AI in e-commerce. Overview of global leaders

E-commerce is constantly evolving under the influence of artificial intelligence (AI), opening up new opportunities for organizations to interact with customers and optimize business operations. Through the use of AI, companies like BloomsyBox, Shopify, Etsy, and Stitch Fix have not only revolutionized their businesses but also set new standards for the industry. In this article, we’ll take a look at how artificial intelligence in e-commerce is transforming this sector and what innovations could define its future. Read on to find out more.

AI in e-commerce - table of contents

How AI in e-commerce is transforming shopping online?

From personalizing offers to predicting demand to optimizing the supply chain, the role of AI in e-commerce can’t be underestimated. By leveraging AI, businesses are becoming more competitive, providing a higher level of service to customers and increasing their operational efficiency. Take chatbots and virtual assistants, for example. These innovative tools not only answer customers’ questions, but also anticipate their needs through advanced algorithms.

BloomsyBox. Personalization with AI in e-commerce

BloomsyBox, a subscription-based flower delivery service, is showing how AI can personalize communications and create unique experiences for customers. It has integrated generative AI into its e-commerce chatbot to create personalized greeting cards. This is an example of how advanced algorithms can bring an emotional element to customer communications, even in an industry as traditional as floristry.

The BloomsyBox chatbot uses generative artificial intelligence in e-commerce to create personalized greeting cards, allowing customers to express their emotions in a unique way. And the interactive nature of the chatbot encourages communication by rewarding responses, creating a stronger bond between the brand and the customer. By personalizing messages, customers feel more valued and are more likely to continue interacting.

Source: DALL·E 3, prompt: Marta M. Kania (https://www.linkedin.com/in/martamatyldakania/)

Shopify Sidekick, or chatbot for sellers

Shopify is a platform that dynamically deploys AI to help online store owners manage and grow their businesses. It is a perfect example of how artificial intelligence can support e-commerce development by providing tools that streamline the day-to-day operations of online stores.

The company is testing a new solution called Sidekick, a generative AI bot that helps salespeople with tasks like:

setting discounts,

summarizing sales data, or

modifying store projects.

This is an example of how AI-based tools in e-commerce can improve daily store operations and marketplace efficiency.

Shopify’s Sidekick provides personalized assistance and collects data from the web to provide actionable insights that can be immediately applied to business strategy. The bot is designed to support users’ visions and goals for their online business, demonstrating that e-commerce artificial intelligence can be not only an operational tool but also a strategic business partner.

Source: Shopify (https://www.shopify.com/magic)

Etsy, a special task for AI in e-commerce

Etsy is a platform known for selling unique handmade products that utilizes artificial intelligence for personalization and optimization of user experiences. The impression that not only the product but also the customer is unique is crucial for success in the handmade products sector.

Personalizing the customer experience on Etsy is multi-faceted through the use of artificial intelligence in e-commerce. Search results on Etsy are influenced by:

user location – which helps promote local vendors and products,
search history on Etsy – personalizes product recommendations, which improves customer experience and loyalty to the platform. It also proves that AI can have a direct impact on building long-term customer relationships.

But most important is Etsy’s unique semantic search. It takes into account listing details and user behavior data to deliver relevant search results. This is key to increasing sales effectiveness.

Source: Etsy (https://www.etsy.com/codeascraft/from-image-classification-to-multitask-modeling-building-etsys-search-by-image-feature)

Stitch Fix

Stitch Fix is a company that offers personalized styling and clothing services, using AI to create ads and product descriptions. It uses AI to personalize its services, creating ads and product descriptions that meet individual customer needs.

Generative AI, like GPT-3, enables Stitch Fix to create attention-grabbing headlines and product descriptions. AI-generated advertising headlines are, however, reviewed and adjusted by Stitch Fix experts. In best practices, AI collaborates with human experience rather than replacing it.

The company is also fine-tuning the language models it uses so that AI can better understand their style, resulting in accurate and engaging product descriptions. This is an example of using artificial intelligence to improve the quality of content.

Source: Stitch Fix (https://newsroom.stitchfix.com/blog/how-were-revolutionizing-personal-styling-with- generative-ai/)

The future of AI in e-commerce – what innovations may surprise us?

The future of AI in e-commerce looks really promising. Innovations like generative AI are already significantly impacting the industry, providing realistic images and generating product-specific descriptions aligned with the brand’s tone of voice.

And so Stitch Fix combines generative artificial intelligence algorithms with human expertise, enhancing the efficiency of creative processes. Thanks to the expert-in-the-loop approach, involving humans in the content creation process, Stitch Fix optimizes social media advertising campaigns without compromising quality.

Artificial intelligence brings benefits both in terms of optimizing processes and increasing customer satisfaction. Companies such as BloomsyBox, Shopify, and Etsy demonstrate that investing in AI can significantly impact success in the rapidly changing world of e-commerce.

For young entrepreneurs, it will be crucial to understand the potential of AI and leverage it to gain a competitive advantage. Are you ready for the future of AI in e-commerce? Are your business operations already supported by artificial intelligence? How can you use AI to surprise your customers?

If you like our content, join our busy bees community on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest, TikTok.

Author: Robert Whitney
JavaScript expert and instructor who coaches IT departments. His main goal is to up-level team productivity by teaching others how to effectively cooperate while coding.
View all posts