Facing a Future of Uncertainty: How My Industry Is Transforming Beyond Recognition in the Next Few Years

Navigating Change in the eCommerce Industry: Embracing Uncertainty and New Opportunities

As I approach my 30s, I find myself at a crossroads that I never anticipated. Having dedicated the last 16 years of my life to the eCommerce sector, I’m now facing an unprecedented shift that has left me questioning where I will be in five years.

Since I began my journey in eCommerce at the age of 14, I have climbed the ranks in various agencies since 2015. My career has evolved from a sales role to positions such as Director of Project Management and Director of Operations, ultimately landing me in my current role as Director of Partnerships. This trajectory has allowed me to engage in numerous web development and design projects, as well as spearhead large-scale SEO and eCommerce marketing campaigns. The financial scope of these projects has ranged from $20,000 to over $1 million, requiring strategic planning in areas like Conversion Rate Optimization, user interface and experience design, and upselling strategies.

However, the rapid encroachment of artificial intelligence into our industry is something I never envisioned. For instance, during my time at a previous agency that specialized in SEO, the team boasted 25 copywriters before 2021. A recent conversation with a colleague revealed a staggering change: they now have just four writers, yet their SEO department is generating $20,000 more per month than when I was there. The implementation of AI has effectively replaced many junior positions, enabling senior writers to focus on refining prompts to avoid copyright issues.

Similarly, another agency I am familiar with made the decision to let go of their entire U.S. development team, opting instead to employ developers from Latin America who depend on tools like ChatGPT for communication via platforms such as Jira and Slack.

While it’s premature to declare my industry in decline, the shift is evident. AI is capable of transforming Figma designs into fully functional websites and generating precise coding to implement upsell strategies without any developer intervention. Furthermore, I’m witnessing a transition toward prompt-based search and Google AI that is effortlessly overtaking conventional SEO practices.

As I observe these changes, I find myself contemplating the future of my career within a rapidly automating landscape. I am currently pursuing my Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, and I’m considering a pivot back to a role as Head of Project Management or Senior Project Manager—perhaps in a different industry entirely. The path ahead may be uncertain, but these shifts also bring fresh possibilities.