Facing Uncertain Times: How Rapid Industry Shifts Are Leaving Me Wondering About My Future in Five Years

Navigating Uncertainty: A Reflection on the Future of the eCommerce Industry

The eCommerce landscape is undergoing a seismic shift, and for the first time in my life, I find myself uncertain about where my career will lead me in the next five years.

At 30 years old, I have dedicated over half my life to the eCommerce field. My journey began at just 14, and by 2015, I was actively involved with various eCommerce agencies. I started in sales and progressively advanced my career, eventually taking on senior roles such as Director of Project Management, Director of Operations, and currently, Director of Partnerships at my agency.

My expertise primarily lies in web development and design, as well as executing large-scale SEO and marketing campaigns for eCommerce initiatives. The projects I’ve spearheaded have varied dramatically in scale—from $20,000 to upwards of $1 million—each characterized by strategic thinking and detailed execution. I have played pivotal roles in areas such as conversion rate optimization (CRO), UI/UX planning, and upselling strategies.

What I have recently observed is the rapid encroachment of artificial intelligence (AI) on my industry—much faster than I ever expected. For instance, one of my previous workplaces specialized in SEO, employing 25 copywriters before 2021. However, in a recent discussion with a colleague still there, I learned that they have downsized to just four writers, despite a significant increase in their SEO budget. The efficiency gains from AI have allowed them to replace many junior writers, relying on their lead writers to fine-tune AI-generated prompts and address copyright considerations.

Another agency I’m aware of has replaced its entire U.S. development team, substituting them with developers from Latin America who utilize tools like ChatGPT for communication on platforms such as Jira and Slack.

While I don’t foresee an imminent collapse of my industry, the trajectory is concerning. AI technologies are now capable of creating websites directly from Figma designs or even basic sketches. I’ve seen AI produce the code necessary to implement upselling features without the need for a developer’s input. Moreover, the ongoing evolution of Google AI and prompt-based search is poised to disrupt traditional methods of SEO.

Given this rapid transformation, I find myself at a crossroads. I am currently pursuing my Project Management Professional (PMP) certification and contemplating a transition back to a Head of Project Management or Senior Project Manager role in a different sector. The uncertainty is daunting, but embracing change