The Edge Summit ’23: Shaping the Future of AI-Powered Commerce

On August 24th and 25th, 2023, the commerce world witnessed a 2-day livestream event that pushed the boundaries of what’s possible in AI-powered commerce. The Edge Summit ’23, hosted by Bloomreach in Napa, California, took participants on a journey to the forefront of AI-driven commerce, reimagining the future of online shopping. Trellis, proudly standing as a Gold Sponsor alongside BigCommerce, explored the symbiotic future of commerce with AI and its transformative potential.

This two-day livestream event went beyond the usual conference setup, turning into an engaging conversation that brought together over 100 eCommerce leaders, both in person and online. Among the participants were notable figures from respected brands such as Third Love and Total Wine. It was an amazing opportunity to meet up with some old friends like Jason Won at Pughaus from our Formula I Miami event.

“By inviting senior leaders exclusively, the event ensured that discussions were substantive, avoiding unnecessary fluff and delivering high-impact insights,” said Jared Shaner, Partner and CRO at Trellis.

The summit kicked off with an outdoor welcome reception, hosted by Wunderman Thompson, creating a warm and engaging atmosphere. The following day marked by a packed schedule featuring industry speakers and panel discussions offered attendees a rare opportunity to explore Bloomreach’s innovative roadmap shaping the future of online shopping. Attendees then journeyed to the nearby Carneros Resort and Spa for peer-to-peer breakout sessions on the hype around AI, AI and ethics, AI and empathy, and practical applications for AI in eCommerce, discussions led by sponsors Codal, Ansira, commercetools, and Absolute Web. The day wrapped with a networking dinner, live music, farm-to-table dishes, and stunning sunset views. Day 3 concluded the event with a visit to the local Migration winery, where participants enjoyed wine tasting, delectable snacks, and scenic surroundings.

The entire event, a rich tapestry of visionary keynotes and sessions on emerging AI applications, is now available on-demand, inviting all to join the conversation at https://theedgesummit.com/

Highlights & Takeaways:

Shoppers as SEEKERS

Raj De Datta, the CEO of Bloomreach, introduced the concept of shoppers as “SEEKERS” rather than searchers. This idea underscores how consumers increasingly want to discover products, emphasizing the importance of personalized discovery.

Clarity AI

Bloomreach unveiled its first context search AI, Clarity AI, designed to empower personalized merchandising, potentially revolutionizing the way products are presented to consumers.

The Future of AI in eCommerce

The event highlighted that AI is rapidly approaching, and the eCommerce ecosystem needs to adapt to leverage its potential fully. Those who fail to do so risk falling behind competitors. While AI is advancing, many are still in the experimentation phase, with widespread implementation yet to come. The future lies in specialized AI for various use cases, such as content generation, copywriting, search, and customer service. Closed-ended AI tools that allow customization according to specific needs are the path forward.

Looking Ahead

The Edge Summit ’23 held particular significance as it focused exclusively on AI, an aspect often treated as secondary at eCommerce events. This event highlighted the present and future impact of AI in the eCommerce ecosystem, providing invaluable insights and strategies for Trellis, its partners, and customers.

In an ever-evolving eCommerce landscape, events like The Edge Summit ’23 illuminate the path forward, helping businesses embrace AI and stay competitive. Trellis looks forward to further involvement in this exciting journey and the continued evolution of AI in commerce.

“Trellis has been passively exploring different avenues to incorporate AI into our personal businesses as well as delivering more robust experiences for our clients.  Coming out of The Edge Summit, we are clear in our path for incorporating AI and currently the limitations are not exclusive to us,” said Jared Shaner, Partner and CRO at Trellis.

If you’re interested in learning more about Trellis and how we can help you leverage AI for eCommerce success, please don’t hesitate to contact us at contact@trellis.co.

As we look ahead, we anticipate more thrilling events that bring eCommerce thought leaders, merchants, and technology together to shape the future of the industry. Stay tuned for updates, and we hope to see you at future events that drive innovation in eCommerce.