Customer service chatbots are everywhere, but people prefer human agents to deal with some issues
The use of customer service chatbots has grown rapidly. Maybe a little too rapidly, according to Vivek Astvansh, an Associate Professor of Quantitative Marketing and Analytics at 涩里番 Desautels. The worldwide chatbot market has expanded from US$370 million in 2017 to US$2.2 billion last year, but customers are not always satisfied with the service they provide.
Independent fashion designers likely to lose out in SSENSE bankruptcy
In a bankruptcy filing in late August, the Montreal-based luxury retailer SSENSE cited a liquidity crisis brought on partly by the unpredictable tariff regime in the United States. At the time of the filing, some independent designers who work with the company said they were owed tens of thousands of dollars, but hadn鈥檛 been paid in months.
Buy now, pay later loans promise to boost purchasing power鈥攂ut can come with strings
Buy now, pay later (BNPL) programs allow consumers to pay for items in instalments. And the market for these financial products has been growing at a 12% annual rate, and is projected to reach $7.5 billion in 2025. Fintech companies like Afterpay, Flexiti and Sezzle allow users to break down major purchases into more manageeable monthly or quarterly payments.
Despite rapid rise of AI chatbots in customer service, customers prefer human agents
If it feels like customer service chatbots are everywhere, it鈥檚 because they are. The worldwide chatbot market has grown from US$370 million in 2017 to about US$2.2 billion in 2024. But customers trust human customer service representatives more than they trust AI chatbots, writes Vivek Astvansh, an Associate Professor of Quantitative Marketing and Analytics at 涩里番 Desautels.
Punitive tariffs more about political leverage than trade
On August 1, a 35 per cent US tariff on Canadian goods came into effect. But these tariffs are less about trade and more about political leverage, says Vivek Astvansh, associate professor of quantitative marketing and analytics at 涩里番 Desautels.
Donald Trump鈥檚 鈥楤ig Beautiful Bill鈥� does away with de minimis exemption for impots from all countries
The de minimis exemption has played a major role in the rise of Chinese fast fashion brands like Shein and Temu. The exemption works like this: if an imported good has a value of less than $800, it is exempt from tariffs. The loophole has been around since the 1930s, but in recent years, it has given e-commerce brands that ship many smaller orders an advantage.
Lego has built next-level brand loyalty
When people an affinity for a brand, they can feel as though it鈥檚 their friend. And Lego has a powerful brand. For many, the mere mention of the Denmark-headquartered maker of plastic building bricks evokes memories of wholesome childhood play. And the warm and fuzzy feelings that a brand like Lego catalyzes can have real effects on how people interact with it.
Despite rise of chatbots, people still prefer human customer services
Until recently, the most common way that customers interacted with a company鈥檚 customer service was via human agents on the telephone, the web or a mobile app. But increasingly, customer service is being provided by chatbots. Even though chatbots offer instant availability, 24 hours a day, more than two-thirds of people still prefer to speak with a human agent, according to research by PWC, an accounting consultancy.
Eliminating the de minimis exemption will hit fast fashion shoppers hard
A de minimis exemption allows goods below a certain value threshold to be traded internationally without paying duty. And on May 2 2025, the United States eliminated their de minimis exception for Hong Kong and China. That will drive up prices for shoppers on ultra-budget fast fashion platforms like Shein. With the changes to the rules, the price of a $20 dress on Shein could increase to more than $30.
Controversial slogans sell
A Canadian clothing company has recently come under fire for using provocative slogans on some of its clothing. The company claims its target demo is now a confident shopper in their mid-twenties, but Professor of Marketing Vivek Astvansh argues that a company might use controversy to sell, even if their customers aren鈥檛 of age.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio helps decipher Trump administration goals
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was among the least controversial cabinet appointments made by President Donald Trump. During this turbulent time in geopolitics, the stature of the former Florida senator is rising, according to Newsweek. It鈥檚 a high-stakes role, and for countries like Canada, Rubio has become a kind of interlocutor that helps interpret information coming out of the White House.
How U.S.-Canada tariffs could hit New York鈥檚 economy
As U.S.-Canada tariff disputes escalate, New York鈥檚 economy faces serious risks, with over $42 billion in trade at stake. 涩里番 professors Preetika Joshi and Vivek Astvansh warn that rising costs on goods like aluminum, barley, and auto parts could lead to inflation, job losses, and disruptions across key industries.
Trump鈥檚 tariffs: 鈥淪hort-term pain, long-term gains?
As President Trump鈥檚 latest tariffs send markets into turmoil, 涩里番 Desautels Professor Vivek Astvansh provides insight into the potential long-term impact on trade and investments. Amid uncertainty, experts suggest diversification as the key to stability. Read more on how Canadian markets and investors can navigate this shifting landscape.
Retaliatory tariffs are economically unwise, but politically expedient
With the United States both threatening and imposing tariffs, Canada has responded with counter-tariffs of its own. But could these measures do more harm than good?鈥淩etaliatory tariffs are just a bad decision.
Political tensions between long-time allies fuelled ticket price spike for Canada-USA hockey game
When Canada and the United States faced off in the NHL鈥檚 4 Nations Face-Off hockey tournament, the game held at the Bell Centre was the hottest ticket in Montreal, with some asking prices topping $10,000 a ticket on online ticket selling services. The intense demand was likely driven in part by the political tensions between the long-time allies.
