 July 2026, reimagined for the evolving needs of today’s affluent consumers. Anchored in a three-tier card suite, the enhanced platform introduces greater flexibility, personalisation and differentiated benefits across the affluent spectrum. In addition to Visa Infinite, the portfolio now includes the newly launched Visa Infinite Privilege and Visa Infinite Private, enabling issuers to deliver more tailored value propositions, experiences and rewards to distinct customer segments within a unified premium framework.

Selected top-tier UOB cardholders across the region will enjoy access to enhanced platform privileges and UOB-exclusive curated experiences, tailored to their respective Visa Infinite tiers. This aligns with UOB’s sharpened customer segmentation approach and enhanced card value propositions, aimed at serving the unique needs of customers by offering exclusive privileges tailored to their lifestyle preferences.

Mr Pratik Bhattacharjee, Head of Group Cards and Payment Products, UOB, said, “As UOB continues to sharpen our customer-centric operating model, we are focused on serving our customers more holistically across the wealth spectrum. Our partnership with Visa marks a significant milestone in this journey, allowing us to deepen our engagement with affluent customers by curating exclusive experiences that money cannot buy. As we continue strengthening our offerings to cater to each customer’s aspirations and lifestyle, our goal is to connect with them through life moments and opportunities that truly matter.”

Mr. T.R. Ramachandran, Head of Products & Solutions for Asia Pacific, Visa, said, “The affluent segment is one of the fastest-growing consumer segments in Asia Pacific, with expectations evolving alongside it. Today’s affluent consumers are seeking experiences that are more personalised, seamless and relevant to their lifestyles. The refreshed Visa Infinite portfolio is designed to meet these changing expectations, and through our partnership with UOB, we are extending these enhanced experiences to affluent customers across Southeast Asia.”

Greater personalisation through tiered privileges

With Visa’s enhanced Infinite tier segmentation, selected cardholders will benefit from more tailored services, differentiated privileges and elevated experiences that reflect their evolving lifestyle needs. This includes access to curated regional and global lifestyle offers as well as premium destination-based travel and dining privileges worldwide as part of the base membership. In addition, selected cardholders will get exclusive access to top-tier concerts and global sporting events like FIFA World Cup™, and reserved entitlements to key lifestyle offerings under Visa Infinite Privilege. At the highest tier, Visa Infinite Private offers bespoke invitation-only experiences highly personalised for ultra-high-net-worth individuals.

Leveraging its deep understanding of affluent customers across the region, UOB will complement Visa’s refreshed benefits with exclusive privileges, curated experiences and value-added offerings tailored to the unique preferences of its cardmembers. For example, selected cardholders will be able to enjoy specially-customised luxury travel experiences and privileged access to curated series of rare timepieces.

Paired with the Bank’s unparalleled regional connectivity, advisory excellence and One Bank ecosystem, this partnership with Visa aligns with UOB’s aim to bring together banking, wealth and lifestyle holistically to all customers. This also furthers the Bank’s ambition to become the Bank of Choice for aspiring customers across ASEAN.

-END-

About UOB

UOB is a leading Asian bank with a global network in Southeast Asia, Asia Pacific, Europe and North America. Operating through our head office in Singapore and banking subsidiaries in China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam, we have a global network of more than 470 branches and offices in 19 markets. Since its incorporation in 1935, UOB has grown organically and through a series of strategic acquisitions. Today, UOB is rated among the world’s top banks: Aa1 by Moody’s Investors Service and AA- by both S&P Global Ratings and Fitch Ratings.

For more than nine decades, UOB has adopted a customer-centric approach to create long-term value by staying relevant through its enterprising spirit and doing right by its customers. UOB is focused on building the future of ASEAN – for the people and businesses within, and connecting with, ASEAN.

The Bank connects businesses to opportunities in the region with its unparalleled regional footprint and leverages data and insights to innovate and create personalised banking experiences and solutions catering to each customer’s unique needs and evolving preferences. UOB is also committed to help businesses forge a sustainable future, by fostering social inclusiveness, creating positive environmental impact and pursuing economic progress. UOB believes in being a responsible financial services provider and is steadfast in its support of art, social development of children and education, doing right by its communities and stakeholders.

About Visa

Visa (NYSE: V) is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. We believe that economies that include everyone everywhere, uplift everyone everywhere and see access as foundational to the future of money movement. Learn more at www.visa.com.sg 

[1] Largest card issuer by total billings

[2] Includes UOB Reserve Card, UOB Zenith Card and UOB Visa Infinite cards

 

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SOURCE UOB

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