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Omnichannel Retail Now Pose Challenge to Online Shoppers- Report

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Jeff Wilkinson, senior vice president technical of Etihad Airways, pictured right, with Franck Terner, executive vice president of Air France KLM Engineering & Maintenance, after signing a 10-year agreement for a component maintenance agreement for the carrier’s Boeing 777 fleet.
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Omnichannel has been a buzzword in retail in recent years, yet providing a seamless shopping experience across all different channels is becoming more and more challenging, according to the International Post Corporation (IPC).

IPC said one reason for this is the huge increase of touch-points the modern consumer has before purchase.

IPC was reacting to according to a Webloyalty & Conlumino research from 2015 which records that in 2000, the average consumer typically used around two touch-points during the purchase process and only 7% of consumers regularly used over four.

Today, an average retail shopper uses just under five different touch-points, including stores, websites, dedicated apps, telephone order lines, catalogues, social media etc.

Seamless shopping experience means that whether a customer is visiting the website from home to research a product, using the mobile app to ‘click and collect’ or walking into a local high street branch to pick something up in person, the customer journey has to run smoothly and in very similar steps.

Should a regular high street shop visitor decides to go to their retailer’s website, he would easily see similarities between the website’s structure and design and those of the physical store, enhancing the user experience and adding to the visitor’s confidence about their shopping.

The purchase path online should also be as similar to the physical store’s as possible so that a purchase can be processed fast and without any issues or hidden costs (in many cases, the delivery costs are only mentioned at the latest stage of placing an order, reducing the sales conversion).

The key, however, is to ensure channels are not completely replicating each other, as online, for instance, can have a different focus and set of business objectives to in-store.

The technologies enabling the omnichannel landscape in retail are capable of turning every touch point, including offline environments and printed materials into online shopping environments and accountable sales vehicles.

Advertising mail has proven to be a powerful physical touch-point that enables online engagement for retail customers using technologies such as Near Field Communication (NFC), BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy), QR-codes and others (view examples in the DM case studies library).
 
Etihad Deepens Maintenance Agreement with Air France-KLM

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has expanded its strategic cooperation with Air France-KLM through a several hundred million US dollar component maintenance agreement for its Boeing 777 fleet.

The 10-year deal, effective February 2016, provides Etihad Airways and its equity partners with access to an extensive global pool of components offered by Air France-KLM’s maintenance arm, Air France Industries KLM Engineering & Maintenance (AFI KLM E&M), for the wide-body aircraft through the 777 Component Services Program (CSP) jointly operated with Boeing. Etihad Airways currently operates a fleet of 33 long-range and extended-range passenger and cargo Boeing 777 variants.

The maintenance agreement is the latest phase of a partnership struck between Etihad Airways and Air France-KLM in October 2012.

The carriers have a commercial alliance involving codesharing on flights across their networks over hubs in Abu Dhabi, Paris and Amsterdam.

The wide-ranging codeshare agreement sees Etihad Airways and Air France-KLM offering joint codes on destinations in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Australia.

Jeff Wilkinson, senior vice president Technical of Etihad Airways, said: “Through this latest phase in our relationship with Air France-KLM, we are confident Air France Industries KLM Engineering & Maintenance will provide easy, quick, reliable and cost-effective access to components for our triple seven aircraft which are the backbone of our rapidly-growing fleet.

“It builds on an excellent commercial agreement we have enjoyed with Air France-KLM over the past three years helping to provide the high level of efficiencies required in a competitive environment.”

Franck Terner, executive vice president of Air France KLM Engineering & Maintenance, said: “We are very pleased with the trust placed by Etihad Airways in our services. This agreement further demonstrates the competitiveness of our component support offer, and AFI KLM E&M’s ability to tailor maintenance solutions exactly matching its customers’ needs.”

The agreement provides Etihad Airways with access to AFI KLM E&M’s extensive component maintenance network and a significant upgrade of its service offering.

Through its global MRO network, AFI KLM E&M will maintain pool stock in the UAE and around the world to support Etihad Airways’ Boeing 777 fleet.

In addition, the partnership includes a framework for further collaboration with Etihad Airways’ partners and a tie-up with Etihad Airways Engineering for additional maintenance services.

Etihad Airways and Air France-KLM together provide a combined codeshare network of over 40 destinations.

The strategic alliance is aimed at exploring areas of potential cooperation, including joint procurement, maintenance and repair collaboration to identify cost savings and achieve economies of scale.


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World Bank Blocks Social Media Comments from Nigerians over Loan Backlash

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World Bank has restricted comments on its Instagram page after thousands of Nigerians flooded the platform begging them to stop lending money to Nigeria.

World Bank Blocks Social Media Comments from Nigerians over Loan Backlash

The protest erupted after reports that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is seeking a fresh $1.25 billion dollar loan for approval on June 26.

Some Nigerians asked the World Bank to provide more details about the purpose of the loan and how the funds would be managed.

Others said the country should reduce dependence on foreign loans and focus on improving local revenue.

The federal government has continued to defend its borrowing plans.

Officials say the funds will support economic reforms, development projects and efforts to strengthen the economy.

Nigeria remains one of the major borrowers from the World Bank in Africa, with different administrations securing loans over the years for infrastructure, social programmes and economic support.


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Lagos Plans New Cybersecurity Centre

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The Lagos State Government plans to establish a Cybersecurity Operations Centre to strengthen protection of government systems, digital services and citizen data amid rising cyber threats linked to the city’s expanding digital economy.

Tunbosun Alake, Lagos commissioner for innovation, science and technology, said the centre would help secure the infrastructure supporting online payments, e-government services, cloud platforms and technology-driven business operations across the state.

According to Alake, the facility will monitor, detect and respond to cyber threats targeting government networks, digital transactions and sensitive public data.

The move comes as Lagos accelerates its smart city agenda through investments in broadband infrastructure, digital identity systems and automated public services.

Alake said Lagos had already deployed 109 Data Protection Officers across Ministries, Departments and Agencies, which he described as the highest number among Nigerian states, to strengthen compliance with data protection regulations.

Alongside the proposed cybersecurity centre, the state also launched the Lagos Campus Network Upgrade project aimed at improving digital infrastructure within the public sector.

The upgrade is expected to improve network performance, automate internal government processes and enhance digital engagement with residents. The cybersecurity initiative follows the release of Lagos State’s cybersecurity guidelines in April.

The framework recommends measures including multi-factor authentication, vulnerability testing, encrypted backups and tighter endpoint security controls.

The guidelines align with Nigeria’s Cybercrime Act 2024, the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023 and the National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy 2021.

 


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LG Electronics Strengthens Household Energy Efficiency in Nigeria with Advanced Inverter Refrigerator Solutions

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LG Electronics (LG) is reinforcing its commitment to smarter and more energy‑efficient living by spotlighting its range of inverter‑powered refrigerators designed to meet the evolving needs of Nigerian households.

As electricity costs continue to rise and inflationary pressures shape consumer spending, LG’s refrigerator portfolio is positioned as a practical solution that combines dependable performance with responsible energy consumption.

Refrigerators are among the most frequently used appliances in Nigerian homes, operating 24 hours a day and accounting for a significant share of household electricity usage. LG addresses this challenge through its proprietary Inverter Compressor technology, which intelligently adjusts cooling power based on actual usage conditions.

By reducing unnecessary energy draw, the system delivers stable temperature control while helping households lower energy consumption and manage monthly utility costs more effectively.

Beyond energy savings, LG refrigerators are designed to support food security and reduce waste, an increasingly important consideration for families navigating rising food prices. The inverter system enables faster cooling recovery after power interruptions and helps maintain consistent internal temperatures, preserving food freshness for longer periods. With fewer friction points in the compressor design, LG refrigerators also offer enhanced durability and long‑term reliability, minimizing maintenance costs over time.

LG’s energy‑saving refrigerator lineup includes Top Mount, Side‑by‑Side, and Door‑in‑Door models, each tailored to different household sizes, storage needs, and lifestyle preferences. The Top Mount refrigerators offer practical, space‑efficient designs ideal for everyday family use, delivering reliable cooling with optimized energy efficiency.

The LG GN-F452PFAQ model keeps food perfectly fresh with FRESH Converter+ that optimizes temperature as per food items and never runs out of ice with the Auto Ice Maker.

For households that require larger storage capacity and improved organization, Side‑by‑Side models provide generous interior space, improved visibility, and consistent cooling across compartments.

For more design‑conscious consumers, LG’s Door‑in‑Door refrigerators reduce cold air loss by allowing quick access to frequently used items, supporting both energy efficiency and long‑lasting freshness.

At the premium end, LG continues to innovate with advanced models such as the MoodUP™ refrigerator, which combines customizable aesthetics with functional energy‑saving features like the InstaView panel, allowing users to view contents without opening the door and reducing unnecessary cold air loss. This refrigerator comes with a washing machine as a bundle promotion.

According to LG, this range‑based approach reflects a deep understanding of how Nigerian households differ in size, consumption habits, and lifestyle needs.

“Nigerian consumers are becoming more intentional about how they use energy and manage household costs,” said Mr. Oktai Kim, General Manager, Home Appliance Solutions, LG Electronics Nigeria. “By offering a diverse range of inverter‑powered refrigerators, we are giving families the flexibility to choose solutions that suit their homes while delivering long‑term value through energy efficiency and dependable performance.”

Rather than focusing on technology alone, LG’s energy‑saving refrigerator portfolio emphasizes everyday benefits, efficient operation, reliable cooling, and designs that adapt to real living conditions. Available nationwide, LG refrigerators continue to support smarter living and economic resilience, reinforcing the company’s commitment to delivering durable, consumer‑focused home solutions for Nigerian households.


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