Latest Software & Apps News
Microsoft launches agentic AI suite for end‑to‑end retail automation
Microsoft announced new **agentic AI capabilities for retail**, embedding AI agents across merchandising, store operations, supply chain and customer experience to automate complex workflows. These capabilities are built on Microsoft Cloud for Retail and Azure AI, aiming to help retailers reduce stockouts, optimize pricing and personalize shopping journeys at scale.
Microsoft open‑sources XAML Studio to accelerate UI prototyping
Microsoft has **open‑sourced XAML Studio**, a tool for rapid prototyping of Universal Windows Platform interfaces, giving developers full access to modify and extend it. The move is framed as part of a broader push toward open‑source tools and community‑driven innovation in Microsoft’s developer ecosystem.
Parallels Desktop named top 2026 software for running Windows on Mac
Software Experts ranked **Parallels Desktop** as the leading solution to run Windows on macOS, especially for gaming, software development and education workflows. The review highlights its optimization for Apple Silicon, strong performance, and seamless Windows app launch without rebooting, which supports hybrid work and cross‑platform needs.
AI “agentic” apps surge as core theme in enterprise and productivity software
Industry analysis notes that **agentic AI**—autonomous agents that plan and execute multi‑step workflows—is becoming a central pattern in business and productivity apps. These agents are increasingly embedded in enterprise tools, moving software from simple chatbots to end‑to‑end workflow orchestration across functions like finance, legal and operations.
AI‑native architecture reshapes enterprise applications, says SAP
SAP executives outline how **AI‑native enterprise software** will center on multi‑model natural language interfaces, reasoning agents and knowledge‑graph‑driven context. They predict “no‑app ERP” experiences where users express intent in plain language and AI agents stitch together processes across analytics, CRM and travel tools.
Odoo tightens SaaS pricing strategy with recurring hikes and AI add‑ons
Odoo is shifting to a **stricter annual price‑increase strategy**, following a recent 30% price jump in the US. Analysts expect European price rises next, potentially to €44.90 per month, possibly bundled with AI credits to justify higher ERP subscription costs.
Epicor to phase out on‑premise ERP suites in favor of cloud‑first model
ERP vendor Epicor plans to **discontinue on‑premises versions** of products such as Kinetic, Prophet 21 and BisTrack as it pivots to cloud-first offerings. Final on‑prem releases will roll out between 2026 and 2028, with varying levels of support extending into 2029–2030.
AI startup Lovable hits $6.6B valuation with no‑code “vibe coding” platform
Swedish startup **Lovable** raised $330 million in Series B funding, tripling its valuation to **$6.6 billion** in six months. Its “vibe coding” platform lets non‑technical users build enterprise‑grade applications from text prompts, helping grow ARR from $1 million to $200 million in about a year.
LMArena and other AI‑app startups show massive user and revenue scale
AI‑app startup **LMArena** has reached about 5 million monthly users and facilitates roughly 60 million conversations via its crowdsourced model‑building platform. Together with other AI‑native apps, these companies demonstrate rapid revenue growth and strong enterprise adoption, underscoring investor confidence in AI‑application software.
Analysts: AI agents turning every business function into a software team
Venture analysis argues that **AI coding and workflow agents** are enabling “software‑first” teams across marketing, legal, procurement and finance. With code and feature development getting cheaper, enterprises are expected to dramatically expand the breadth of internal and customer‑facing software they build.
ERP trendwatch: ESG reporting and sovereign cloud baked into enterprise platforms
ERP experts highlight that **ESG reporting** is becoming a fully integrated part of ERP, with carbon footprints and supply‑chain ethics tracked like financial metrics. They also report rising adoption of **sovereign and hybrid clouds** in Europe to keep AI‑powered ERP compliant with the EU AI Act and GDPR.
FPT showcases AI‑first software stack at CES, from mobility to digital twins
At CES, FPT presented an **AI‑first portfolio** spanning AI‑defined mobility, smart manufacturing, digital twins and next‑generation digital experiences. The event underscored a broader shift where AI software stacks, from on‑device assistants to industrial‑scale automation, are moving from pilots to large‑scale deployment.