Facing Unprecedented Change: The Industry I Know Might Be Fully Transformed in Years, Leaving Me Wondering What Comes Next

Navigating an Evolving eCommerce Landscape: The Impact of AI on Our Industry

As someone who has immersed themselves in the eCommerce world since the age of 14, I’ve witnessed incredible transformations and trends over the years. Now, at 30 years old and with a diverse career that spans from sales to my current role as Director of Partnerships, I find myself contemplating the future in ways I never anticipated. The pace of change is rapidly accelerating, and the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping our industry in profound ways.

My journey began with eCommerce agencies back in 2015, working my way through various positions including Director of Project Management (PM) and Director of Operations. I’ve been deeply involved in numerous web development, design, and extensive marketing campaigns, with project budgets ranging from $20,000 to over $1 million. My experience has granted me the opportunity to lead essential strategies related to conversion rate optimization (CRO), user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) planning, and upsell strategies, making me highly aware of our industry’s inner workings.

However, a seismic shift is upon us, driven largely by AI technologies that are revolutionizing how we operate. For example, I recently learned that an agency where I once worked, which heavily relied on a team of 25 copywriters before 2021, has dramatically scaled down to just four writers. Despite this reduction, their SEO department is now generating $20,000 more in billable work each month. The efficiency brought about by AI tools allows them to automate many junior-level tasks, allowing senior writers to focus on refining prompts and ensuring quality control.

In another instance, an agency I know let go of its entire U.S. development team, opting instead for a team from Latin America. These developers utilize AI tools like ChatGPT to streamline communications through platforms such as Jira and Slack, emphasizing the growing reliance on automation.

While I don’t believe our industry is on the brink of collapse, it’s undeniable that significant changes are forthcoming. AI is already capable of constructing websites from Figma designs and is generating the code necessary for upselling without any developer intervention. Moreover, I am observing firsthand how AI-driven solutions and prompt-based search capabilities are beginning to overshadow traditional SEO practices.

With these trends unfolding, the uncertainty surrounding the future of our industry looms large. I am currently in the process of obtaining my Project Management Professional (PMP) certification and contemplating a transition into a Head of PM or