Ayushi Nema

Tag: e-commerceupdates2025

  • Agentic Commerce: The Next AI Revolution in Shopping (2025 Update)

    Consumers are rapidly embracing agentic commerce — a new era where AI agents don’t just recommend products… they buy them for you.

    AI is no longer just a digital shopping assistant. It’s becoming the shopper itself — discovering, comparing, adding to cart, and even checking out on your behalf. Leading platforms like OpenAI (with Stripe), Shopify, Amazon, Google, and PayPal are racing to make this a seamless, chat-based reality.

    What Is Agentic Commerce?

    Agentic commerce is powered by autonomous AI agents that manage the entire customer journey — from discovery to payment.
    Until now, AI only suggested what to buy. In 2025, platforms like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Operator (by OpenAI) are enabling fully agent-driven transactions directly inside chat interfaces — no website visits required.

    Explosive Adoption: 2025 Data Snapshot

    AI shopping is going mainstream:

    • 60–74% of consumers now use AI during their shopping journey (BCG, Adobe)
    • 38% have tried GenAI-powered shopping; of those, 85% say it’s better than traditional browsing (HUMAN)
    • AI-driven product recommendations convert 4.4× higher than classic search (Semrush)
    Metric2025 DataSource
    AI in shopping adoption60–74%BCG, Adobe
    GenAI shopping trial rate38%HUMAN
    Preference for agentic shopping85% (among users)HUMAN
    Conversion rate (AI agent traffic)4.4× higherSemrush

    Transforming the Checkout Experience

    The checkout experience is evolving from referral-based to agent-to-checkout.
    AI agents can now build carts and process payments autonomously. Imagine asking your assistant, “Get me a travel backpack under $100,” and the purchase is completed — instantly, securely, and without leaving the chat.

    The Future: Agent-to-Agent Commerce

    The next leap? AI agents negotiating with brand-owned agents.
    Consumers will simply set their preferences — and AI agents will do the rest: compare, negotiate, and buy.

    By 2026, at least 20% of retail transactions are expected to be agent-driven. By 2035, up to 80% of internet traffic could be managed by agents.

    What This Means for Brands

    AI agents are becoming the new customers.
    Brands must now:

    • Optimize product data for AI discoverability
    • Enable agent-to-agent transactions
    • Redefine loyalty and visibility for a world where algorithms make the buying decisions

    Those who invest early in agentic infrastructure will lead. Those who don’t may lose visibility altogether.

    Sources

    McKinsey • BCG • Adobe • HUMAN • Gartner • Semrush • Platform announcements from OpenAI, Shopify, Amazon & Google

    Agentic commerce isn’t a future concept — it’s here, and it’s scaling fast.
    The question isn’t if AI will shop for consumers.
    It’s whether your brand is ready to sell to AI.

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  • Social E-commerce: The Future of Online Shopping Has Gone Social

    A person holds a smartphone, focused on social e-commerce, with text overlay highlighting its significance in online shopping.

    In today’s digital-first world, the consumer journey has undergone a dramatic shift. We no longer browse, decide, and buy on separate platforms — it’s all happening in one place: social media.

    Welcome to the era of Social E-commerce — where platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and Pinterest are not just for engagement, but for shopping, selling, and storytelling. And this shift is completely transforming marketing strategies and reshaping how e-commerce businesses operate.

    What is Social E-commerce?

    Social E-commerce (or social commerce) is the practice of using social media platforms to promote and directly sell products and services. This includes:

    • Shoppable posts
    • Livestream shopping
    • In-app checkout
    • Product tagging in content
    • Influencer-led campaigns
    • Short-form video commerce (e.g., TikTok Shop)

    It’s a seamless integration of product discovery, community interaction, and purchase — all happening without ever leaving the platform.

    Why Social E-commerce Is Exploding: The Numbers

    • The global social commerce market is expected to hit $1.2 trillion by 2025, growing at a CAGR of over 30% through 2030.
    • In the U.S., consumers are expected to spend over $90 billion through social commerce channels in 2025.
    • Over 74% of social media users in the U.S. have made at least one purchase directly from a social media platform in the past month.
    • 82% of consumers use social platforms for product discovery and research.
    • Platforms like TikTok Shop saw a 26% rise in U.S. social-commerce sales in 2024 alone.
    • TikTok has now become the 4th-largest beauty retailer in the UK, with one item sold every second through TikTok Shop.

    (Source: The Times, Business Insider, Investopedia, Insider Intelligence)

    How Social E-commerce is Reshaping Marketing Strategy

    1. From Push Marketing to Discovery-Driven Engagement

    Traditional ads are losing ground to scroll-stopping content. Social e-commerce thrives on discovery-based marketing, where the product is embedded within engaging content like Reels, Stories, and TikToks.

    • Brands now create entertainment-first content that subtly sells.
    • Influencer partnerships are used to boost authentic discovery.
    • Platforms like TikTok even allow creators to tag products directly.

    2. Shortening the Purchase Funnel

    The days of multi-step website journeys are fading. With in-app checkout, customers move from “like” to “buy” in seconds.

    • This eliminates friction, reduces bounce rates, and increases conversion.
    • Brands benefit from platform-native retargeting and data collection.

    3. Trust Through Social Proof & UGC

    Customers trust people more than polished brand ads.

    • User-Generated Content (UGC), testimonials, and comments now drive conversions.
    • Reviews, shares, and likes are the new product ratings.

    4. Rise of Live Shopping & Real-Time Selling

    Live commerce (QVC-style selling in a social setting) is gaining serious traction:

    • Shoppable live sessions convert at 10x higher rates than traditional e-commerce.
    • Viewers ask questions, get answers, and buy in real-time.

    5. Precision Targeting with Platform Algorithms

    Social media platforms provide hyper-personalized ad targeting.

    • TikTok and Meta platforms serve products to users based on behavior, interests, and interactions.
    • Brands can now reach niche audiences with pinpoint accuracy.
    A comparison chart highlighting key differences between Traditional and Social E-commerce strategies and features.

    This shift means e-commerce stores must now create for scroll-first consumption:
    🎥 Short videos
    📸 Shoppable images
    🧠 Relatable UGC
    📢 Influencer-led campaigns

    Who’s Winning with Social E-commerce?

    • Small businesses & solopreneurs using Instagram Shops for direct sales
    • DTC brands using TikTok for viral growth (ex: skincare, food, fashion)
    • Educational creators selling digital products via Pinterest and IG
    • Amazon & Shopify sellers driving off-platform traffic via influencer collabs

    What’s Next?

    In 2025 and beyond, expect:

    • AI-generated personalized feeds with shoppable product recommendations
    • Voice & visual commerce integration (e.g., “Shop what I see” via images)
    • More brands investing in creator partnerships over paid ads
    • Social CRM tools to manage customer conversations within platforms

    Final Takeaway

    Social e-commerce is not just a trend — it’s a fundamental shift in how we shop, market, and build trust.

    If your product isn’t shoppable on social media yet, you’re missing the next wave of growth. Whether you’re a startup or an established brand, now is the time to adapt your marketing strategy to meet consumers where they already are — on social.

    📩 Want to explore how social e-commerce can work for your business? Let’s talk strategy.

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