Expert Advice for Marketing Leaders on MarTech, AI, & CX
Master the landscape of online retail. Guides on D2C strategies, retail media networks, and leveraging technology to scale your ecommerce business.
By 2024, active voice assistants topped 8.4 billion worldwide—yes, that’s more assistants than humans. Voice-driven purchases now account for $3.3 billion in consumer spending, with projections reaching $45 billion by 2028. Adoption is meaningful, too: as many as 43% of people with voice-enabled devices use them for shopping activities. Of those, 51% use voice to research products, 22% buy directly, and 17% use it to reorder.
We are entering an era where the brand is less defined by its advertising and more by its operational excellence. The consumer, now accustomed to near-instant gratification, has little patience for supply chain disruptions, delayed orders, or poor communication. The paradox we face is that as AI potentially atomizes the customer journey across infinite touchpoints, it also provides the tools for unprecedented levels of personalization and proactive service.
The story isn’t declining foot traffic — it’s the rise of informed,
AI-empowered buyers who expect certainty and value in every interaction. This article was written by Greg Kihlström for CMSWire.
For years, the promise of retail media networks (RMNs) has been shimmering on the horizon—a high-margin revenue stream for retailers and a direct line to the point of purchase for CPG brands. Yet, for many, the reality has felt less like a strategic revolution and more like a digital version of the in-store circular. The focus has often remained on top-line metrics and impressions, treating the RMN as just another advertising channel to be managed, measured, and ultimately, siloed from the core business.
The payments landscape is rapidly evolving, driven by digital transformation and rising customer expectations. Consumers crave seamless, integrated experiences, and businesses that fail to deliver risk being left behind.
Return on investment (ROI) is the lifeblood of any successful business, yet many organizations find themselves grappling with how to accurately measure it, especially regarding their marketing and technology investments.
With significant investments into digital storefronts, complete with
product storytelling and sophisticated customer acquisition strategies,
brands are keeping up with their online competition, yet a critical factor
is undermining their long-term success.
The convergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and marketing has ignited a fervor, leaving many enterprise marketing leaders both intrigued and apprehensive. While the transformative potential of AI is undeniable, the current hype cycle necessitates a discerning approach.
The retail landscape is in constant flux, a dynamic environment shaped by evolving consumer behaviors and rapid technological advancements. For furniture retailers, this presents a unique set of challenges. The sheer volume of products, coupled with the intricacies of managing data across multiple vendors and platforms, can be overwhelming. Enter agentic AI, a technology poised to revolutionize how retailers operate, optimize, and personalize the customer experience. Dan Russotto, General Manager at furniture.com, an innovative furniture aggregator, offers valuable insights into how his company leverages agentic AI to navigate these complexities and create a seamless shopping experience.
The global e-commerce landscape is a complex and ever-shifting terrain. Navigating its intricacies requires more than just agility; it demands foresight, adaptability, and a commitment to continuous evolution. From fluctuating tariffs and de minimis thresholds to optimizing peak season delivery strategies and regional fulfillment, the challenges are numerous.
