My Field Is Facing Near-Total Transformation Soon — I’m Uncertain About My Path Five Years Ahead

Navigating the Future: Embracing Change in the E-Commerce Landscape

As I reflect on my decade-long journey in the e-commerce sector, I find myself at a crossroads. At 30 years old, with a career that began in sales at the tender age of 14, I have accumulated a wealth of experience. From my initial role in e-commerce agencies in 2015 to advancing through positions such as Director of Project Management and Director of Operations, I now serve as the Director of Partnerships at my current agency.

Throughout my career, I have been deeply involved in various aspects of web development, design projects, and large-scale marketing initiatives. My contributions span a wide range of budgets, with projects between $20,000 and over $1 million. I’ve played pivotal roles in strategies covering conversion rate optimization (CRO), user interface/user experience (UI/UX) planning, and upsell tactics.

However, the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence have started to reshape the landscape of our industry in ways I could never have predicted. A recent conversation with a former colleague from an agency I used to work with shed light on these transformations. This agency, which once employed around 25 copywriters for its SEO efforts, has now reduced its team to just four. Despite this, their SEO department is generating $20,000 more in billable revenue each month—largely due to AI helping to streamline processes and alleviate the need for junior writers.

In another agency, I observed a complete overhaul of the development team, with the U.S. personnel replaced by developers from Latin America. Communication and project management have significantly evolved, now relying on tools like ChatGPT to facilitate dialogue through platforms such as Jira and Slack.

While I don’t believe our industry is on the verge of collapse, it’s evident that we are entering a new era. Innovative AI tools are capable of transforming designs from Figma files or simple sketches into fully-functional websites, and I’ve seen artificial intelligence generate code for upselling features without requiring a developer’s hand. The traditional landscape of SEO is morphing in real time, influenced by Google AI and prompt-based search technologies.

The uncertainty about my industry’s future looms large. As it becomes increasingly automated, I find myself considering a shift in my career path. I am currently pursuing my Project Management Professional (PMP) certification and contemplating a transition back to a senior project management role in a different field altogether. Although I’m unsure where this journey will lead me, one