Forecasting Uncertainty: How Rapid Industry Shifts Leave Me Wondering About My Future in Five Years

Navigating Change: The Future of eCommerce in the Age of AI

As I reflect on my journey in the eCommerce industry, I find myself facing an unprecedented uncertainty about the future. At 30 years old, I have dedicated over half my life to this field, starting my adventures at just 14 and gradually evolving through various roles in eCommerce agencies since 2015, including Director of Project Management, Director of Operations, and most recently, Director of Partnerships.

Through the years, I have worked on diverse web development and design projects, as well as sizable SEO and marketing campaigns. The financial scope of these projects has varied significantly, ranging from $20,000 to well over $1 million, requiring strategic thinking and innovative approaches. My responsibilities have included leading Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO) strategies, overseeing User Interface/User Experience (UI/UX) planning, and devising upsell tactics, among other tasks.

However, the rapid emergence of artificial intelligence is starting to reshape my industry in ways I could not have foreseen. To illustrate, I recently reconnected with a former colleague from an agency where I spent considerable time. They once employed around 25 copywriters for their SEO efforts, but that number has now dwindled to just 4. Remarkably, their SEO department is reportedly generating $20,000 more in billable hours compared to my tenure, largely thanks to AI replacing many junior writing positions. Senior writers are now focusing on optimizing AI-generated content to ensure compliance with copyright regulations.

In another instance, an agency I am familiar with eliminated its entire U.S. development team, opting to hire developers from LATAM. These new hires increasingly rely on tools like ChatGPT for communication and project management within platforms such as Jira and Slack.

While I am not suggesting an impending downfall of the eCommerce sector, it is undeniable that transformative changes are on the horizon. Advanced AI tools are beginning to automate tasks that previously required human intervention — from constructing websites based on Figma designs or simple sketches to generating precise code for implementing upsells without the need for a developer’s expertise. Moreover, I witness the gradual shift of artificial intelligence and prompt-driven searches overtaking traditional SEO practices almost in real-time.

As I stand at this crossroads, the uncertainty of the next five years feels profoundly daunting. To prepare for the possibilities that lie ahead, I am pursuing my Project Management Professional (PMP) certification and contemplating a transition to a Head of Project Management or Senior PM role in