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53% of European Consumers Are Open to Switching Mobile Providers as Telco Loyalty Comes Under Pressure

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New Circles analysis finds price and network quality remain the foundations of retention, while bundles, rewards and personalization must prove their impact on customer loyalty

SINGAPORE, Sept. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — More than half (53%) of consumers across five of Europe’s largest telecommunications markets – France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom – are open to switching mobile providers, highlighting growing pressure on traditional approaches to customer loyalty, according to new analysis from Circles.

The new Consumer Insights: Customer Stickiness & Loyalty in European Telecommunications report brings together country-level consumer and market data from across Europe to examine what is driving switching intention, which retention levers still matter and why operators need strategies tailored to different markets and customer segments.

The findings reveal a fragmented loyalty landscape across Europe. Switching behavior varies considerably by market, age, customer value and exposure to low-cost competition, making a standardized pan-European retention strategy increasingly difficult to justify.

Europe Does Not Have One Loyalty Problem

The analysis identifies sharp differences across major European markets:

Germany: The generational divide is particularly pronounced. Earlier European consumer research found that 64% of adults under 35 were open to switching, while 75% of consumers over 55 intended to remain with their provider.Italy: Two-year mobile switching intention increased from 18% in 2023 to 27% in 2024, the largest year-on-year increase among the five markets studied – with low-cost operators proving particularly attractive to potential switchers.United Kingdom: 31% of respondents said they were likely to change mobile operator within two years in 2024, six percentage points higher than in 2023.Spain: Despite a highly converged fixed-mobile market, consumers continue to move towards low-cost alternatives. Approximately 55% of the intended destinations among switchers were low-cost operators, suggesting that bundle ownership alone does not guarantee loyalty.

Price and Network Quality Still Define the Core Proposition

Across the five markets, price remains the leading factor when consumers consider a new provider, followed by network speed, signal coverage, service reliability and handset discounts.

The findings reinforce that loyalty initiatives cannot compensate for weaknesses in the core customer proposition. Rewards and personalization can strengthen retention, but competitive pricing and dependable connectivity remain its foundation.

“What this research makes clear is that European telcos are not facing just one loyalty problem, but a different one in every market. While price and network quality remain the price of entry, they no longer explain who stays and who leaves. The real differentiator is whether an operator understands what a specific customer values and can act on it. After all, bundles, rewards and personalized offers only build loyalty if it’s relevant to that customer, not just available to them. At Circles, we have partnered operators globally to move from generic retention programs to ones that are tested against real customer value. The operators who get this right will not just reduce churn; they will set the standard for what loyalty means in an increasingly converged, commoditized market,” said Rameez Ansar, Co-Founder & CEO at Circles.

Bundles Do Not Automatically Create Loyalty

The report also challenges a long-standing assumption that combining fixed and mobile services automatically locks in customers. In the UK, Italy and Germany, fewer than 43% of consumers hold both services with the same operator, and consumer research indicates that convergence has not reliably prevented mobile churn. Even in highly converged markets such as Spain, low-cost competition and the commoditization of bundles are putting pressure on traditional retention models.

Circles recommends that operators measure convergence by what it actually delivers: lower churn, stronger satisfaction, higher profitability and greater customer lifetime value. Bundle penetration, on its own, should not be treated as proof of loyalty.

The Next Battleground: Relevant Customer Value

Network quality remains critical, but in mature markets, incremental improvements can become harder for mainstream consumers to perceive. Deloitte’s 2026 TMT prediction on mobile loyalty suggests that rewards are already the leading non-price switching consideration in the Netherlands and Belgium and the second-ranked consideration in the UK.

The opportunity is not to add more generic perks. It is to deliver value that is visible and relevant to a particular customer, including pricing transparency, useful rewards, service recovery, entertainment or device benefits, household convenience and personalized treatment. Circles says these interventions should be targeted and tested against measurable retention and customer-value outcomes.

Four Priorities for European Operators

Based on the analysis, Circles identifies four priorities for operators seeking to strengthen customer loyalty:

Defend the core proposition first – competitive pricing, network quality and reliability remain fundamental.Segment retention strategies by market, demographics and customer value rather than applying a single loyalty model.Measure what actually works by assessing the impact of bundles, rewards and personalization on churn, profitability and customer lifetime value.Respond differently to low-cost competition in each market, reflecting local customer behaviour and competitive dynamics.

Circles brings an operator’s perspective to the challenge through its experience building and operating digital telco brands and its AI-enabled SaaS capabilities. The company says the opportunity for European telcos is to connect a 360-degree understanding of customers with the operational agility to adapt propositions, experiences and interventions continuously.

Read the full report: Consumer Insights: Customer Stickiness & Loyalty in European Telecommunications

About Circles

Founded in 2014, Circles is a global technology company reimagining the telco industry with its innovative SaaS platform, empowering telco operators worldwide to effortlessly launch innovative digital brands or refresh existing ones, accelerating their transformation into techcos.

Today, Circles partners with leading telco operators across 14 countries and 6 continents, including KDDI Corporation, Etisalat Group (e&), AT&T, and Telkomsel, creating blueprints for future telco and digital experiences enjoyed by millions of consumers globally.

Circles is backed by renowned global investors, including Peak XV Partners (formerly Sequoia), Warburg Pincus, Founders Fund, and EDBI (the investment arm of the Singapore Economic Development Board), with a track record of backing industry challengers.

To learn more about how Circles enables digital transformation for leading telcos worldwide, visit circles.co.

 

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AIA Australia, Long Service Corporation, New Zealand Police and RMBL Investments Named 2026 Appian APJ Innovation Award Winners

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Four organisations recognised for transforming mission-critical operations through process and AI

SYDNEY, Sept. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Appian [Nasdaq: APPN] today announced AIA Australia, Long Service Corporation New South Wales (NSW), New Zealand Police and RMBL Investments as the winners of its 2026 Asia Pacific and Japan Innovation Awards. The Innovation Awards celebrate customers driving AI automation and process transformation with measurable results on the Appian Platform.

The entrants span financial services, government, public safety, land administration and worker entitlements. The four Australian and New Zealand organisations were recognised for leveraging the Appian Platform to accelerate insurance claims, administer portable long service leave at scale, transform non-emergency police case management, and support the growth of investment and lending operations. They demonstrate how organisations can redesign complex processes, connect fragmented data and apply AI to deliver measurable improvements for employees, customers and communities.

“Real innovation earns its place in an organisation by making critical work faster, simpler and more accountable,” said Charlie Hutchinson, SVP Asia Pacific and Japan at Appian. “This year’s winners have moved beyond incremental improvements to redesign the processes at the heart of their operations. They demonstrate the measurable impact that process and AI can deliver when applied to work that really matters.”

The 2026 Appian APJ Innovation Award winners are:

AIA Australia

AIA Australia, a leading life and health insurer that protects the lives of more than 3 million Australians, is transforming claims management through a digital-first approach that makes the claims experience simpler, more transparent and easier to navigate.

Leveraging the Appian platform, AIA has created a connected ecosystem that streamlines interactions between customers, fund partners and claims teams, enabling greater efficiency and more personalised support for its customers when they need it most.

By innovating across the end-to-end claims journey, AIA is strengthening its ability to deliver timely assistance at critical moments while establishing a foundation for ongoing innovation and future growth.

Long Service Corporation (LSC) NSW

Long Service Corporation, working with Deloitte, built a digital application on Appian to administer the NSW Community Services Industry portable long service leave scheme.

The application connects workers, employers and Long Service Corporation through dedicated digital portals supporting registration, identity verification, worker nominations, service returns, payments and notifications. By bringing these functions together in one platform, the application enables Long Service Corporation to administer the scheme more efficiently and at scale. Since its launch in April 2026, more than 2,200 employers have submitted over 8,800 service returns and more than 220,000 workers have been nominated into the scheme. The platform has also processed more than $110 million in levy payments to fund workers’ portable long service leave entitlements.

New Zealand Police

New Zealand Police built a nationwide case management system on Appian for its 105 non-emergency service, replacing separate regional processes previously managed through Microsoft Outlook and shared folders.

The Appian Platform centralises incoming emails and case information, applies 35,000 assignment rules and intelligently directs cases according to factors including offence type and location. The solution has reduced case processing time from up to two weeks to four hours, cut backlogs from approximately 4,000 cases to fewer than 50 during most shifts and saved 18,000 hours annually in email management. It has also enabled the equivalent of at least 10 full-time employees to move from administrative triage into higher-value frontline support.

RMBL Investments

RMBL Investments, working with Persistent, has used the Appian Platform to connect its investor, borrower, introducer and employee operations.

The Appian environment spans customer self-service, investment and loan applications, portfolio management, servicing, communications, IT service management, document generation and AI-enabled processes. It now supports more than 5,000 clients and approximately A$3 billion in funds under management. The multi-year transformation has helped streamline operations, with efficiency improvements of up to 72% in some areas, giving RMBL greater capacity to grow without manual effort increasing at the same pace.

About Appian

Appian provides AI automation for the most important business processes at the world’s largest organisations.

On the Appian platform, customers build AI-powered processes that accelerate work, reduce cost, and manage risk. Our platform is known for its unique power, reliability, and scale. We’ve been automating processes for more than 25 years and understand enterprise operations like no one else. For more information, visit appian.com. [Nasdaq: APPN]

Follow Appian: LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and X.

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SOURCE Appian

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WEPSEA 2026 Concludes, Highlighting Southeast Asia’s Transition Towards Smarter and More Sustainable Packaging

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SHANGHAI, Sept. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — WEPSEA 2026 concluded successfully after three days of exhibitions, conferences, business forums, and industry exchanges, reaffirming the growing importance of Southeast Asia as one of the world’s most dynamic markets for the packaging and printing industry.

As a regional platform rooted in Indonesia and serving the broader Southeast Asian market, WEPSEA 2026 brought together packaging manufacturers, technology providers, converters, brand owners, suppliers, industry associations, and professional buyers to explore how innovation, collaboration, and sustainable development are reshaping the future of the industry.

More than an exhibition, WEPSEA has become a meeting point where technology meets market demand, and where regional businesses connect with global expertise to accelerate industrial transformation.

Reflecting the Next Stage of Industry Development

One of the clearest messages emerging from WEPSEA 2026 was the changing direction of investment across Southeast Asia’s packaging industry.

As consumer markets continue to expand—driven by the growth of food and beverage, e-commerce, healthcare, personal care, and modern retail—the expectations placed on packaging manufacturers are evolving rapidly. Businesses are no longer focused solely on increasing production capacity; they are placing greater emphasis on manufacturing efficiency, product quality, operational flexibility, and sustainable development.

Throughout the exhibition, discussions between exhibitors and visitors increasingly centered on practical production challenges and long-term competitiveness.

How can manufacturers reduce reliance on manual labour through automation? How can production become more flexible to respond to shorter product life cycles and increasingly customized orders? How can companies meet higher standards for food safety, Halal compliance, environmental responsibility, and international supply chains?

These questions were echoed across conference sessions, business meetings, and technical discussions, reflecting a broader transformation taking place throughout the region’s packaging sector.

Innovation Supporting Industrial Transformation

Against this backdrop, WEPSEA 2026 showcased technologies and solutions spanning the entire packaging value chain, from corrugated packaging, folding cartons, and flexible packaging to digital printing, intelligent manufacturing, converting equipment, and packaging materials.

Rather than simply displaying products, exhibitors engaged visitors in discussions on how new technologies can improve productivity, reduce waste, optimize resource utilization, and enhance manufacturing quality. Live equipment demonstrations and face-to-face technical exchanges enabled companies to better understand how innovation can be translated into practical business value.

The exhibition reinforced the growing role of technology as a key driver of industrial upgrading across Southeast Asia.

Knowledge Exchange Driving Industry Progress

Alongside the exhibition, WEPSEA’s conference programme created an open platform for dialogue among industry experts, business leaders, and technology providers.

Topics including smart packaging, artificial intelligence in manufacturing, material innovation, e-commerce packaging, Halal packaging, supply chain resilience, and sustainable production highlighted both the opportunities and the challenges facing the industry.

Practical workshops further encouraged the exchange of operational expertise by focusing on printing quality management, defect prevention, colour consistency, and production optimization. Meanwhile, the Business Forum Pack ID explored digital procurement, consumer brand development, and policy trends influencing the regional printing and packaging market.

Together, these activities demonstrated that future industry competitiveness depends not only on advanced equipment, but also on knowledge sharing, technical collaboration, and continuous innovation.

Building a More Connected Regional Packaging Ecosystem

Another defining feature of WEPSEA 2026 was the strong support and participation of leading packaging and printing associations from across Asia, highlighting the exhibition’s growing role as a regional platform for industry collaboration.

Official delegations and representatives attended from the countries and regions including the Malaysian Corrugated Carton Manufacturers’ Association (MACCMA), Corrugated Box Manufacturers Association, Singapore (CBMA), Asosiasi Kotak Karton Gelombang Indonesia (AKKGI), Thai Corrugated Packaging Association (TCPA), Association Corrugated Converting Indonesia (ACCI), Bangladesh Institute of Packaging (BIP), Indonesian Packaging Federation (IPF), Malaysia Printing Association (MPA), Hong Kong Corrugated Paper Manufacturers’ Association Ltd (HKCPMA), Packaging Development Federation (PDF) and PRINTPACK Indonesia.

Their active participation enriched the exhibition through technical exchanges, delegation visits, conference support, and business networking activities, fostering closer dialogue between industry organisations, manufacturers, suppliers, brand owners, and buyers across the region.

As supply chains become increasingly interconnected, platforms like WEPSEA play an increasingly important role in strengthening regional cooperation, facilitating knowledge exchange, and supporting the sustainable development of Southeast Asia’s packaging and printing industry.

Creating Long-Term Value Beyond the Exhibition

While WEPSEA 2026 has come to a close, the conversations initiated, partnerships established, and ideas exchanged during the event will continue to generate value for the industry long after the exhibition ends.

Looking ahead, WEPSEA will continue to serve as an open platform that connects innovation with industry needs, strengthens regional cooperation, and supports the sustainable development of Southeast Asia’s packaging and printing industry.

As the region continues to embrace smarter manufacturing, greener production, and deeper international collaboration, WEPSEA remains committed to bringing together the people, technologies, and ideas that will help shape the next chapter of the industry’s development.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/wepsea-2026-concludes-highlighting-southeast-asias-transition-towards-smarter-and-more-sustainable-packaging-302871000.html

SOURCE RX (China) Investment Co., Ltd.

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XCOTTON Helps Global Brands Protect Every Customer After Purchase

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LOS ANGELES and NEW YORK and LAS VEGAS, Sept. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As IFA 2026 enters its final days in Berlin, global brands are showcasing the next generation of products designed to improve everyday life—from smart home solutions and robotics to personal mobility and connected living. Behind every innovative product, however, is another important challenge: ensuring customers continue to have a positive experience after purchase.

At IFA 2026, Xcotton is connecting with brands, retailers, and technology companies to discuss how businesses can better protect customer purchases, reduce delivery-related risks, and create smoother resolution experiences. From shipping and delivery issues to unexpected damage, loss, and customer support challenges, every post-purchase interaction can influence how customers perceive a brand.

As a U.S.-based post-purchase protection platform, Xcotton helps modern e-commerce brands protect every order after checkout through shipping protection, product protection, extended warranty, and insurance-backed coverage solutions. With over 1,000 five-star ratings on Trustpilot and strong reviews from Shopify merchants, Xcotton has earned recognition for helping brands deliver a more reliable post-purchase experience.

For growing consumer brands, delivering a great product is only the beginning. International expansion, increasingly complex logistics networks, and rising customer expectations require reliable solutions that help protect every order, resolve unexpected issues, and maintain customer trust. Xcotton’s protection capabilities extend beyond the U.S. Through its licensed insurance intermediary in France, Xcotton is authorized to provide compliant insurance solutions to merchants and consumers across the European Union, giving internationally focused brands access to protection solutions designed for their customers and markets.

Protecting the Customer Experience Beyond the Product

Today’s consumer brands compete on more than product innovation. Customers expect a complete experience—from discovering a product and completing a purchase to receiving their order and getting support when something unexpected happens.

For brands selling internationally, challenges can arise at every stage of fulfillment. Packages may be delayed, lost, or damaged during transit. High-value products may require additional protection, while customers may expect fast, straightforward resolutions when delivery issues occur. Without a clear process, these moments can create friction for both customers and merchants.

A delivery problem can leave customers uncertain while increasing support costs, replacement expenses, refunds, and operational complexity for brands. Customers rarely know which carrier handled the package, where the issue occurred, or which operational step failed. They know only one thing: they purchased from the brand. That makes the brand responsible for helping find a solution.

This is where post-purchase protection becomes an important part of the customer experience. Xcotton helps brands address these challenges with a structured post-purchase protection platform designed to simplify resolution, reduce delivery risk, and give customers greater confidence after checkout.

XCOTTON: A Smarter Approach to Post-Purchase Protection

Xcotton helps merchants give customers greater confidence after checkout. Through shipping protection, product protection, extended warranty, and insurance-backed coverage solutions.Here are some of the ways Xcotton helps brands manage the post-purchase experience:

Shipping protection

Packages can face unexpected issues throughout the delivery journey, including loss, damage, theft, and other transportation-related problems. Xcotton provides shipping protection solutions that give customers a clear path to support when delivery problems occur, reducing uncertainty and improving confidence after purchase.

Product protection & Extended Warranty

For higher-value products and complex consumer goods, protection can extend well beyond delivery. Xcotton helps brands offer product protection and extended warranty coverage that supports customers throughout the ownership journey, providing added peace of mind beyond the standard warranty period. These flexible protection options help merchants safeguard products that represent a significant investment while strengthening customer confidence and creating additional value for both shoppers and brands.

Streamlined claims resolution

When something goes wrong, speed and clarity matter. A complicated claims process can frustrate customers while creating additional workload for support teams. Xcotton simplifies post-purchase claims and resolution, giving brands a centralized platform to manage their post-purchase protection and claims activity through one platform.

Flexible protection solutions

Every brand has different products, customers, and business requirements. Xcotton provides flexible protection solutions that can be adapted to different business models and product categories.

For example, eligible claims can remain open beyond 30 days, giving customers more time to report certain post-purchase issues. For eligible product claims, shoppers can also have the option of receiving a replacement or refund, depending on the applicable coverage and claim circumstances. This flexibility allows brands to build a protection experience that better matches their products and customers.

For customers, Xcotton provides greater confidence when placing an order and a clearer path forward when something unexpected happens. For merchants, Xcotton provides a more reliable way to manage delivery and product-related risks, streamline claims resolution, and protect the customer relationships they work hard to build.

The goal is simple: Help brands turn post-purchase protection into a better customer experience and a smarter business advantage.

Supporting Brands Across Consumer Categories

IFA 2026 brings together companies from many different industries, reflecting the diversity of modern consumer commerce. Several brands demonstrate how companies are reimagining everyday products through innovation and customer-focused design.

Belffin is a pioneer in flexible home solutions, specializing in versatile modular sofa designs that transform modern living. Belffin is designed specifically for urban American households and consumers who value efficient space utilization, perfectly blending ergonomic comfort with functional innovation. Our core signature—the modular sectional sofa—features integrated hidden storage, tool-free assembly, and customizable layouts that seamlessly adapt to evolving spatial needs. Combining pet-friendly, easy-to-clean performance fabrics with robust eco-conscious frames, every sectional sofa offers an ideal balance of durability, style, and practical luxury. At IFA 2026, Belffin continues to redefine adaptable furniture, empowering customers to shape living spaces that truly grow with them.

Eskute was founded in 2019 and has grown into a leading global personal mobility brand. Committed to making technology more accessible, Eskute provides high-quality mobility solutions at more affordable prices. Eskute offers an extensive product portfolio covering multiple riding scenarios, including the T Series electric trikes, V Series retro moped-style e-bikes, NOVA Series high-performance electric dirt bikes, C Series urban commuter e-bikes, and F Series urban all-terrain e-bikes. In addition, Eskute has earned an impressive 4.8 rating on Trustpilot. With global phone support and dedicated after-sales service centers, the brand has built strong customer loyalty and consistently high levels of customer satisfaction.

Yarbo is a pioneering global brand in yard robotics, dedicated to making outdoor maintenance smarter and more autonomous. Starting with the Robot Snow Blower, Yarbo expanded its vision to address the limitations of conventional single-purpose yard robots, developing an innovative “1+N” modular system that transforms one universal Core into an All-Season Yard Robot. With interchangeable modules for lawn mowing, leaf collection, snow removal, and more, Yarbo provides a versatile solution for year-round yard care, bringing its vision of smart outdoor living to life.

Turning Post-Purchase Challenges Into Opportunities

For brands, unexpected issues are unavoidable. The difference is how those moments are handled. With the right protection and resolution strategy, brands can transform challenging moments into opportunities to demonstrate reliability and customer commitment.

This is especially important as DTC (direct-to-consumer) businesses expand globally.

More markets mean more customers—but also more complex logistics, more delivery scenarios, and more expectations around service quality. Brands that invest in post-purchase experiences can create stronger relationships and improve customer confidence long after the original purchase.

Xcotton helps brands create better outcomes during these critical moments with protection solutions designed to support both merchants and customers. By turning protection into part of the customer experience, Xcotton helps shoppers feel confident that the brands they choose will stand behind their purchases.

XCOTTON Connects With Global Brands at IFA 2026

IFA 2026 provides an opportunity for companies from around the world to connect, exchange ideas, and shape the future of consumer products. As commerce continues to evolve, protection and customer experience are becoming increasingly important to sustainable growth.

Xcotton connects with global brands across consumer technology, e-commerce, smart home, lifestyle, retail, and logistics to build partnerships and deliver better post-purchase protection. By helping brands reduce operational challenges and streamline resolutions, Xcotton aims to create stronger customer experiences after every purchase.

Xcotton helps businesses make the post-purchase journey more secure, efficient, and customer-focused through protection solutions designed for your business. Every order represents more than a transaction. It represents a customer relationship worth protecting.

Media Contact: merchantsupport@xcotton.ai 

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SOURCE XCOTTON

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