Juphy’s Weekly E-Commerce News Express – 10-14 March 2025
Ceyda Duz
This week, we’re taking a closer look at how AI is shaping the future of mobile shopping. With mobile spending on the rise, AI-powered apps are becoming a major player in making shopping smarter and more convenient. But as the tech grows, trust is becoming more crucial than ever for brands to keep consumers engaged. We’ll also touch on Amazon Haul’s early struggles to catch up with competitors, Shopify’s new AI-powered theme generator, and ShipStation’s move to simplify shipping for e-commerce businesses. Let’s dive in and see what’s next for the world of e-commerce!
AI-Powered Mobile Apps: Shaping the Future of E-Commerce
AI-powered mobile apps are changing how we shop and interact with brands. While these apps make shopping more convenient and engaging, trust is now more important than ever for e-commerce platforms to maintain growth.
Mobile Spending on the Rise, AI Leading the Charge
In 2024, consumers spent an impressive $150 billion on in-app purchases and subscriptions—up 13% from the previous year. Mobile usage continues to rise, with shoppers spending over 4 trillion hours on their devices. What’s really driving this growth? AI. Apps like ChatGPT and Google Gemini are gaining massive popularity, with consumers spending nearly $1.1 billion on these types of apps last year. The demand for AI features is clear, with 17 billion downloads of apps related to AI.
How App Developers Can Benefit
The rise of AI presents a major opportunity for app developers, but it’s important to use AI in a way that genuinely improves the user experience.
Making AI Work for Your Users
When done right, AI can personalize shopping experiences, improve product recommendations, and make customer service more efficient. But it’s important to remember that AI needs to add value. Users are becoming more selective about how they engage with AI, and they expect it to make their experience better, not just more complicated.
Avoiding AI Overload
While everyone is excited about AI, users don’t want to be bombarded with features that don’t actually improve their shopping experience. Marketers need to be careful not to rush AI features into apps just because it’s trendy. Those who integrate AI in a way that truly enhances the experience will win over users in the long run.
Trust and Security: A Must for Today’s Consumers
As important as AI is, trust has become a dealbreaker. Consumers are more concerned about security and privacy than ever before.
Why Transparency Matters
Research shows that shoppers are willing to pay more for services that offer better security and clearer privacy policies. Issues like fraud, data breaches, and fake accounts are top concerns, and businesses need to take these seriously to keep customer loyalty.
Building Trust for Long-Term Growth
To succeed in mobile commerce, businesses need to focus not only on smart AI features but also on building trust through security and transparency. By combining great AI with a secure and transparent approach, companies can earn lasting consumer confidence.
Looking Forward
AI and trust are shaping the future of e-commerce. Brands that get the balance right—using AI to improve the shopping experience while maintaining strong security and transparency—will be the ones that succeed in the digital marketplace.
Amazon Haul Struggles to Compete with Shein and Temu
Amazon Haul, launched just three months ago, is still finding its footing in the low-cost e-commerce space. While Amazon has a huge reputation, its new platform is still lagging behind competitors like Shein and Temu in terms of engagement.
Slow Start for Amazon Haul
According to a recent survey by Omnisend, only 16% of shoppers use Amazon Haul at least once a month, compared to 23% for Shein and 28% for Temu. Even newer platforms like TikTok Shop are seeing more action. So far, it seems like Amazon Haul hasn’t sparked the same level of loyalty or excitement from customers as its rivals.
What’s Holding Amazon Haul Back?
One of the main reasons Amazon Haul is struggling is that consumer behavior doesn’t change overnight. Shein and Temu have built strong followings with aggressive discounts, social commerce, and a good online presence. This shows that if Amazon really wants to stand out, it will need to offer more than just low prices—it needs to provide a shopping experience that’s faster, smoother, and has unique perks.
Pricing and Shifting Consumer Preferences
Amazon Haul launched with affordable products, most priced under $10, and free delivery on orders over $25. However, Omnisend’s data reveals a challenge: One-third of shoppers said they would buy less or stop shopping from Chinese marketplaces if prices went up. Plus, 40% of shoppers are open to paying more for U.S.-made products, which could make it harder for Amazon Haul to compete with Shein and Temu if tariffs on Chinese goods rise.
Amazon’s Edge in Trust
Despite the pricing challenges, Amazon still holds an advantage in one area: trust. Amazon products have an average of 50,000 reviews per listing, while Temu products only get about 1,500. This trust factor could work in Amazon Haul’s favor, especially if it can create a more reliable and user-friendly shopping experience.
What’s Next for Amazon Haul?
Amazon Haul is still in its early days, and the company is optimistic about its future. As it continues to tweak its offerings, it will need to address the pricing challenges and find a way to stand out in a crowded market. If Amazon can offer something unique and compelling, it may be able to carve out its own space in the budget shopping world.
Shopify’s AI-Powered Store Theme Generator
Shopify has introduced a new AI-powered store setup that allows merchants to generate custom store themes simply by describing their business. Merchants can input a brief description and receive up to three personalized themes, all for free during the trial period. This feature is available to users on the Basic, Shopify, and Advanced plans, as long as their storefronts are in English. It’s a quick and easy way for Shopify users to create unique store designs without needing deep technical knowledge.
ShipStation Unifies Shipping Solutions with New API
ShipStation has announced the launch of its unified shipping solution, combining its existing ShipEngine API into the newly branded ShipStation API. This update will provide businesses with access to over 200 carrier integrations, covering local, regional, national, and international options, as well as freight and LTL services. The rebranding process will begin with ShipEngine transitioning to the ShipStation API, and the full integration will continue through the summer of 2025, streamlining shipping solutions for users.
Ordoro & Syncware to Streamline E-Commerce Operations for SMBs
Ordoro has teamed up with Syncware to enhance e-commerce operations for small and medium-sized businesses. This partnership merges Ordoro’s inventory and order management capabilities with Syncware’s integration technology, allowing users to seamlessly connect with platforms like Mirakl, Faire, ShipBob, NetSuite, MarketTime, ApparelMagic, and more. This integration aims to simplify backend operations for e-commerce businesses, improving efficiency and workflow management.
Juphy’s AI: Increasing Trust and Personalization in Mobile Shopping
AI is changing the way we shop on mobile, and today, consumers want more than just convenience—they’re looking for personalized experiences and trust. Juphy’s AI Agent, with features like smart product recommendations and real-time customer support, helps Shopify merchants create that perfect shopping experience. It’s all about making the journey feel personal while also ensuring privacy and security—two things customers care about more than ever.
With Juphy, you can offer your customers the support they need, while keeping everything seamless and secure. The best part? It helps build trust, which is key to keeping customers coming back.
Ready to level up your customer experience? Try Juphy AI now: apps.shopify.com/juphy
Key Takeaways
AI-Powered Mobile Apps – Shaping the Future: AI-powered mobile apps are reshaping the shopping experience, with $150 billion spent on in-app purchases and subscriptions in 2024. As mobile usage rises, AI apps like ChatGPT and Google Gemini are booming, with a demand for personalized shopping and enhanced customer service.
Amazon Haul Struggles to Compete: Amazon Haul, a new low-cost platform, is finding it difficult to compete with Shein and Temu, which have strong customer loyalty. Despite offering affordable prices, Amazon needs to improve its shopping experience to capture a larger share of the market.
Shopify’s AI-Powered Store Theme Generator: Shopify has introduced a new AI-powered tool that helps merchants generate custom store themes based on business descriptions. This feature simplifies store setup for Shopify users, enabling unique store designs without requiring technical expertise.
ShipStation Unifies Shipping Solutions: ShipStation has launched a unified shipping solution by integrating ShipEngine API into the new ShipStation API. This update provides businesses with over 200 carrier integrations, making it easier to manage national and international shipments.
Ordoro & Syncware for E-Commerce Operations: Ordoro and Syncware have partnered to enhance e-commerce operations for small and medium-sized businesses by integrating their platforms. This collaboration allows seamless connection with various e-commerce solutions, improving workflow efficiency.
