E-commerce is an industry that has sprung to life in the last decade or so. The majority of all types of shopping starts online, and a huge percentage of it ends online too. Businesses that rely on the Internet to sell their goods and services have the advantage of accessibility over their brick-and-mortar counterparts, and there is still plenty of potential for growth in the future.
One of the reasons that the e-commerce sector will continue to grow is because of artificial intelligence (AI). AI is the practice of computers performing the functions that normally require human capabilities, such as visual perception and decision-making. These complex programs can alter how an e-commerce business operates by taking over a large number of tasks that would normally be performed by an employee.
If you are a business owner or executive in the e-commerce sector, then you should be constantly studying the potential benefits of artificial intelligence because it can make life easier for you and your team. Here are a few of the ways that AI can impact an e-commerce brand.
Customer Research
Understanding the customer is the key to success for any business. Deep knowledge of the audience allows businesses to develop perfect products that meet the needs of the customer. It also can guide their decisions in marketing. One of AI’s many uses is collecting and interpreting customer data more efficiently, helping the brand learn more about the audience. AI can even use this information for offline marketing initiatives. For example, AI could help predict audience behavior and determine whether customers might prefer custom-printed tote bags or branded baseball hats as a promotional giveaway.
Targeted Marketing
Analyzing customer data is one piece of the puzzle. Curating targeted marketing for individual customers is another. Since AI can learn about individual consumers based on past purchases or how they navigate the company website, it can create a personalized online experience for that individual. Personalization is a feature that consumers love to see, as it makes the brand more relatable and authoritative. AI helps deliver content that customers want to see based on their own decisions, resulting in targeted marketing that resonates with the individual and is more likely to persuade.
Fast Online Sales
One of the main reasons that retail is one of the strongest online industries in the country is that people can make purchases quickly. The buyer’s journey is the process each consumer goes through when making a purchasing decision, from recognition of their need to coming back for a second purchase. AI makes it possible for the entire sales process to occur without any human intervention. It can send automated messages about abandoned carts or answer basic questions from the customer while they shop. This results in a more efficient sales process that lowers the possibility of employees being bogged down with these stages of the buyer’s journey.
Automation
One of the main advantages that AI offers is automation. Manual tasks can slow down progress for an e-commerce brand, so being able to automate logistical operations with AI and machine learning yields a more efficient company. AI can help automate processes like product recommendations, email scheduling for marketing initiatives, creating profiles in customer relationship management programs, and responding to customer inquiries. All these tasks would take much longer if handled manually by a person on your team.
Content Writing
One of the most controversial areas in AI development is its ability to create written content incredibly fast. Creative writers everywhere are concerned about the advancements in AI tools like ChatGPT that can craft written content seemingly out of thin air based on a given prompt. Although the technology is imperfect, and the content itself can sometimes read quite robotic, it provides a valuable service when marketing teams are searching for content ideas or templates.
Managing Product Reviews
The vast majority of consumers will rely on reviews online when shopping on e-commerce sites. The main reason is that they cannot inspect the product in person, so they want reliable data about its effectiveness. Unfortunately, not all product reviews online are real or even up-to-date. Amazingly, AI can be utilized to help verify whether product reviews are real or not. It can also help sort them in terms of usefulness to new customers and recency. This ensures that real reviews from real customers are the only things influencing other consumers.
With so Many Possibilities, AI Innovation Will Continue to Change the E-Commerce Landscape
The list above is just a small representation of the impact that AI is having on the e-commerce industry. As this technology improves and grows, its applications will also increase. Staying on top of this trend and researching how it can benefit your e-commerce brand could keep you at the top of your industry if you have a strong strategy for AI implementation.
