Navigating Change: The Impact of AI on the eCommerce Industry

As a professional who has spent the majority of my career in the eCommerce sector, I find myself at an unprecedented crossroads. At just 30 years old, with a journey in this industry that began at age 14, I’ve experienced a range of roles from sales to Director of Partnerships. However, as I look towards the future, I am confronted with uncertainty about where I will be in the next five years.

My experience spans from working with eCommerce agencies since 2015 to being intimately involved in web development, design projects, and large-scale SEO and marketing campaigns. I’ve contributed to projects with budgets ranging from $20,000 to over a million dollars, employing strategies in conversion rate optimization (CRO) and user experience (UI/UX) design along the way.

What is most striking, however, is the pace at which artificial intelligence is transforming our industry. For instance, a previous agency I collaborated with, known for its robust SEO efforts, has seen a drastic reduction in staff. Where there were once 25 copywriters on team, the number has dwindled to just four. Surprisingly, despite this manpower reduction, their SEO efforts are now generating $20,000 more in billable services compared to when I was actively involved. AI has become a game changer here, efficiently taking over many of the junior writing tasks.

Similarly, I’ve learned that another agency has completely replaced its U.S.-based development team with a crew from LATAM, who now primarily communicate through tools like ChatGPT for task management on platforms such as Jira and Slack.

While I wouldn’t go so far as to declare the imminent collapse of the industry, it is evident that significant changes are underway. Tools powered by AI are now capable of transforming Figma files into fully-functional websites, or even generating coding solutions for upselling features without any development resources. Meanwhile, traditional SEO methods are increasingly being supplanted by AI-driven approaches.

As an industry veteran, I find myself grappling with these rapid developments, speculating what the future holds. I’m currently pursuing my Project Management Professional (PMP) certification and contemplating a potential pivot to a Head of Project Management or Senior Project Management role in a different field. Though the trajectory remains uncertain, the shift towards automation manifested by AI is undeniable, and the landscape of eCommerce is becoming distinctly unpredictable.

Whatever lies ahead, I remain committed to adapting and evolving in