Rakuten wesentlich besser als Rocket

In-Store Case Study

From Clicks to Bricks: Supercharge Your Online Loyalty Program By Integrating In-Store Shop & Earn Offers

Extending Cartera's online Shop & Earn programs to include in-store offers creates a more flexible and engaging loyalty experience for members shopping in either, or both, channels. The strategy also drives revenue for our client and merchant partners, evidenced by:

Increased Purchase Volume: Integrated in-store options drive a 33% boost in purchase volume among members who shop in-store compared with those who do not.

New Shopper Acquisition: 30% of in-store shoppers are engaging with Cartera programs for the first time, demonstrating the channel's effectiveness in new shopper activation.

Lapsed Shopper Reactivation: In-store shopping opportunities lead to a 13X increased reactivation rate, proving to be a highly effective strategy for re-engaging lapsed shoppers.


Recent Results From One Retailer

While the introduction of in-store offers sometimes raises the concern of cannibalization of online shopping, our data shows that's not the case. Cartera recently helped a national pharmacy retailer successfully integrate in-store offers into its existing online-only program. The result — over a six-month period — included:

Member Spend Growth: Member spend increased 140% year-over-year, with no negative impact on online sales from in-store shopping.

Omnichannel Adoption: 21% of online shoppers embraced the in-store channel, while online shopping behavior remained consistent.

Increased Sales from In-Store Users: Existing members who shopped in-store offers generated a 40% increase in overall sales.

Key Takeaway: Integrating online and in-store loyalty programs creates a powerful synergy, driving new customer acquisition, reactivating lapsed shoppers, boosting purchase frequency, and delivering significant growth in member spend. By providing customers with flexible, multi-channel earning options, retailers can cultivate stronger loyalty without risking channel conflict.

www.cartera.com/blog/...percharge-your-online-loyalty-program

DTW Ignite 2025: Unpacking the shift towards Intelligent Growth

Dhruv Sood Global Digital Marketing Manager Rakuten Symphony
July 9, 2025

symphony.rakuten.com/blog/...shift-towards-intelligent-growth

The proliferation of AI-driven features enhances customer satisfaction and provides insights into market trends, with innovations like virtual fitting rooms shaping future shopping experiences. Zalando's 2023 launch of a virtual fitting room exemplifies this trend, allowing users to create 3D avatars to better visualize product fit, thus reducing return rates and associated costs.

Cross-border trade is bolstered by widespread high-speed internet, smartphone accessibility, and digital payment options, broadening consumer reach to international platforms. Global supply chain integration facilitates easier and quicker order fulfillment, supported by third-party logistics advancements.

Key Players Analysis
Rakuten Inc
Amazon.com Inc.
Alibaba Group Holding Limited
Ebay Inc.
Walmart Inc.
Zalando SE
Otto Group
JD.com, Inc.

About ResearchAndMarkets.com
ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

www.businesswire.com/news/home/...ce---ResearchAndMarkets.com

Growth Strategy and Future Prospects of Cabify Company

canvasbusinessmodel.com/blogs/...0Y9zfB-XDnlWTx4RQ08Rl-G3xsoU

Who Owns Cabify Company?

canvasbusinessmodel.com/blogs/owners/cabify-who-owns

www.samsung.com/de/offer/madeforgermany/rakutentv/

Rakuten TV is a leading streaming service in Europe, offering a mix of transactional (TVoD), ad-supported (AVoD), and free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) content. It is part of the Rakuten Group and is available in 43 European territories. Rakuten TV's service includes the latest movie releases for purchase or rental and a vast library of on-demand movies, documentaries, and series. It also features a wide range of free, ad-supported linear channels, some of which are owned and operated by Rakuten TV.

Rakuten TV provides access to a diverse range of content, including the latest movie releases, on-demand movies, series, documentaries, and original and exclusive content.

TVoD (Transactional VOD): Users can purchase or rent movies, offering a cinematic experience.

AVoD (Advertising VOD): A library of on-demand content is available with advertising.

FAST (Free Ad-supported Streaming TV): A large selection of free linear channels, including those from international broadcasters and Rakuten TV's own curated channels.

Rakuten TV has established partnerships with major TV manufacturers and telecom companies like Orange Spain, which rebranded its TV service to "Videoclub by Rakuten TV".

www.google.com/...RLCBwkxLjIuMTMuMTTIB9sB&sclient=gws-wiz

“Enterprises in Latin America have often faced barriers to adopting the latest cloud infrastructure, and this partnership is designed to help them unlock the full potential of cloud-native solutions,” said Anirban Chakravartti, SVP of Global Enterprise Sales, Rakuten Cloud, Rakuten Symphony. “With Simply Tech’s regional reach and Wevy Cloud’s channel expertise, we’re equipping organizations with scalable, AI-ready solutions that drive efficiency, agility, and innovation across critical industries.”

The collaboration comes at a critical time, as demand surges across the region for platforms capable of supporting AI-driven workloads, distributed infrastructure, and edge computing in industries including healthcare, financial services, retail, logistics, and manufacturing. It also promotes local economic growth by fostering career development through reseller networks and training initiatives across the region.

“This partnership plays a key role in bringing advanced cloud-native solutions to a region that’s ready to embrace digital transformation,” said Sam Freitas, Head of Business Development at Simply Tech. “Wevy Cloud’s channel know-how perfectly complements our go-to-market capabilities, and together, we’re equipping our customers with the cloud-native tools to innovate at scale.”

To support the launch, Wevy Cloud and Simply Tech will begin a regional onboarding campaign starting in July 2025, including enablement sessions, regional roadshows, and technical workshops and sales training for resellers to deploy Rakuten Cloud solutions.

symphony.rakuten.com/newsroom/...lutions-across-latin-america

Acorns acquires Zeta, a financial planning platform for couples and families, to enhance its comprehensive financial support across different life stages.

Acorns, the financial wellness app, has announced its acquisition of Zeta, a financial planning platform designed for couples and families. With this asset acquisition, Acorns aims to bolster its position as a comprehensive financial wellness system, catering to individuals at every life stage. The addition of Zeta co-founders Kevin Hopkins and Aditi Shekar to the team is expected to bring valuable expertise in the couples and family space.

Acorns CEO, Noah Kerner, expressed enthusiasm about the acquisition, emphasizing the importance of supporting couples' financial growth together. This marks Acorns' fifth strategic acquisition in under two years, reflecting its commitment to becoming a holistic financial wellness solution for families. The company has previously acquired GoHenry, PixPay, Chronifi, and EarlyBird, all aligning with its vision of providing financial support across different life stages.

The acquisition will allow existing Zeta customers to access Acorns' suite of financial wellness benefits. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. For more information, individuals can visit www.acorns.com. Acorns, founded in 2014, has expanded globally and served over 15.5 million people worldwide, helping customers save and invest over $26 billion dollars.

venturecapital.com/news/m-a/...inancial-wellness-offerings-v1

AWL, Rakuten Mobile and Vissel Kobe Selected for MIC Project Using Edge AI to Improve Safety in Large-scale Facilities

Tokyo, June 25, 2025

AWL, Inc., Rakuten Mobile and Rakuten Vissel Kobe today announced they have been selected for the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications’ “Regional Digital Transformation (DX) Promotion Package Project (AI Verification Type)”, in an initiative managed by Mitsubishi Research Institute. This month the companies launched a joint demonstration in Kobe City focused on using Edge AI technology to optimize communication loads in large-scale venues.

The initiative integrates AWL’s intelligent camera solutions, Rakuten Mobile’s advanced network infrastructure and innovative AI algorithms at events held at Noevir Stadium Kobe, home of Vissel Kobe, the Rakuten Group’s professional soccer club.

awl.co.jp/en/news/20250625/

AWL,  a Hokkaido University-certified startup and the market leader in edge AI camera solutions, announced a total of JPY 2 billion in Series B round funding and its issue of third-party allocation of shares with Rakuten Capital, the corporate venture capital arm of Rakuten Group, Inc. as the lead investor.

awl.co.jp/en/news/20210602/

Im vergangenen Jahr musste das Münchner Fintech Dock Financial Insolvenz anmelden. Nun ist offenbar eine Lösung gefunden – zumindest für Teile des Unternehmens.

22. April 2025

Nun hat das Fintech mit Rakuten wohl einen Käufer gefunden. Der japanische Techkonzern sichert sich die Technologie von Dock Financial. Das berichtet das Manager Magazin unter Berufung auf Informationen aus dem Unternehmensumfeld. Rakuten betreibt in Europa ebenfalls eine Bank und plant offenbar, diese mit der übernommenen Technologie auszubauen.

Auch ein Teil der MitarbeiterInnen soll im Zuge der Übernahme zu Rakuten gewechselt sein. Für das Team um CEO Marko Wenthin ist der Deal ein Teilerfolg, da damit ein prominenter Käufer für zentrale Assets des Unternehmens gewonnen werden konnte.

www.munich-startup.de/109282/dock-financial-uebernahme/

“What truly differentiates Rakuten is our vast and diverse ecosystem,” Cai emphasized. “From online e-commerce to mobile stores and point machines at supermarkets, Rakuten offers a seamless experience for its users. Whether it’s reading restaurant reviews, booking a golf course or scheduling a beauty appointment, the Rakuten Group provides a comprehensive suite of services.”

He explained that this interconnectedness, combined with unique customer insights gleaned from countless user transactions and interactions, provides a powerful advantage in the age of AI. “There is no company in the world like Rakuten, and that uniquely positions us to deliver value with AI,” Cai stated.

Rakuten’s approach to AI development is not about relying solely on vendor solutions. Instead, the company takes a deliberate, ground-up approach. “We focus on a specific niche and develop proprietary capabilities that provide a competitive advantage,” Cai explained. “Rakuten starts with a robust data layer, then adds advanced deep learning and language models. Our team has designed a full-stack AI system that empowers the entire company and has allowed Rakuten to create more value for its customers,” he said. He also noted that Rakuten combines its unique data and channel advantages with industry-leading AI technologies from partners.

Beyond mobile connectivity: Leveraging AI and the ecosystem model

Cai then addressed the challenges facing the telecom industry, noting the stark contrast between the rapid growth and investment in the AI world and the relatively slow growth in telecom. “The telco industry, compared to ‘AI world’ where investment is pouring in and innovation is fast, is slowing,” Cai emphasized. He pointed out a recent PwC report that projected global revenue to grow only 2.9% over the next three years, with similarly modest growth in industry investment. “This isn’t sustainable,” Cai declared. “We need to find an accelerant for growth – and I believe that accelerant will be AI.”

Cai emphasized that the key to unlocking growth lies in embracing a “digital-first, ecosystem-first” mindset, shifting away from legacy approaches. “Being a great connector is no longer enough,” he stated. He highlighted the importance of going beyond basic connectivity and creating value-added services. “Platforms that we use heavily on our phones have become indispensable parts of our daily lives.” He added that Rakuten aims to make its mobile apps a central touchpoint and a gateway to the broader Rakuten Ecosystem.

He connected Rakuten’s vision to the Japanese concept of Omotenashi, emphasizing the company’s commitment to providing exceptional service at a reasonable cost. “This spirit of great service for a reasonable cost drives Rakuten’s entry into the Mobile space, where we aim to deliver unparalleled value and reduce costs for households,” he said.

AI-powered automation and efficiency gains in telecom

Finally, Cai highlighted the transformative potential of AI in automating network operations, citing Rakuten Symphony’s Site Lifecycle Management solution as a prime example. This solution leverages AI and digital workflows to facilitate more efficient network deployment and management, resulting in improved build efficiency, significant OPEX savings and enhanced data integrity. He shared compelling results, including:

30% savings in operational expenses and 60% building site efficiency, with 4x faster activation
90% of tickets handled instantly by AI
120K sites auto-provisioned

Cai wrapped up his keynote with a call to action, urging telecom leaders to embrace AI without delay, while offering three key recommendations:

Take an AI-first mindset: Think about how AI can augment every part of your business and how it can solve real business challenges.

Break out of the legacy mindset: Embrace building an ecosystem of AI products and services that deliver value to customers.

Invest in the right tools and partnerships: A diverse approach in which you build some AI, buy some AI and partner with other AI innovators will help you achieve your goals faster.

“There’s no time to waste. The pace of AI innovation will only accelerate, not decelerate. You need to act NOW,” he urged.

rakuten.today/blog/...em-offerings-unlock-telecom-growth.html

How Button Doubled Affiliate Revenue for Uber

www.usebutton.com/post/...t%2520new%2520user%2520acquisition.

PSG, Felicis, Rakuten Capital, and Capital One Ventures are 4 of 10 investors who have invested in Button.

pitchbook.com/profiles/company/63693-37#faqs

Rakuten Mart has started offering delivery services for placement in Residences with auto-lock.

July 14, 2025

Rakuten Mart Inc. has launched its delivery service for auto-lock-equipped apartment complexes today in its warehouse-style online supermarket "Rakuten Mart."

With the increasing demand for diverse and flexible methods of receiving goods at online supermarkets, "Rakuten Mart" has been working to enhance user convenience by providing various options, including scheduled pick-up from the same day, early morning deliveries available from 6 AM, and delivery services for detached residences. This new addition allows for deliveries to auto-lock-equipped apartment complexes, further improving convenience.

In this initiative, collaboration with the delivery service "Smart Delivery" provided by RAINAFU Co., Ltd. will allow for deliveries to approximately 9,000 apartment complexes where this service has been implemented. By specifying delivery when shopping on "Rakuten Mart," users can safely receive their goods in a secure container at designated locations, including in front of their door. Additionally, just as with the previous delivery services, products will be delivered in three temperature ranges: room temperature, refrigerated, and frozen, using special materials to ensure quality.

www.moomoo.com/news/post/55365190/..._ticket=1752829425710556

Performance Marketing Is Stalling. Here’s Why Affiliate and Creator Commerce Is The Next Big Channel

Performance marketers are facing a harsh truth in 2025: the more they spend on social media, the less they get back. According to a recent Taboola and Qualtrics report, nearly 75% of performance marketers are experiencing diminishing returns from social ads. Despite social media ad spend projections soaring to $273 billion by 2026, the return on investment is flatlining. So what’s really going on?

The Plateau Problem: When More Spend Doesn’t Mean More Conversions

Audience saturation. Rising ad costs. Creative fatigue. These are the culprits eating away at performance marketing budgets. The report found that for most affected marketers, more than 30% of their ad spend is underperforming. That’s not a rounding error, that’s a crisis. And the response from most marketers? Double down on budgets and hope for the best.

But in an environment where audiences are tuning out and costs are creeping up, marketers can’t just outspend the problem. They need to outsmart it.

Enter Creator and Affiliate Commerce

Affiliate and creator marketing aren’t new. But the way they’re being used is. These channels are emerging as high-intent, performance-driven alternatives to traditional social ads—and they’re proving to be remarkably effective when executed with the right infrastructure.

Unlike standard ads that chase attention, affiliate and creator channels intercept users when they’re already in a shopping mindset. From YouTube reviews to TikTok hauls to blog posts linking to in-app checkout, these touchpoints are closer to the point of conversion than ever before. And the best part? They’re measurable.

www.usebutton.com/post/...capture%2520measurable%2520results.

www.bvdw.org/news-und-publikationen/...m-affiliate-marketing/

Why AST SpaceMobile Stock Skyrocketed Last Week

Key Points

AST SpaceMobile stock saw big gains this week after the company announced $550 million in new funding had been secured.

The company will use the cash to purchase wireless spectrum licenses that will extend more than 80 years.

AST has seen massive valuation gains this year, but its business looks poised to accelerate rapidly.

finance.yahoo.com/news/...le-stock-skyrocketed-084634725.html

Rakuten Securities Launches Free Provision of AI-Analyzed Investment Information on Domestic and U.S. Stocks - Analysis results using AI technology, such as overall valuation of individual stocks, target stock price, and financial evaluation, can be used for investment

July 18

www.rakuten-sec.co.jp/web/company/newsrelease/fy2025.html

Rakuten Mobile: Honest Thoughts After 5-Year-Usage in Tokyo

2025/5/8

I've been using Rakuten Mobile since before it was even commercialized, so it's been about 5 years now. I live in Tokyo, and I've been using it as my main phone line and as my home WiFi (via tethering).

Today, as a regular user, I'm going to honestly share my thoughts on the coverage and overall experience!

I hope this helps anyone who's considering it!

note.com/cute_tulip8155/n/n550bb6e60f3c

How Rakuten Link AI Can Revolutionize Your Everyday Life: What is Rakuten Link? The Complete Guide to Its Features and How to Utilize AI

aris
2025/1/30

Rakuten Link AI is an innovative and convenient AI service in chat format, provided for Rakuten Mobile subscribers. With this service, you can easily rely on AI to assist with everyday questions and contract checks, helping you streamline your daily life. In this article, I will introduce the attractive features and usage of Rakuten Link AI.

note.com/aris0522/n/nba4007a80972?magazine_key=m398901e27212

New Rakuten American Express Card, Powered by Imprint, Offers an Extra Four Percent Cash Back on Rakuten Purchases

Tue, July 22, 2025

Rakuten, the leading Cash Back shopping platform, today announced the launch of the Rakuten American Express Card in the U.S., exclusively for Rakuten members. The Rakuten Card, powered by Imprint, turns shopping into an even more rewarding experience, offering cardholders industry-leading Cash Back rewards with no annual fee, along with unique offers, experiences, and protections from the American Express network.

With the Rakuten Card, cardholders will receive an extra four percent Cash Back on top of what they already earn while shopping on Rakuten's platform of more than 3,500 stores, in-person, or online, up to the first $7,000 of credit card spending each calendar year. Separately, cardholders will also earn an extra five percent Cash Back on top of the five percent members earn when dining at more than 22,000 Rakuten partner restaurants, totaling 10 percent Cash Back on Rakuten Dining.

In addition, the Rakuten Card offers Cash Back on purchases cardholders make everywhere else outside of Rakuten's platform. This includes two percent Cash Back on groceries and restaurants, and one percent Cash Back on all other purchases.

finance.yahoo.com/news/...express-card-powered-123000795.html

Credit card startup Imprint beats big banks for Rakuten co-brand deal

Published Tue, Jul 22 2025

Key Points

Imprint, the 5-year-old credit card startup, beat out banks in a competitive bidding process for a new co-branded card from online shopping platform Rakuten, CNBC has learned.

The deal, to be announced later Tuesday, is the most recent sign that Imprint is gaining traction in the co-branded credit card industry.

The New York-based startup also just raised $70 million in additional capital, boosting its valuation by 50% to $900 million less than a year from its previous round, according to Imprint CEO Daragh Murphy.

www.cnbc.com/2025/07/22/...-card-startup-imprint-rakuten.html

Rakuten Fashion Week TOKYO 2026SS

MON. 09/01– SAT. 09/06/2025

rakutenfashionweektokyo.com/en/

Rakuten Offers Heat Stroke Insurance Through Pay App

July 17, 2025

Rakuten Payment Co., Ltd. and Rakuten Small Amount and Short Term Insurance Co., Ltd. are pleased to announce that they will begin offering “Heat Stroke Insurance” on the Rakuten Pay cashless payment service app from Thursday July 17, 2025.

In recent years, we have been hit by record-breaking summer temperatures, increasing the risk of heatstroke. In some cases, emergency transport and medical treatment are required, and heatstroke is becoming an increasingly serious social issue. In light of this situation, Rakuten Payment and Rakuten Short-Term Credit will begin offering “Heatstroke Insurance,” which can be easily signed up for through the Rakuten Pay app and helps people prepare for heatstroke.

itbusinesstoday.com/fintech/...oke-insurance-through-pay-app/

Rakuten Kobo is replacing Mozilla Pocket with Instapaper

Kobo has announced that it will replace Mozilla Pocket with Instapaper on its  e-readers by the end of summer 2025.

Published on 21 July 2025

Rakuten Kobo has had a partnership with Pocket, the read-it-later service, before Mozilla acquired it. Pocket gave users the ability to send articles to their e-readers and read them, like they would read e-books. A couple of months ago, Mozilla announced that Pocket was shutting down in June, and it is would no longer available on Kobo devices. However, there is some good news: Kobo has just announced that it will be replacing Pocket with Instapaper.

goodereader.com/blog/kobo-ereader-news/...520acquired%2520it.