Every week we publish a list of new products from companies serving online merchants. This installment includes updates on AI-powered search, subscriptions, social commerce, chatbots, local shopping, reverse logistics, live shopping and retail media networks.
Have an e-commerce product release? Email us at releases@practicalecommerce.com.
New Tools for Merchants: June 27
Daydream raises $50M in seed funding to build AI-powered search engine for e-commerce. FantasyDaydream, an AI-powered platform designed to change the way people shop online, has raised a $50 million seed round co-led by Forerunner Ventures and Index Ventures, with participation from Google Ventures and True Ventures. Releasing in beta this fall, Daydream introduces its first shopping categories to give people a better way to shop with personalized experiences powered by a built-in search engine. Find and discover Women and men fashion.
Fantasy
Amazon launches “Subscribe & Save” for seller-shipped orders. Amazon is expanding its Subscribe & Save program to merchant-fulfilled items. Subscribe & Save offers discounts on frequently used products to buyers who plan to purchase in the future. Amazon Eligible replenishable products will be automatically enrolled at the default discount set in your Subscribe & Save settings. Discounts previously set for Subscribe & Save fulfilled by Amazon will apply to merchant-fulfilled Subscribe & Save selections starting June 27.
TikTok revamps location pages for local shopping and destinations. Tick tock We’ve enhanced landing pages for specific locations in the US, such as Boston, New York, and Texas, to go beyond just showing videos tagged with a specific location. platform Content is now organized into categories like “Shopping” and “Food & Drink” to make it easier for users to find related videos, and a new “Explore Other Locations” button integrates with Apple Maps to surface area businesses with details like addresses and prices.
Captiv8 Launches Branded Storefront for Social Commerce. Captive 8, Influencer Marketing Captiv8, a platform for enterprise brands, launched Branded Storefronts, leveraging creator storytelling and personalized product curation to deliver social commerce experiences outside of social networks. Creators can now maintain a single storefront that makes all their social content shoppable. By combining Branded Storefronts with Captiv8’s measurement and affiliate services, businesses can track, analyze, and optimize shopper experiences in real time.
Captiv8 Brand Storefront
Meta Introduces AI Chatbot, Messaging Tool, and Threads API. Meta We have introduced three products to support the interaction and growth of companies and creators. First, AI chat function (Built with Meta Llama 3) will help consumers buy products and get customer support for businesses on Messenger. Secondly, Ads Manager will soon allow select advertisers to create, organize, and send paid marketing on Messenger. Thirdly, Meta will release Threads API to help businesses and creators manage their presence at scale.
Threekit launches Visual Discovery AI to help shoppers navigate e-commerce. Visual Commerce Specialist Three Kit Threekit has launched its Visual Discovery AI to help shoppers search product catalogs in a personalized way. According to Threekit, Visual Discovery AI can guide shoppers through educational brand experiences and technical product purchases. The search tool can interpret personalized text and prompts and make associations based on that. User IntentGenerate personalized search results.
Reverse logistics solutions company ReturnBear expands into the UK. Return BearReverse Logistics Platform E-commerce returnsis in the process of expanding into the U.K. ReturnBear’s platform offers optimized logistics strategies, including automated self-service returns and integrated cross-border brand shipping, giving brands access to over 1,000 Canadian locations with processing hubs in Canada and the U.S.
Return Bear
Target releases gen AI technology to team members. the goal The company is deploying a generative AI tool called “Store Companion” to team members in about 2,000 stores. Custom gen-AI powered chatbot “This initiative is part of Target’s broader strategic approach to using Generational AI to empower its teams, improve the guest experience and support the long-term growth of the company,” said David S.
Button Launches Retail Media Inventory for Retailers, Publishers and Creators. buttonCommerce optimization platform, Retail media offeringIt gives retailers, publishers and creators access to a retail media network. The inventory solution connects to advertising platforms such as Microsoft Advertising and programmatic advertising platform TripleLift. According to Button, the platform is designed to bridge the gap between retailers’ on-site advertising and publishers’ and creators’ audience reach. Retailers extend their on-site advertising capabilities to the audiences of premium publishers and creators, while publishers and creators gain new revenue streams.
Live shopping platform Voggt integrates with Amazon IVS real-time streaming. Online Marketplace VogtCombining live video and e-commerce Amazon Interactive Video ServicesAmazon IVS is a managed live streaming service that uses the same streaming technology and global infrastructure as the live streaming service Twitch. By implementing Amazon IVS real-time streaming, Voggt says it reduced its average latency from 12 seconds to 60 milliseconds. Voggt averages 7,000 auctions and 300 shows per day on Amazon IVS, totaling approximately 30,000 live streams. Live Stream Broadcast Hours per month.
Pacvue Introduces AI Integration Across Its Product Suite. Pakuve, Retail Media The marketplace-wide facilitator has announced several AI capabilities to enhance its product suite. New features include Copilot Commerce Companion, generative content for product images, AI Review for real-time analysis, and AI Insights for measurement and reporting.
Pakuve
