US B2B ecommerce continues to expand as it becomes a default buying channel. But slower growth, operational gaps, and marketplace momentum are reshaping where value is created and how sellers compete.

The CDC’s new guidance muddles what’s essential, risking more missed or delayed shots.

Personalization remains one of the most reliable attention drivers, but recent data shows consumers are still uneasy about how brands achieve it. People across age groups feel more negative than positive toward personalized ads—even though they pay more attention to content that feels relevant. The result is a widening gap between consumer expectations and marketer behavior. To unlock personalization’s upside, brands must apply AI to improve relevance and transparency, not just scale output.

GenAI is becoming an indispensable tool for shoppers looking to navigate the endless aisle that is ecommerce. Two-thirds of consumers who make a weekly online purchase regularly use genAI assistants like ChatGPT to inform their shopping decisions, according to a survey from ecommerce retention platform Yotpo. GenAI is in the early stages of transforming the customer journey, but it is no doubt becoming a front door to ecommerce. Retailers need to be prepared for a future when AI, not shoppers, are the primary visitors to their sites. Those who invest in AI-ready content, authentic reviews, and clear product data will lure tomorrow’s customers. Those that don’t risk fading into the background of the AI-driven marketplace.

Generative AI (genAI) is fundamentally changing how consumers shop online, potentially eliminating the "treasure hunt" experience that drives impulse purchases and changing how marketers push products.

The beauty and cosmetics sector brought in $94.36 billion in consumer spending last year, claiming the title of the fastest-growing retail category in the US, per our The US Beauty Consumer report. With most consumers planning to boost their beauty budgets in 2024, the sector’s defiance against cautious spending habits is set to continue, driven by the enduring “lipstick effect,” the rise of dupes and Chinese-associated ecommerce giants, and more.

Embracing mobile gives consumers access to a branded experience both online and in-store, while in-store technologies bring the digital world into the physical. To cater to shoppers no matter where or how they shop, brands should also make sure they’re balancing in-store and online rewards as well as D2C and wholesale commerce.

On today's episode, we discuss how prepared measurement and syndication vendors are for the removal of third-party cookies and device IDs, what options advertisers have to maintain measurement and addressability, and some best practices and recommendations for both sides of the supply chain that will help them seamlessly transition to a privacy-centric future. We then talk about how connected TV (CTV) giants are holding onto new customers, YouTube's CTV ads that can move over to your smartphone, and where people prefer to watch movies. Tune in to the discussion with senior vice president of product and general manager of customer experience at Neustar Steve Silvers and eMarketer principal analyst at Insider Intelligence Paul Verna.

Here’s how publishers are developing and expanding their ecommerce monetization strategies, and how brands and retailers can partner with them to drive purchases in the affiliate channel.

According to a March 2019 survey from consumer intelligence platform Toluna, more than one in four US internet users would be motivated to consider trying a new direct-to-consumer (D2C) brand if they were offered a free trial period.

Only 5% of senior marketers in North America surveyed by CMO Council and RedPoint Global in March 2018 said they could deliver data-driven experiences in real time across channels.