Technology

Lightspeed Commerce Advances Unified Commerce Vision with New AI, Payments, Fulfillment and Operations Innovations

Published

2 months ago

July 17, 2026

New capabilities across retail and hospitality help high-volume businesses simplify operations, move faster and deliver more seamless customer experiences

MONTREAL, July 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Lightspeed Commerce Inc. (NYSE: LSPD) (TSX: LSPD) (“Lightspeed” or the “Company”), the unified omnichannel platform powering ambitious retail, golf and hospitality businesses in over 100 countries, today announced a new wave of product innovations across Lightspeed Retail and Lightspeed Restaurant designed to help merchants and operators simplify complex workflows, save time and operate with greater confidence.

Retailers and hospitality businesses are under increasing pressure to do more with less while managing disconnected systems, manual processes and rising operational complexity. Lightspeed’s latest innovations address these challenges directly with new AI-powered tools, stronger fulfillment capabilities, improved multi-location management and automated payments reconciliation.

A key theme across this latest release is Lightspeed’s continued investment in Lightspeed Payments. Across retail and hospitality, new payments innovations made in the last year, including saved payment methods, pre-authorization, automated reconciliation and new hardware upgrades, are helping merchants reduce manual work and errors, speed up service, simplify end-of-day operations and create more seamless customer experiences. By bringing more of the payment lifecycle into one connected platform, Lightspeed is helping businesses save time and energy while operating with greater accuracy and confidence.

“What we’ve released this quarter reflects our continued focus on helping ambitious businesses operate with less friction,” said Dax Dasilva, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Lightspeed. “From simplifying daily operations and improving sales visibility, to creating faster checkout experiences and streamlining fulfillment across channels, these innovations are designed to help our customers move faster, operate smarter, and deliver great customer experiences with confidence.”

New product innovations across Lightspeed Retail and Lightspeed Restaurant include:

Retail

Lightspeed and Klaviyo launch integration to empower retailers with marketing automation
By connecting Klaviyo to Lightspeed Retail, Lightspeed enables merchants to automate personalized customer communications without manual data work or fragmented tools. The integration syncs customer, sales, and product data in real time so merchants can easily launch lifecycle flows such as welcome, post-purchase, and re-engage campaigns, as well as targeted omnichannel outreach.AI Blog Builder helps retailers drive traffic and sales through content
With the new AI Blog Builder, merchants can effortlessly generate SEO-optimized blog posts in minutes. By providing automated topic suggestions and publishing reminders, the tool allows retailers to maintain a consistent, professional content calendar that helps drive traffic and boost sales. Advanced design controls, built-in SEO settings, and multilingual support ensure that posts are tailored to reach and resonate with target audiences, allowing merchants to scale their content strategy without the burden of manual creation.AI section generator in AI Assistant helps merchants refine website content faster
The newly embedded AI section generator in AI Assistant empowers merchants to build high-quality, on-brand website content faster. By allowing merchants to preview changes directly in the editor and providing an intuitive, conversational interface for refinements, the tool ensures website updates align with their unique brand vision. This seamless, context-aware workflow saves valuable time and enables merchants to deliver more engaging, customized digital experiences for their customers.Lightspeed Scanner now helps store staff grow basket size at checkout
Lightspeed Scanner now surfaces data-driven cross-sell prompts directly on the shop floor and at checkout. Powered by a rolling 90-day market basket analysis, Frequently Bought Together recommendations appear on the Product Details screen during look up and refresh dynamically on the Sell Screen as items are added to cart — helping sales associates to recommend suitable complementary products, regardless of their experience levels.Omnichannel customer accounts bring more convenience to retail shoppers
Shoppers buying from Lightspeed Retail merchants can now view order history and manage loyalty points through the new omnichannel customer portal. The experience helps merchants bridge the gap between in-store and online shopping while delivering the convenience customers increasingly expect.NuORDER Brand Sales Overview gives brands a clearer view of wholesale performance
NuORDER now provides a centralized view of wholesale sales performance, allowing brands to track orders, revenue, units sold and top performers in one place. With clear year-over-year visibility into sales trends and top-performing sales representatives, the dashboard gives brands a faster, more intuitive way to understand performance without relying on manual spreadsheets.

Hospitality

New Lightspeed AI enhancements bring insights on operations and tasks to hospitality merchants
Lightspeed AI delivers customized AI driven insights when merchants log in to their Back Office. By asking a question in natural language, operators can rapidly generate tailored charts and insights, then pin preferred reports so critical information is always within reach. For merchants using Lightspeed Tasks to build checklists for consistent service, operators can also ask Lightspeed AI to surface operational issues based on checklist insights across locations, so teams can spot what needs attention without reading through every note and comment.Lightspeed launches Locations Manager to simplify multi-site operations
Locations Manager gives hospitality operators a centralized way to manage multiple venues from a single dashboard. In its first iteration, the feature allows businesses to share items, create menus and sync updates across locations in a few clicks, while still giving individual venues the flexibility to make regional changes when needed. Future updates are planned to introduce additional capabilities, including user permission management, invoice visibility across the business and enhanced unified reporting.Lightspeed Payments automates reconciliation for hospitality businesses
Through Lightspeed Payments, reconciliation automatically accounts for tips, split checks, chargebacks and tip adjustments, helping operators quickly spot discrepancies between POS data and bank deposits. Instead of spending hours balancing the books after service, managers can close out faster with a clearer view of actual cash flow.New booking widget gives restaurants more control over the guest journey
Lightspeed Reservations now offers an enhanced booking widget that allows hospitality customers to receive reservations directly through their own websites. By enabling guests to book without leaving a restaurant’s site, the new widget creates a smoother reservation experience while giving operators the ability to capture more bookings along the guest journey.

To learn more about these new features, visit Lightspeed’s website.

About Lightspeed

Lightspeed is the POS and payments platform powering businesses at the heart of communities in over 100 countries. As the partner of choice for ambitious retail, golf and hospitality entrepreneurs, Lightspeed helps businesses accelerate growth, deliver exceptional customer experiences, and run smarter across all channels and locations.

With fast, flexible omnichannel technology, Lightspeed brings together point of sale, ecommerce, embedded payments, inventory, reporting, staff and supplier management, financial services, and an exclusive wholesale retail network. Backed by insights, and expert support, Lightspeed helps businesses run more efficiently and focus on what they do best.

Founded in Montréal, Canada in 2005, Lightspeed is dual-listed on the New York Stock Exchange and Toronto Stock Exchange (NYSE: LSPD) (TSX: LSPD), with teams across North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may include forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws (“forward-looking statements”), including information regarding Lightspeed’s partnerships, product offerings and planned product roadmap. Forward-looking statements are statements that are predictive in nature, depend upon or refer to future events or conditions and are identified by words such as “will”, “expects”, “anticipates”, “intends”, “plans”, “believes”, “estimates” or similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. Such statements are based on current expectations of Lightspeed’s management and inherently involve numerous risks and uncertainties, known and unknown, including economic factors. A number of risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this news release, including, among other factors, those risk factors identified in our most recent Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, under “Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Information Form, and in our other filings with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, all of which are available under our profiles on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov. Readers are cautioned to consider these and other factors carefully when making decisions with respect to Lightspeed’s subordinate voting shares and not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are not guarantees of future performance and, while forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions that Lightspeed considers reasonable, actual events and results could differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements made by Lightspeed. Except as may be expressly required by applicable law, Lightspeed does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or revise any such forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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SOURCE Lightspeed Commerce Inc.

Technology

Timur Turlov Elected FIDE President, Becomes First Kazakh to Lead World Chess

Published

38 minutes ago

September 26, 2026

Businessman and Kazakhstan Chess Federation President wins runoff vote at FIDE General Assembly in Samarkand, pledges digital transformation and record investment in global chess development

SAMARKAND, Uzbekistan, Sept. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Timur Turlov has been elected President of the International Chess Federation (FIDE), winning a second-round runoff vote at the FIDE General Assembly, held in Samarkand alongside the Chess Olympiad. Turlov ran on a joint ticket with five-time World Champion Viswanathan Anand as Deputy President.

Turlov becomes the first Kazakh national to lead FIDE, marking a milestone for Kazakhstan’s rapidly growing chess community and for the wider Central Asian chess movement. He takes office for a four-year term running through 2030.

Turlov is founder and CEO of Nasdaq-listed Freedom Holding Corp., a diversified financial services and technology group with operations spanning the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia. Over nearly two decades, Freedom has built its business around digitalizing brokerage, banking, and fintech platforms. He has served as President of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation since 2023.

“The biggest dream we’re all working toward is getting closer to the Olympic program. I want real unity within FIDE, with every federation seeing, over these next four years, the difference we can make together. My goal is for FIDE to become more professional and more modern, more digital, raising its standing and influence, and finding its place in today’s world. I want to bring my own experience in digitalization to that work, helping the organization build a powerful platform and earn recognition as the leader and regulator of this historic and living game,” said Timur Turlov.

His campaign combined direct financial commitment with structural reform. He has pledged more than $8.5 million toward FIDE’s development, including a dedicated multi-year fund kept separate from FIDE’s operating budget, to double the resources available to national federations and simplify access to grants. A central pillar of his program is a unified platform for FIDE that would give every player a single profile spanning ratings, online play, and education tools, alongside modern infrastructure for federations worldwide — echoing the same playbook of connecting international markets through technology that has defined Freedom’s growth. As President of the International School Chess Federation, Turlov has also made chess in education a priority, seeking wider integration of the game into school curricula globally.

On governance, Turlov’s background leading a publicly listed international company shapes several of his commitments: publishing FIDE’s financial statements and major commercial agreements on a regular basis, introducing an independent external audit, appointing specialists on merit, and bringing experts from every continent onto the organization’s commissions.

He has also committed dedicated staff to help national federations secure sponsors, navigate government partnerships, and gain international media exposure, along with strengthened anti-cheating measures.

Anand, FIDE Deputy President since 2022, brings continuity and deep institutional knowledge to the new administration.

The Fédération Internationale des Échecs (FIDE) is the Switzerland-based global governing body for chess, with approximately 200 member federations worldwide.

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Technology

University of Phoenix research recognized as Editor’s Choice paper by Glacies

Published

2 hours ago

September 26, 2026

Environmental science education study examining storytelling and AI-supported learning receives Editor’s Choice distinction

PHOENIX, Sept. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — University of Phoenix announces that the peer-reviewed study, “Harnessing AI, Virtual Landscapes, and Anthropomorphic Imaginaries to Enhance Environmental Science Education at Jökulsárlón Proglacial Lagoon, Iceland,” has been recognized as an Editor’s Choice paper by Glacies.

Published in February 2026, the study explores how character-driven narratives and human-centered artificial intelligence can support adult learners in understanding complex environmental science concepts. The article was authored by Jacquelyn Kelly, Ph.D., associate dean, College of General Studies; Dianna Gielstra, Ph.D., full-time faculty, Environmental Science Program, College of General Studies; Tomáš J. Oberding, Ph.D., full-time faculty, Environmental Science Program, College of General Studies; Jim Bruno, MBA, associate dean, College of Business and Information Technology; and Stephanie Cosentino, MAEd, senior instructional designer, University of Phoenix.

The recognition highlights research conducted within the University’s “Principles of Environmental Science,” a course serving non-science majors and adult learners. The study examined the use of character-driven storytelling and AI-generated imagery, developed through a human-centered, faculty-guided design process, to help learners engage with scientific concepts and environmental systems.

“The cryosphere plays a critical role in Earth’s environmental systems, yet it is a topic often reserved for advanced scientific study. We wanted to create an accessible entry point into this important science. By bringing together immersive virtual landscapes, narrative storytelling, and human-centered AI, we designed a learning experience that helps adult learners see scientific processes as connected, dynamic, and relevant to the world around them.”

Innovative approaches to environmental science education

The study describes how the course uses a storybook-inspired format to introduce environmental science concepts through approachable characters and narratives. Characters such as Nico Nitrogen, Remi Rock and Waverly Water personify scientific processes and cycles, providing adult learners with accessible entry points into complex topics while maintaining alignment with course learning outcomes.

“Recognition by Glacies as an Editor’s Choice paper reflects the quality of scholarship being produced by our faculty and academic leaders,” said Briana Houlihan, MBA, dean, College of General Studies. “Research such as this demonstrates how innovative instructional approaches can help make complex scientific concepts more engaging and accessible for adult learners while contributing to broader conversations about teaching, learning and technology’s role in design.”

Researchers reported positive student responses to the instructional approach. According to the study, 87.1% of surveyed students reported enjoying the anthropomorphic narratives, while 82.0% agreed the approach reinforced systems thinking. Qualitative feedback indicated that narrative framing and consistent visuals helped learners visualize relationships among Earth systems and communicate scientific concepts more effectively.

Supporting engagement among adult learners

The authors present the work as a practical model for courses serving non-science majors and working adults. By combining narrative-based learning experiences with carefully guided AI-supported visual development, the approach seeks to make abstract scientific concepts more approachable while supporting learner engagement and understanding.

The Editor’s Choice recognition by Glacies acknowledges the study’s contribution to ongoing conversations about environmental science education, instructional design and the thoughtful application of artificial intelligence in higher education learning environments.

Access the study

“Harnessing AI, Virtual Landscapes, and Anthropomorphic Imaginaries to Enhance Environmental Science Education at Jökulsárlón Proglacial Lagoon, Iceland” is available online through Glacies at https://doi.org/10.3390/glacies3010003.

About University of Phoenix
University of Phoenix is Built for Real Life. 50 Years Strong. The University innovates to help working adults enhance their careers and develop skills in a rapidly changing world through flexible online learning, relevant courses, academic AI pillars, and skills-mapped curriculum for associate, bachelor’s and master’s degree programs. Active students and alumni have access to Career Services for Life® resources including career guidance and tools. For more information, visit phoenix.edu.

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SOURCE University of Phoenix

Technology

Tecpinion Launches Sweepstakes Industry Analysis Report 2026, Covering Market Insights, Growth, Regulation, Technology and Industry Future

Published

7 hours ago

September 26, 2026

Tecpinion’s 2026 report examines U.S. sweepstakes growth, rules, technology and future scenarios.

MIAMI, Sept. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Tecpinion, a GLI-19 iGaming platform provider delivering technology solutions across iGaming, sweepstakes, prediction markets and other digital gaming verticals, today announced the launch of its new industry report, “Sweepstakes Industry Analysis 2026: Market Dynamics, Trends & Forecast.”

Sweepstakes industry Report 2026 – Latest Insights into Market Growth, Regulation, Technology and the Future of the sweepstakes/social Industry

The report is designed not only to examine where the sweepstakes industry stands today, but also to share practical market insights and contribute to a more informed industry conversation as the sector continues to evolve.

The research provides a detailed assessment of the U.S. sweepstakes ecosystem, covering market structure, consumer behaviour, business economics, regulation, technology, payments, customer acquisition, competitive dynamics and the 2026–2030 outlook. It spans 16 analytical sections, five market segments and 12 U.S. states, supported by nine strategic exhibits and 21 primary, regulatory, standards and company sources.

As the industry moves from experimentation toward greater professionalisation, the report highlights a shift in competitive priorities. Launch speed alone is becoming less important as operators increasingly need to balance customer acquisition, retention, payment reliability, fraud prevention, promotional costs, regulatory requirements and consumer trust.

A Sneak Peek at the Report

One of the report’s key observations is that a single official market-size figure cannot accurately capture the sweepstakes industry. Different estimates can cover very different segments. Rather than presenting an unsupported headline number, the report takes a segmented, scenario-based approach to understanding the market.

The report identifies five key segments: promotional sweepstakes, social casino, sweepstakes casino, prize-based gaming and B2B sweepstakes technology.

Technology is also becoming a major competitive layer. Modern platforms increasingly depend on PAM, payments, identity and age verification, geolocation, fraud detection, CRM, analytics, game aggregation and security. The report also explores practical AI applications, including LTV prediction, churn analysis, player segmentation, fraud detection, forecasting and customer support.

Regulation remains another defining factor. The report assesses 12 U.S. states, examining regulatory attention and legislative activity while highlighting the importance of jurisdiction-specific analysis.

Looking ahead, the report presents four 2026–2030 scenarios – professionalisation, high growth, regulatory constraint and technology-driven growth, and explores how regulation, technology, payments, trust and customer economics could shape the industry’s next phase.

Knowledge Sharing at the Core

For Tecpinion, the report is also about sharing knowledge, not just presenting data.

“We believe the industry grows stronger when knowledge is shared. Sweepstakes is evolving quickly, and operators and technology providers are facing many of the same questions around regulation, technology, payments, customer acquisition, trust and long-term sustainability. By sharing our research and observations, we want to contribute to a more informed industry where businesses can learn from one another, innovate responsibly and build for the long term.” said [Manoj Trivedi, Co-Founder & CSMO, Tecpinion].

The publication forms part of Tecpinion’s broader commitment to industry research, thought leadership and knowledge sharing across the evolving digital gaming ecosystem.

Access the Full Report

The full “Sweepstakes Industry Analysis 2026: Market Dynamics, Trends & Forecast” is now available for operators, technology providers, affiliates, investors and industry professionals looking to understand the trends, challenges and opportunities shaping the market.

👉 [Explore the Full Report]

About Tecpinion

Tecpinion is a GLI-19 iGaming platform provider delivering technology solutions across online casino, sportsbook, sweepstakes, prediction markets, social gaming and emerging gaming verticals. Its offerings include full source code, iGaming platform development, PAM, game aggregation, payment solutions, KYC, geolocation, fraud prevention, CRM, bonuses and promotions, affiliate management, analytics, responsible gaming, security and compliance technology.

Media Contact:

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Media Contact
Manoj Trivedi, TECPINION, 91 9926504499, sales@tecpinion.com, https://www.tecpinion.com/

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SOURCE TECPINION