September eCommerce Updates from Trellis Partners
Kate Dubovikova
Kate Dubovikova
In September, the eCommerce landscape witnessed significant updates as industry leaders made strategic moves to enhance their technological capabilities and operational efficiency. Klarna announced a dramatic workforce reduction aimed at integrating AI technology, while Shopify welcomed Mikhail Parakhin as its new Chief Technology Officer, signaling a commitment to innovation. BigCommerce also made headlines with the appointment of Travis Hess as CEO, indicating a new direction for the platform. These updates, alongside advancements from Triple Whale, Loop, Shogun, and Rebuy, highlight a shift towards tech-driven solutions that aim to optimize merchant experiences and improve customer engagement.
Let’s dive into the main industry news from last month and all the major updates from our partners:
Industry News
Klarna CEO Plans Workforce Reduction Amid AI Expansion
Klarna’s CEO, Sebastian Siemiatkowski, recently announced plans to cut the company’s workforce in half, aiming to replace roles with AI technology. Klarna currently employs around 4,000 people, and this reduction would lead to a significant shift in its operational model. Siemiatkowski believes that AI will enhance productivity and help Klarna do “much more with less,” potentially boosting revenue while reducing costs.
This drastic move underscores Klarna’s push towards tech-driven efficiency and its confidence in AI’s capabilities. Such automation could save costs but may also impact the broader workforce dynamics and company culture. Read more about it here.
September eCommerce Updates from Shopify
Shopify has recently appointed Mikhail Parakhin as its new Chief Technology Officer (CTO). Parakhin comes with a strong background from Microsoft, where he was the CEO of Advertising and Web Services. His previous roles included leading the web experiences team and serving as a corporate VP of technology. Shopify’s leadership praised him as an expert in machine learning, indicating their confidence in his ability to drive technical innovation. His responsibilities will now focus on leading Shopify’s engineering and data divisions to advance their technological strategies.
This hiring move shows Shopify’s commitment to enhancing its technical and data-driven capabilities. With Parakhin’s expertise in machine learning and his leadership experience, Shopify is aiming to bolster its platform’s personalization features and optimize merchant experiences. For merchants, this could mean more innovative tools and streamlined processes in the near future, enhancing their ability to drive conversions and engagement. You can read more about this update here.
September eCommerce Updates from BigCommerce
BigCommerce has announced a leadership change, appointing Travis Hess as its new CEO. Hess steps in to fill the role previously held by Brent Bellm, who is no longer with the company or on the Board of Directors. Hess, who has been elected as a director, brings extensive experience and a fresh perspective to lead BigCommerce forward. Additionally, Ellen Siminoff, an existing board member, has been named Executive Chair of the Board, further solidifying the company’s leadership team.
With this strategic move, BigCommerce aims to strengthen its position in the competitive eCommerce market. Travis Hess’s appointment signals a new chapter focused on growth and innovation for the platform. For BigCommerce merchants, this change in leadership might lead to new initiatives and refined strategies that enhance the platform’s functionality and scalability. You can find more details here.
September eCommerce Updates from Triple Whale
Triple Whale is now available for BigCommerce, providing users with powerful analytics and AI-driven insights. This integration enables merchants to access detailed metrics on sales, customer behavior, and marketing performance within their BigCommerce stores. By leveraging Triple Whale, businesses can make informed decisions faster, improving growth strategies and optimizing efficiencies. It offers an all-in-one solution with data visualization, predictive analytics, and advanced reporting, tailored to help BigCommerce users streamline their operations and increase profitability. Learn more about this integration here.
September eCommerce Updates from Loop
Loop has introduced Offset, an innovative solution that covers return costs entirely for merchants. This new feature includes free return shipping, hassle-free drop-offs at Return Bar®, and access to Loop’s top-tier returns management software. The aim is to eliminate the need for businesses to allocate budgets for returns, making the process cost-efficient and smooth.
For merchants, Offset is a game-changer. It not only reduces expenses but also boosts average order value (AOV). By offering customers free and easy returns, merchants can increase satisfaction and build stronger relationships. This streamlined approach optimizes operations and encourages repeat purchases. You can find more details about Loop Offset here.
September eCommerce Updates from Shogun
Shogun has introduced two powerful updates to enhance user experiences on Shopify and BigCommerce platforms.
Easily Edit and Optimize Shopify 2.0 Pages
With Shogun’s new Shopify 2.0 importer, users can now bring in any page built on Shopify 2.0 with just one click. Once imported, merchants can leverage Shogun’s visual editor to make changes and optimize pages effortlessly. The update also enables users to use advanced features like A/B testing and personalization, and even add theme sections directly to Shogun pages, streamlining the editing process.
BigCommerce Multi-Storefront Integration
Shogun has launched a multi-storefront integration for BigCommerce users, centralizing the management of multiple storefronts. Merchants can selectively publish content to one or multiple storefronts, simplifying workflows. This integration also supports A/B testing across various storefronts and allows for personalized experiences tailored to each individual storefront, helping brands deliver consistent messaging while catering to unique audience needs.
September eCommerce Updates from Rebuy
Rebuy has given its Smart Cart™ a refresh with several new features designed to help brands optimize their shopping experiences and boost conversions.
The updated Smart Cart™ includes:
- Drag & Drop Component Style Editor: Easily design shopping experiences for both mobile and desktop.
- Double-Wide Cart Layout: Offers more in-cart upsell and cross-sell recommendations to increase AOV.
- Shopify Functions Support: Build discounts and product offers in the Tiered Progress Bar.
- Tiered Progress Bar Enhancements: Customize Gift With Purchase offers with images and product titles.
- Login Component: Strengthens loyalty by enabling shopper sign-ins.
This revamp gives brands more flexibility to design and customize the entire cart experience, improving engagement and revenue potential.
A/B Testing
Rebuy has introduced new A/B testing functionality for its Checkout Extensions and Content Blocks. This feature allows brands to experiment with different checkout elements and optimize their customers’ experiences. By testing these variations, users can gain deeper insights into how specific extensions impact both conversion rates and revenue. The update provides valuable data to fine-tune checkout designs, ultimately enhancing performance and boosting sales.
To learn more about setting up A/B tests with Rebuy, you can check out their training overview.
September eCommerce Updates from Privy
Privy recently rolled out significant updates to its Convert product, focusing on enhancing user engagement and conversion capabilities for brands. These updates include a new template library, flexible multi-step displays, fullscreen pop-ups, mini quizzes, and several new elements like countdown timers and dynamic product components. The aim is to help brands create more visually appealing and interactive displays.
These improvements allow merchants to boost conversions by providing a more tailored and engaging experience for customers. With features like quizzes and multi-step displays, brands can now collect valuable zero-party data, which enhances personalization and builds stronger customer relationships. These tools make it easier for merchants to increase conversion rates and create engaging shopping experiences. For more details, you can explore Privy’s latest updates.
September eCommerce Updates from Contentful
Contentful has integrated Ninetailed, a leading personalization tool, to enhance content ROI with AI-driven personalized experiences across channels. Now, Contentful users can seamlessly build and deliver tailored content based on data insights, providing an improved customer experience. This integration allows businesses to leverage Ninetailed’s AI-native features within the Contentful environment, making it simpler to optimize content strategies and increase engagement.
By combining Ninetailed’s advanced personalization with Contentful’s content management capabilities, brands can effectively target and engage audiences, driving higher conversion rates and customer satisfaction. Learn more here.
September eCommerce Updates from Black Crow & Yotpo
Yotpo and Black Crow AI have launched a groundbreaking integration that combines Yotpo’s SMS and email channels with Black Crow’s advanced Predictive AI and Smart ID capabilities. This partnership allows brands to tap into predictive insights to create highly personalized customer journeys through SMS and email marketing. Businesses can now predict customer behavior and segment audiences based on real-time data, enhancing targeting precision.
This integration benefits merchants by elevating the customer experience and boosting revenue. With predictive insights, brands can craft more relevant messages, improving engagement and conversion rates. Leveraging AI for precise targeting maximizes ROI and enables marketers to optimize campaigns effectively. Learn more about this integration.
Conclusion
As the eCommerce sector evolves, these September updates reflect a broader trend toward automation and enhanced data-driven decision-making. Companies are not only looking to cut costs but also to provide merchants with the tools necessary to thrive in a competitive marketplace. With AI integration, new leadership, and innovative solutions, the future of eCommerce appears poised for growth, promising exciting developments for both businesses and consumers alike.
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