May 2023 E-commerce Digest: AI Retargeting, Social Media Integration, and Global Expansion

Welcome to Membrace’s bi-weekly digest, where we delve into the pivotal trends and updates in the e-commerce sector. This edition spotlights AI retargeting, social media platform integration, and global e-commerce expansion, with regional snapshots from Europe, the Americas, MENA, and Asia.

Global E-com Highlights

• InsightAce Analytics projects that the AI-powered e-commerce market will be worth an estimated $16.8 billion by 2030.
• AI is evolving beyond just growth. Retargeting engines, like Xtend's recent launch, are revolutionizing marketing strategies from traditional funnels to predictive user profiles.
• The e-commerce market continues its worldwide expansion, with MENA's market reaching $37 billion in 2022, according to EZDubai.

E-com in Europe and the Americas

• In Europe, Zalando is leveling up its customer service with an AI-powered fashion assistant integrated into its website and app.
• BRF partners with Vortex, leveraging the B2B trend of live shopping experiences, aiming to increase its processed food online sales.
• eBay is transforming its business model, reintroducing the pay-per-click feature in the US and prompting sellers to use social media for store promotion.
• MercadoLibre plans to generate thousands of jobs as it expands its logistics business, riding on the back of a 208.5% rise in its first-quarter net income.
• Shopify, in an effort to streamline its operations, is cutting about 20% of its workforce due to increased business automation.

E-com in MENA, Asia, and South Africa

• Middle Eastern platform Zbooni is supporting local UAE businesses by launching its first chat-to-shop marketplace, cShop Market.
• Landmark Retail has chosen Broadleaf Commerce to provide e-commerce microservices for its Emax Electronics business.
• Alibaba's logistics arm, Cainiao, is establishing strategic collaborations to foster bilateral trade between China, Brazil, and Latin America.
• FIS plans to expand its Worldpay merchant payments arm into the UAE, accelerating local e-commerce growth.
• Cape Town-based company Pargo is venturing into Egypt, following intense growth in South Africa, offering click-and-collect and returns solutions.