Hey there! Did you know that today is National Chicken Soup for the Soul Day? 🥣 

Whether you’re diving into cozy season or just in need of a little eCommerce inspiration, we’ve got you covered.

This week, we’re serving up all the latest in AI, AMP emails, social commerce, and a look at Amazon’s big drone delivery plans. So grab a warm drink (or some chicken soup!) and dive into the latest news with us!

ECOMMERCE EMAIL MARKETING

AMP for Email Converts Inboxes to Ecommerce Stores

In the evolving world of eCommerce, AMP for Email (Accelerated Mobile Pages for Email) offers a compelling opportunity for marketers aiming to boost revenue directly from inboxes. Companies like Zaymo and Mailmodo are leading the charge, with clients seeing up to a 71% increase in revenue from using interactive, AMP-powered emails.

AMP for Email allows users to interact with content — from swiping product carousels to adding items to a cart — without leaving their inbox. According to Zeeshan Akhtar of Mailmodo, these interactive emails eliminate the friction of redirecting to multiple pages, bringing the eCommerce experience directly to the consumer. Litmus’s Jaina Mistry also suggests that these engaging emails may boost open rates and deliverability.

The Challenges

AMP emails, however, come with limitations. They work in only about 30% of inboxes (e.g., Gmail and Yahoo) and are not yet supported in Apple Mail. Additionally, only a small number of email service providers support AMP, meaning marketers should research compatibility before implementing.

Despite these hurdles, AMP for Email provides a fresh, interactive approach to email marketing.

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ECOMMERCE SOCIAL COMMERCE

The Rise of Social Commerce: How Brands Are Shaping the Future of Online Shopping

Social commerce is transforming the way consumers shop, enabling purchases directly within social platforms. What began as simple product links has evolved into a multi-billion-dollar industry, with brands and shoppers alike appreciating the convenience of shopping within social media apps.

Platforms like TikTok, with over $10 billion in consumer spending, are leading this shift, though other giants like Walmart, Target, and Ulta Beauty are investing heavily in social commerce to drive sales and connect with customers. Brands are increasingly relying on influencers — powerful connectors with Gen Z audiences, who are 117% more likely to shop from influencers.

Walmart’s Walmart Creator platform, for example, equips influencers with tools to create content and earn commissions. Target’s collaboration with Linktree lets creators share shoppable recommendations, with celebrities like Tabitha Brown promoting Target’s products. Ulta Beauty has boosted its influencer network to amplify brand visibility, resulting in 250 million social impressions.

Meanwhile, Expedia launched Travel Shops, enabling influencers to recommend trips directly in its app, blending social inspiration with eCommerce. This rise of social commerce marks a significant shift, merging digital influence with consumer behavior.

ECOMMERCE AI

AI Retail Race Heats Up as Shopify, Amazon, and Google Launch New Tools

The race to dominate AI in retail is intensifying, with tech giants like Shopify, Amazon, and Google introducing powerful new tools to transform the shopping experience. From personalization to advanced robotics, these innovations are set to reshape eCommerce.

Shopify recently teamed up with Coveo to integrate AI-driven personalization into Shopify Plus, allowing merchants to offer real-time, tailored recommendations without complex tech setups. This partnership aims to help eCommerce stores compete with industry heavyweights by enhancing customer experiences and driving conversions.

Meanwhile, Amazon's founder Jeff Bezos has invested $400 million in Physical Intelligence, a robotics startup developing human-like dexterity for automated tasks — ideal for handling logistics and labor shortages. The investment shows growing interest in robotics as retailers seek efficiency and cost savings.

Google is betting on visual search with Google Lens, which now processes 20 billion monthly queries, helping users find products by simply snapping a photo. Its new “Circle to Search” feature even enables instant shopping from videos, streamlining the path from discovery to purchase.

However, AI isn’t without risks. Google’s security chief recently warned that AI-driven threats are evolving, calling on companies to strengthen cybersecurity practices to counteract potential vulnerabilities.

ECOMMERCE RETAIL TRENDS

Amazon Gets FAA Approval for New Delivery Drone, Begins Arizona Tests

Amazon’s Prime Air program has hit a major milestone with FAA approval for its new MK30 delivery drone, enabling flights beyond the visual line of sight of pilots.

This quieter, smaller drone—unveiled in 2022—can now handle longer-range deliveries and operate in light rain, expanding the possibilities for Amazon’s delivery network.

Drone deliveries have begun in Tolleson, Arizona, near Phoenix, as part of Amazon's strategy to integrate drones with its warehouse operations and speed up Prime deliveries.

Since Jeff Bezos introduced the concept over a decade ago, Prime Air has faced challenges including regulatory delays, missed targets, and internal restructuring. Resident noise complaints near testing sites, like College Station, Texas, have also posed setbacks, prompting Amazon to explore quieter drones and alternative launch sites.

Drone delivery competitors like Alphabet’s Wing, UPS, and Walmart are also advancing, fueling a growing market for airborne delivery solutions.

ECOMMERCE IDEAS

Voice AI Orders Go Mainstream as Fast Food Chains Feed Millions

Voice AI in fast food is no longer experimental, as Taco Bell’s AI-driven ordering system has processed 2 million customer orders, marking a major shift in consumer interactions.

Yum! Brands, Taco Bell’s parent company, has rolled out voice AI in 300+ locations, anticipating that the technology will soon extend to other retail sectors. However, human roles remain essential for handling complex customer needs, notes PolyAI CEO Nikola Mrkšić.

Voice ordering is also catching on with consumers, especially Gen Z and high-income shoppers. PYMNTS reports 27% of consumers have used voice AI for shopping in the last year. Accelerating adoption has led Yum! Brands to offer the technology at competitive rates, dubbing it their “extra pair of hands” for restaurant staff.

Yet, industry leaders emphasize the continued need for human interactions. Sanas CEO Maxim Serebryakov points out that 55% of customers still prefer speaking to a human.

Additionally, demand is growing for multilingual voice AI, with nearly three-quarters of consumers favoring service in their native language. Balancing convenience with empathy will be key, says iGrafx CPO Shoeb Javed, as voice AI technology continues to evolve.

Signing off,

The Merchant @CartHustle