Artificial intelligence, especially generative AI like the now seemingly ever present ChatGPT, is gaining more and more traction in a variety of use cases. Even in e-commerce, companies are increasingly integrating AI-based chatbots or, as eBay is doing, ChatGPT-based functions for generating product descriptions.
Amazon is also finding more uses for integrating AI into their operations. In warehouses in the U.S., for example, the company is currently testing software that identifies damaged goods and removes them from inventory. Apart from AI-related news, rumors are also growing around Amazon potentially expanding its Prime membership program in the U.S. to include a mobile service called Amazon Prime Wireless.
Updates: Amazon
Amazon to Identify Damaged Goods with AI
In the U.S., Amazon is testing the use of artificial intelligence to identify damaged goods before they are shipped, according to insider information. By analyzing images and information about the condition of goods, the software detects potential damage. Then, the AI automatically decides whether a product should be classified as damaged and removed from inventory. The test is currently running in two fulfillment centers and will be expanded to ten more in the US and Europe.
Wireless Services Soon to be Part of Prime Subscription?
Amazon may be planning to expand into the wireless telecommunications sector. According to insider information, the company is planning to offer mobile connectivity under the name Amazon Prime Wireless as part of the Amazon Prime membership. The launch of this service would put Amazon in direct competition with established wireless carriers. Amazon is said to be in negotiations with U.S. services such as Verizon, T-Mobile, and DISH, but an official announcement has yet to be made.
Inflation Largely Absent in E-Commerce
The Handelsblatt, a daily German business newspaper, recently published a study, which concluded that inflation has not affected E-Commerce as significantly as other sectors. We also used our Remdash tool to examine prices on the German Amazon marketplace. We found that prices for baby goods, cosmetics and body care were even lower this year than last year. Household goods and furniture, on the other hand, have become more expensive. Our findings are in line with those of Adobe, which conducted a similar analysis for the US market.
Six Flags Uses Just Walk Out Technology from Amazon
Six Flags is the first U.S. theme park operator to test Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology to reduce wait times at its amusement parks. It will be integrated into a 400-square-foot “Quick Six” store and enable cashier-less payments. Amazon began selling this technology to other retailers in March 2020. For example, Hudson has also opened a “non-stop store” with Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology at some airports in the U.S.
Amazon Abandons “Shipment Zero”
In February 2019, Amazon had announced Shipment Zero: by 2030, 50% of all shipments would be carbon neutral. Now, Amazon believes that it is no longer appropriate to formulate climate targets for only one area. Amazon’s Climate Pledge was also introduced in 2019, with goals to purchase only renewable energy by 2030 and to be carbon neutral company-wide by 2040. These targets continue to apply.
Updates: E-Commerce
eBay Tests Product Description Creation via ChatGPT
eBay is testing a new AI feature: the Generative AI Description Generator uses ChatGPT to generate product descriptions. However, the feature is only available to select Android app users, so for now it’s not aimed at larger companies whose product content is usually handled by multichannel management software systems. So far, enthusiasm for texts created using Generative AI Description Generator has also been limited.
What Caught Our Attention
Amazon is testing a new layout for its mobile app in the U.S. The new layout moves the search box to the bottom of the screen. The change, which has been visible to some users since June 1, is intended to make the search box easily accessible even if someone is only using their smartphone with one hand.
New and expanded on-demand learning content on Amazon Marketing Cloud (AMC) is now accessible through the Learning Console. The new learning content includes:
AMC foundations
AMC developer
AMC account setup and management
Fact of the Week
In an international comparison, it becomes clear that, next to the price, the product description on Amazon is the most important factor for purchase decisions (Source: International Amazon Shopper Report 2022, Remazing & Appinio).
Remdash x Leifheit
Leifheit sells products in more than 80 countries worldwide. Since 2018, they have used Remdash for 4,900 products on the EU7 Amazon marketplaces.
Here’s what Philipp Erlewein, Digital Marketing Team Lead at Leifheit, says about working with Remdash:
Top 5 Amazon Keywords
Summer temperatures have arrived in many countries, as reflected in the search results: pools and umbrellas were in high demand in Germany, fans in France, and sandals in Italy. In addition, shoppers searched increasingly for Father’s Day gifts in the U.S. and Mother’s Day gifts in France.