BERLIN, Sept. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Hisense, a leading brand in global consumer electronics and home appliances, is inviting visitors at IFA 2026 to experience how AI can make everyday home routines simpler and more intuitive. Under the theme “Innovating a Brighter Life,” the Hisense AI Companion Suite, powered by ConnectLife, brings connected intelligence to the kitchen, laundry and living spaces.

Step into the kitchen and a simple question— “What should I make?”—can set the experience in motion. The AI Companion Refrigerator recognizes stored ingredients and suggests meal ideas based on personal preferences. Once a recipe is selected, it can sync with the AI Companion Oven to support automatic cooking, while the AI Companion Wine Cabinet recommends pairings and maintains suitable storage conditions. After the meal, the AI Companion Dishwasher recognizes dish conditions and adjusts cleaning, demonstrating how AI can support the journey from planning dinner to cleaning up.

In the laundry area, visitors can see how the AI Companion Laundry Suite turns a routine load into a simpler, more automated experience. By recognizing clothing characteristics, it selects suitable wash and dry cycles and adjusts the process automatically, creating a load-and-go experience.

The experience continues in the living space. The AI Companion Air Conditioner senses indoor conditions and user presence, adapting airflow as people move through the room. Meanwhile, the AI Companion Energy System considers weather and time-of-use electricity pricing to help optimize household energy use.

Building on ConnectLife’s support, Hisense is collaborating with Alexa+ to be among the first home appliance brands bringing smart home devices to Amazon’s Alexa+ AI assistant using Amazon’s new Smart Home AI Toolkit. Available in the coming months, Alexa+ customers will be able to control select Hisense air conditioners by simply saying what they need. Alexa+ will then map the request, navigate the settings, and complete the action for them.

Hisense’s approach to innovation has also earned recognition at IFA, with several of its products receiving awards. The Multi Function II Series, an all-in-one energy-saving HVAC solution, received a Winner Award, while the X-zone Master was named an Honoree. The U8 Air Master Air Conditioner, W60 3D Kitchen-fit Series and 60cm Integrated Wine Cabinet were also recognized that underscores Hisense’s focus on combining intelligent technology, thoughtful design and everyday usability.

Across these IFA scenarios, Hisense brings its Smart Home Companion capabilities to life through V AIOS, giving devices the ability to Sense what is happening, Think through what to do, Communicate naturally with users and across devices, and Execute tasks by orchestrating devices and services autonomously. Together, these capabilities help AI Companion Suites understand context, make decisions and take action, helping the home do more while asking less of its users.

About Hisense

Hisense, founded in 1969, is a globally recognized leader in home appliances and consumer electronics with operations in over 180 countries, specializing in delivering high-quality multimedia products, home appliances, and intelligent IT solutions. According to Omdia, Hisense ranks No. 1 globally in the 100-inch and over TV segment (2023-2026H1). As The Origin of RGB MiniLED, Hisense continues to lead the next-generation RGB MiniLED innovation. As the official sponsor of the FIFA World Cup 2026^TM, Hisense is committed to global sports partnerships as a way to connect with audiences worldwide.

At The Feuerle Collection in Berlin, PITAKA hosted its inaugural brand event, premiering the new ‘Wind Over Wheat’ design and debuting Trace Form™—the brand’s original textured-weave technique.

BERLIN, Sept. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — PITAKA, known for its aramid-fiber phone cases, MagSafe accessories and tech accessories for iPhone and Samsung devices, marked a new chapter for the brand on the evening of September 4, hosting its first-ever brand event, “Signals in the Wind” at The Feuerle Collection, a converted industrial-era space turned art museum in Berlin. From 8 p.m., guests, press and industry partners filled the space, and the evening drew widespread praise as a striking debut for PITAKA’s move from tech accessories into a broader lifestyle brand built around materials and design.

The evening unfolded across five stations built around PITAKA’s philosophy of Material & Sense. In “Material Speaks,” a wheat-field-inspired product display let guests handle PITAKA Moment and Trace pieces side by side, feeling firsthand how aramid fiber shifts from an industrial material into something more emotional. “Meditation in the Wind” paired field recordings — wind through wheat, rustling stalks, birdsong — with the sounds of aramid fiber and weaving, inviting guests into a moment that can’t be repeated. The night’s centerpiece was the world premiere of the Wind Over Wheat Trace Form Edition, followed by the public debut of Trace Form™ itself: PITAKA’s technique for letting select fibers drift from their programmed path, so texture emerges from the interplay of human judgment and material response. A short film closed the evening, following a sound artist’s process from recording in the wheat fields to performing an original score live on-site — an experiment, PITAKA said, in how perception itself gets captured.

Wind Over Wheat, the latest addition to the Trace collection, is inspired by the fleeting movement of wind across a wheat field and uses woven aramid fiber to capture the rhythm of the landscape. It arrives in three finishes — Golden Drift, Surging Awn and Berlin Nocturne — with the limited Trace Form Edition launching September 17, timed to PITAKA’s new iPhone 18 accessories collection.

“Technology has become incredibly precise, but we’re interested in what happens when we leave room for material, human judgment and nature to participate in the process,” said James Zheng, Founder of PITAKA. “We want to create products that do more than perform a function — products that people can see, touch and feel a connection with.”

Through “Signals in the Wind,” PITAKA is shifting the conversation beyond conventional accessory features such as thinness and protection, toward material, aesthetics and sensory experience — establishing the brand not simply as a maker of phone cases and tech accessories, but as a distinctive voice in material-led design and modern technology lifestyle.

About PITAKA

PITAKA is a material technology and lifestyle brand exploring how advanced materials, craftsmanship and thoughtful design can shape the way everyday technology feels. Built around its philosophy of Material & Sense, PITAKA creates aramid-fiber phone cases, MagSafe accessories, tech organization and lifestyle products for Apple and Samsung devices.

Website: www.ipitaka.com

LOS ANGELES and NEW YORK and LAS VEGAS, Sept. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As the global consumer technology industry gathers in Berlin for IFA 2026, thousands of brands are showcasing what comes next: smarter devices, connected experiences, artificial intelligence, robotics, and technologies designed to change how people live and shop. But behind every new product is another part of the consumer journey that deserves just as much attention: What happens after the customer buys?

The Xcotton team is in Berlin during the event to connect with consumer brands, retailers, technology companies, and potential business partners. The conversations are focused on a broader question for modern commerce: how can brands create a better experience after checkout while reducing the risks that come with delivering products to customers around the world?

The Customer Journey Doesn’t End at Checkout

For years, e-commerce innovation has focused heavily on the path to purchase. Brands optimize advertising to attract shoppers, product pages to increase conversion, checkout flows to reduce abandonment, and promotions to encourage customers to buy.

But the transaction is only one moment in the customer relationship. After payment, the order still needs to be fulfilled, shipped, delivered, and supported. A package can be delayed, lost, stolen, or damaged. A customer may need a replacement or refund. A support team may suddenly have to spend time resolving a problem that had nothing to do with the product itself.

For global e-commerce brands, these challenges become even more important as order volumes increase and businesses expand into new markets. A single delivery problem may affect more than the cost of replacing a product. It can also create customer-service workload, additional shipping costs, refunds, negative reviews, and lost opportunities for repeat purchases.

For the customer, however, the distinction does not always matter. The customer bought from the brand. The delivery experience becomes part of the brand experience. That is why post-purchase experience is becoming an increasingly important part of modern commerce. The opportunity is to think beyond the transaction and manage the entire customer journey:

Purchase → Delivery → Protection → Support → Resolution → Retention

When brands approach these stages as part of one connected experience, post-purchase operations become more than a back-office function. They can become a competitive advantage. A great product can win the first purchase. How a brand handles an unexpected problem can influence whether it earns the next one.

XCOTTON: Turning Post-Purchase Protection Into Business Value

This is where Xcotton comes in. Xcotton helps modern e-commerce brands protect every order after checkout. As a U.S.-based post-purchase protection platform, Xcotton enables merchants to offer shipping protection, product protection, and insurance-backed coverage solutions designed to reduce delivery risk, improve customer experience, and create new revenue opportunities.

Xcotton’s reach extends 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. This international capability supports brands as they expand into new markets while helping them offer protection solutions aligned with local regulatory requirements.

The company’s approach is built around a straightforward idea: post-purchase protection should not be viewed only as a way to manage losses. It can also be part of the customer experience. When something goes wrong with an order, customers want to know three things: What happened? What can I do? And how quickly can it be resolved?

A clear protection experience can help answer those questions while giving merchants a structured way to manage unexpected delivery issues. For Xcotton, the goal is simple: Help brands turn post-purchase protection into a better customer experience and a smarter business advantage.

Why Protection Matters for Global E-Commerce

For brands selling across borders, post-purchase protection becomes particularly important as order values, shipping distances, and fulfillment complexity increase.

International shipments can move through multiple carriers, fulfillment centers, customs processes, and last-mile networks before reaching the customer. For higher-value or larger products, a delivery issue can create significant costs for both merchants and shoppers.

Xcotton helps brands address these risks with protection solutions designed around different stages of the customer journey—from shipping protection to product protection and extended warranty coverage.

This gives merchants a more structured way to protect purchases while giving customers greater confidence in the products they are investing in.

Modern Brands Are Selling More Than Products

The same trend can be seen across categories far beyond consumer electronics. Brands increasingly build their businesses around distinctive products, direct relationships, personalization, and customer experience.

LINTICO is a women’s natural-fabric clothing brand known for its linen womenswear. With linen at the heart of its collections, LINTICO focuses on thoughtfully chosen fibers and versatile pieces designed for everyday life, work, travel, and special occasions. Its philosophy, “Linen That Loves You Back,” reflects a focus on comfort, natural materials, and lasting appeal.

Lordhair is a men’s hair system brand serving customers in more than 120 countries. The company designs and manufactures its hair systems in-house, from ready-to-wear pieces to fully customized bases. Localized websites, native-language support, and one-to-one consultations help customers navigate fitting and aftercare while creating a more personalized buying experience.

MICAS represents the growing market for elevated modern womenswear, where product design, brand identity, digital commerce, and customer experience are increasingly interconnected.

Popilush is a global shapewear fashion brand combining fashion and functionality through its signature built-in shapewear designs. Founded by Eve DeMartine, the company creates one-piece dresses and confidence-enhancing apparel for women worldwide, with a strong focus on functional design, inclusive fashion, and body confidence.

These brands illustrate a common reality of modern commerce: Customers are not simply buying a product. They are buying confidence in the brand behind it. That confidence can be influenced by what happens before the purchase—and just as importantly, what happens afterward.

From Cost Center to Business Opportunity

Post-purchase protection has traditionally been associated with risk management.

A shipment is lost. A merchant replaces it.

A package arrives damaged. A refund is issued.

A customer reports a problem. The support team resolves it.

But this reactive model can overlook the larger opportunity. What if protection could be designed as part of the customer journey from the beginning? What if customers knew before they completed their purchase that there was a clear solution if something went wrong?

And what if merchants could use protection not only to reduce the financial impact of delivery problems, but also to improve customer confidence and create additional business value?

This represents a broader shift in how brands can think about post-purchase protection. It is not simply about covering a loss. It is about creating confidence around the purchase. For e-commerce brands competing for repeat customers, that confidence can matter.

XCOTTON Connects With Brands at IFA 2026

IFA 2026 provides an ideal environment for these conversations. The event brings together companies across consumer technology, retail, home appliances, smart home, AI, robotics, and emerging categories. For businesses developing the next generation of consumer products, reaching the customer is only one part of the challenge. Delivering that product successfully—and creating a positive experience afterward—is equally important.

In Berlin, Xcotton connects with:

• E-commerce and direct-to-consumer brands
• Consumer technology companies
• Retailers and distributors
• Smart home and connected-device businesses
• Fashion and lifestyle brands
• Technology and logistics partners
• Companies expanding into international markets

The goal is to understand the challenges these businesses face after checkout and explore opportunities to build stronger post-purchase experiences together. The complete journey: Discover. Purchase. Deliver. Protect. Support. Retain.

The Future of Commerce Goes Beyond Checkout

IFA 2026 is showcasing technologies designed to make consumer lives smarter, more connected, and more convenient.

For commerce brands, however, the next evolution may not be limited to smarter products. It may also be about creating smarter experiences around those products. The customer journey does not end when the payment is processed. It continues through fulfillment, delivery, support, returns, protection, and resolution. And when something goes wrong, the response can become one of the most important moments in the relationship between a customer and a brand.

Post-purchase protection is not simply about protecting a package. It is about protecting customer trust. During IFA 2026 in Berlin, Xcotton connects with brands that are looking to explore how better post-purchase experiences can help modern e-commerce businesses reduce delivery risk, strengthen customer relationships, and create lasting value. The future of commerce doesn’t end at checkout. It begins there.

Contact: merchantsupport@xcotton.ai