Navigating Change: How AI is Transforming the eCommerce Landscape

The landscape of my industry is on the brink of a major transformation, leaving me questioning where I will be in five years. At 30 years old, I’ve spent over half my life immersed in the eCommerce sector, beginning my journey at just 14. Since 2015, I’ve collaborated with various eCommerce agencies, climbing the ranks from sales to my current position as the Director of Partnerships. Throughout my career, I’ve engaged in diverse web development, design projects, and extensive SEO and marketing campaigns, handling budgets ranging from $20,000 to over $1 million.

My experiences have equipped me with a robust skill set in areas like conversion rate optimization (CRO), user interface/user experience (UI/UX) planning, and strategies for upselling. Yet, as I observe the relentless rise of artificial intelligence in our industry, I can’t shake the feeling that everything I know is about to be upended.

The pace at which AI is infiltrating eCommerce is accelerating faster than I ever imagined. A recent conversation with a former colleague revealed a startling shift: the agency where we both once worked had slashed its workforce from 25 copywriters to just four. The SEO department is now billing $20,000 more monthly than it did when I was there, largely thanks to AI’s capabilities. Junior writers are being replaced by AI tools that can generate quality content, with only senior writers needed to refine the output to meet copyright standards.

Another agency has taken similar measures, dismantling its entire US development team and outsourcing to teams in Latin America. Their reliance on AI tools like ChatGPT for communication has streamlined processes substantially, allowing for a rapid shift in workflow.

While I don’t believe the industry is on the verge of collapse, the signs of change are unmistakable. AI technologies now have the ability to automate significant aspects of our work, such as constructing websites from Figma designs or even mere sketches. I’ve witnessed AI generate the precise code necessary for implementing upsell strategies without any need for development expertise. Observing the gradual dominance of Google AI and prompt-based search over traditional SEO methods has made the shift even more apparent.

With all this in mind, I find myself at a crossroads. As I pursue my Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, I’m contemplating a shift back to a Head of Project Management or Senior PM role, possibly in a different industry altogether. The landscape feels increasingly unpredictable, and I am eager