Latest news with #marketingautomation
TechCrunch
19 hours ago
- Business
- TechCrunch
How 2 UC Berkeley dropouts raised $28 million for their AI marketing automation startup
AI-powered marketing automation startup Conversion, founded five years ago by two UC Berkeley dropouts, has raised a $28 million Series A led by Abstract, with participation from True Ventures and HOF Capital. The company's founding story sounds like it could have been an episode of the HBO show 'Silicon Valley.' The story begins all the way back when co-founder and CEO Neil Tewari, now 24, was in high school. He got busted one day watching a TechCrunch Disrupt livestream during class, was sent to the principal's office and had to stay late. Afraid to call his parents and tell them why they had to pick him up, he instead called one of their close friends. On the drive home, Tewari explained to the friend what got him in trouble. 'I told him I had this interest [in entrepreneurship], and four years later, he was actually the first person to write us a check into the company,' Tewari told TechCrunch. James Jiao, Tewari's college roommate at Berkeley — now Conversion's co-founder and CTO — also dreamed of founding his own company, so the two tried building various products, like one for helping marketeers buy product placement ads. They stumbled on the idea for Conversion when they signed up for HubSpot to help them with marketing tasks and decided to build a few extra automation features to layer on top of it. 'It was originally for us,' Tewari said of his startup's tech. The co-founders enjoyed building their internal marketing tool so much, they wondered if they could sell it and began reaching out to marketing executives for 'customer discovery' interviews. 'We actually spent like two months doing like 160 customer interviews with VPs of marketing, 50- to 500-employee businesses, and got a much more positive response than we could have imagined,' Tewari said. Techcrunch event Tech and VC heavyweights join the Disrupt 2025 agenda Netflix, ElevenLabs, Wayve, Sequoia Capital — just a few of the heavy hitters joining the Disrupt 2025 agenda. They're here to deliver the insights that fuel startup growth and sharpen your edge. Don't miss the 20th anniversary of TechCrunch Disrupt, and a chance to learn from the top voices in tech — grab your ticket now and save up to $675 before prices rise. Tech and VC heavyweights join the Disrupt 2025 agenda Netflix, ElevenLabs, Wayve, Sequoia Capital — just a few of the heavy hitters joining the Disrupt 2025 agenda. They're here to deliver the insights that fuel startup growth and sharpen your edge. Don't miss the 20th anniversary of TechCrunch Disrupt, and a chance to learn from the top voices in tech — grab your ticket now and save up to $675 before prices rise. San Francisco | REGISTER NOW Marketing teams had these tools deeply embedded in their workflows, but everyone had similar complaints about the parts they couldn't automate. The duo had found their idea. The family friend introduced them to more marketing execs, which helped them raise a $2 million seed round. At age 19, they dropped out of college to work full time on Conversion. The founders treated their raised funds so frugally, they lived in a two-bed, one-bath apartment with five other roommates: two people to a room, with people sleeping on the couches and in the closet. As they built their product, ChatGPT burst onto the scene. Many legacy marketing automation tools are adding various AI and chat integrations into their wares, but not all of their features support these integrations. Marketing teams wanted 'to be able to enrich contacts, [be] able to automate workflows,' for instance, Tewari said. Conversion has baked AI in, which means it can do things like organize leads and automate personalized follow-up emails. As AI interest has soared, so has the company's prospects. Conversion is nearing $10 million ARR over the past two years, Tewari said, and about 90% of its customers are midsize businesses that have yanked out a legacy app. Of course, Conversion is also in a crowded field. Besides the legacy marketing automation tools like HubSpot, Adobe Marketo, or Salesforce Pardot, there are other AI native startups like Jasper, Writer AI, Iterable, and many others. But Tewari also has the classic Silicon Valley confidence of a founder in a crowded market. His game plan calls for targeting businesses that use the older marketing tools. Conversion is not, for instance, targeting startups choosing a tool for the first time. The company has raised a total of $30 million between its seed and Series A, the CEO says, and is doing well enough that the founders have each moved into separate apartments where they have their own rooms, and none of their roommates sleep in a closet.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
South Padre Island Board of REALTORS® Partners with iHomefinder to Equip Agents for the Future of Real Estate
New Member Benefit Brings Industry-Leading Tools for Visibility, Lead Generation, and Long-Term Growth EUGENE, Ore., July 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The South Padre Island Board of REALTORS® (SPIBOR) today announced a new partnership with iHomefinder, the leading provider of real estate growth technology designed to help agents thrive in an increasingly competitive and fast-evolving market. This partnership gives SPIBOR members exclusive access and preferred pricing on iHomefinder's complete platform providing smart lead generation, marketing automation, and a proven system for building long-term pipeline in a market where visibility is no longer optional. "We've seen the real estate landscape change dramatically in recent years," said Lindsey Martinez, Association Executive at SPIBOR "Buyers and sellers aren't waiting to raise their hand—they're starting their journey earlier and online. This partnership ensures our members have the modern tools they need to stay visible and grow in this new environment." A New Way to Stay Visible—and Win in a Changing Market This partnership comes as iHomefinder sharpens its positioning around solving what it calls the "lead deficit"—a widespread issue where agents rely on moment-of-intent lead capture and miss out on the 95% of buyers and sellers who begin their decision-making process long before reaching out. iHomefinder's platform is designed to help agents become what it calls Visible Agents—professionals who show up early, earn trust, and build long-term client pipelines by leveraging the right mix of content, automation, and tech. "Today's most successful agents don't wait for leads—they build pipelines. And visibility is the key," said Bryson Womack, Vice President of Sales at iHomefinder. "We're thrilled to partner with SPIBOR to help their members stay competitive, even as the market continues to shift." SPIBOR Members Now Have Access To: AI-Powered Marketing Automation – Personalized email and SMS nurture flows based on lead behavior High-Intent Seller Leads – Including equity estimates, ownership history, and likely-to-sell scoring IDX Website + CRM Integration – Tools that track, score, and convert buyer and seller activity Mobile Lead Management – Stay responsive with full-featured mobile access to your database A Proven System to Generate 50+ Nurture Leads/Month – Built on daily visibility, content, and CRM signals Members also gain access to iHomefinder's exclusive Visible Agent Playbook—a modern blueprint for turning online presence into real-world closings. Why This Matters Now With fewer listings, rising competition, and buyer attention spread across dozens of channels, today's agents need more than just a website or an IDX feed—they need a growth engine that helps them stay visible, build trust early, and move buyers and sellers toward action with less manual effort. This partnership reflects a shared vision from both SPIBOR and iHomefinder: to equip agents for the next era of real estate success. SPIBOR members can get started today by visiting: 👉 About iHomefinderiHomefinder is a leading provider of real estate growth solutions that help agents, teams, and brokerages grow through visibility, automation, and client engagement. With more than 20 years of experience, iHomefinder supports thousands of agents across North America with powerful IDX tools, high-intent lead generation, and a modern Growth Operating System. Learn more at View original content: SOURCE iHomefinder Inc. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Geeky Gadgets
6 days ago
- Business
- Geeky Gadgets
How Claude Code AI Agents Can Help You Manage Online Digital Communities
What if managing an online community or launching a marketing campaign felt as seamless as flipping a switch? Imagine an AI agent that not only handles the tedious, repetitive tasks bogging down your workflow but also amplifies your creative and strategic potential. Bold claim? Perhaps. But the Claude Code AI Agent is doing just that—reshaping the way communities and businesses operate in the digital age. From automating user onboarding for vibrant online spaces like 'The Ninth Brain' to producing polished, AI-driven marketing videos in record time, this tool is more than just a convenience; it's a fantastic option for productivity and engagement. In this exploration by All About AI of the Claude Code AI Agent, you'll uncover how this innovative platform integrates with essential tools like Discord, Gmail, and YouTube to streamline operations and enhance collaboration. Discover how its automation capabilities transform time-consuming processes like database management and video production into effortless tasks, freeing you to focus on what truly matters: fostering connections and driving growth. Whether you're a community manager, a marketer, or simply curious about the future of AI-driven workflows, this deep dive will reveal how the Claude Code AI Agent is paving the way for a new era of efficiency. Could this be the missing piece in your digital toolkit? Streamlining Community and Marketing Automation: Enhancing Community Management Managing an online community often involves numerous time-consuming tasks, but the Claude Code AI Agent automates many of these processes, making them more efficient and less labor-intensive. For example, in 'The Ninth Brain' community, the agent seamlessly handles user onboarding by integrating with a centralized database. It tracks new signups, generates unique Discord invites to ensure secure access, and sends personalized welcome emails via Gmail MCP. These automated actions create a smooth and professional experience for new members while significantly reducing manual effort. Key automation features include: Tracking user signups in a centralized database for improved organization and oversight. in a centralized database for improved organization and oversight. Generating unique Discord invites to enhance security and streamline access for new members. to enhance security and streamline access for new members. Sending personalized welcome emails to foster engagement and make a positive first impression. By automating these essential tasks, the Claude Code AI Agent allows you to dedicate more time to fostering meaningful connections within your community and driving its growth. Transforming Marketing Through AI-Driven Tools The Claude Code AI Agent excels in marketing automation, using advanced AI capabilities to produce high-quality content with remarkable efficiency. It conducts research using web search tools to identify trending topics, generates scripts based on proven marketing formulas, and creates short-form videos that include voiceovers, dynamic scene planning, and AI-generated visuals. These videos are edited using FFmpeg and uploaded directly to YouTube via the YouTube MCP, making sure a seamless production and distribution process. This streamlined approach offers several benefits: Effortless creation of professional marketing content , saving time and resources. , saving time and resources. Consistent branding through automated script generation tailored to your messaging. through automated script generation tailored to your messaging. Optimized video production with AI-driven tools that accelerate turnaround times. By automating video production and distribution, the Claude Code AI Agent reduces the workload associated with marketing campaigns, allowing you to focus on strategy and audience engagement. Learn How AI Agents Can Manage Digital Communities Watch this video on YouTube. Find more information on Claude Code AI Agent by browsing our extensive range of articles, guides and tutorials. Comprehensive Workflow Documentation for Consistency To maintain efficiency and minimize errors, the Claude Code AI Agent employs a structured 'workflow MD' file to document all processes. This file provides detailed, step-by-step instructions for tasks such as database queries, video creation, and cleanup operations. By logging progress and maintaining clear documentation, the workflow file ensures that tasks are completed systematically, prevents duplication of effort, and promotes consistency across projects. Seamless Integration with Essential Tools The Claude Code AI Agent integrates seamlessly with a variety of platforms, making it a versatile solution for both community management and marketing. These integrations enhance its functionality and adaptability, allowing you to manage diverse tasks with ease. Key integrations include: Discord MCP for managing community access and interactions effectively. for managing community access and interactions effectively. Gmail MCP for automating email communication and outreach. for automating email communication and outreach. YouTube MCP for uploading and managing video content efficiently. for uploading and managing video content efficiently. FFmpeg for advanced video editing and processing capabilities. for advanced video editing and processing capabilities. AI tools for generating voiceovers, creating visuals, and assembling videos. Additionally, dynamic scene calculations enhance video production by aligning visuals with precise timing requirements, making sure a polished and professional final product. Boosting Productivity and Addressing Challenges The Claude Code AI Agent significantly enhances productivity by automating repetitive tasks and allowing batch processing. This capability allows you to handle multiple signups or video projects simultaneously, freeing up resources for strategic initiatives like community growth and content planning. However, challenges such as occasional timing issues in video synchronization may require manual adjustments. As your community or content demands grow, upgrading to higher subscription tiers may also be necessary to accommodate increased usage. Addressing these challenges will further optimize the tool's performance and scalability. Driving Community Engagement and Collaboration Beyond automation, the Claude Code AI Agent fosters collaboration and innovation within communities like 'The Ninth Brain.' By encouraging members to share AI-related skills and projects, it creates an environment of learning and creativity. Additionally, the social media and marketing videos generated by the agent help promote the community, attracting new members and expanding its reach. This dual focus on automation and engagement ensures that your community remains vibrant and dynamic. Empowering a New Era of Efficiency The Claude Code AI Agent is redefining the way online communities and marketing operations are managed. By automating complex workflows, integrating advanced tools, and providing clear documentation, it enables you to focus on strategic goals while saving time and resources. As AI technology continues to evolve, tools like the Claude Code AI Agent will play an increasingly vital role in enhancing efficiency, scalability, and innovation across industries. Media Credit: All About AI Filed Under: AI, Guides Latest Geeky Gadgets Deals Disclosure: Some of our articles include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, Geeky Gadgets may earn an affiliate commission. Learn about our Disclosure Policy.
Associated Press
05-07-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
GoHighLevel 30 Day Trial Now Available for Businesses Worldwide
Agencies and small businesses worldwide can now access GoHighLevel's comprehensive CRM and marketing automation platform with a risk-free, 30-day free trial. NM, UNITED STATES, July 5, 2025 / / -- GoHighLevel, a global leader in sales and marketing automation technology, today announced the availability of an exclusive 30-day free trial for its all-in-one platform. This offer provides new users with extended access to the platform's robust suite of CRM, marketing, and business management tools, allowing entrepreneurs, agencies, and small businesses to streamline client communications, automate workflows, and scale operations—all within a single, unified dashboard. ==> Click Here to Access The Free 30-Day HighLevel Trial Transforming the Marketing and Client Management Landscape In the rapidly evolving digital economy, businesses of all sizes face mounting challenges in managing client relationships, consolidating marketing efforts, and automating sales processes. Traditionally, organizations have relied on a fragmented set of tools—each serving a specific function, often leading to increased costs, integration headaches, and missed opportunities for growth. GoHighLevel addresses these challenges by delivering a platform that brings together CRM, lead generation, appointment scheduling, funnel building, automation, analytics, and white-label SaaS capabilities under one roof. Since its inception, GoHighLevel has become a preferred solution among marketing agencies, coaches, consultants, and solopreneurs seeking to simplify their operations while delivering measurable results for their clients. The platform is currently trusted by more than 60,000 customers and 1.4 million businesses globally, supporting over 622 million leads and facilitating upwards of 14.7 billion conversations to date. Introducing the 30-Day Free Trial Traditionally, GoHighLevel has offered a standard 14-day trial to new users. Responding to increasing demand for hands-on evaluation, the company now invites businesses to experience its full suite of capabilities for an extended 30-day period, at no cost and with no obligation to continue. 'Making the full GoHighLevel experience available for a full month reflects our commitment to transparency and customer success,' said Shaun Clark, Chief Executive Officer at HighLevel. 'We want agencies and business owners to see the immediate impact of centralized automation—how it can save time, cut costs, and drive real growth—without the pressure of a short trial window.' The 30-day trial grants complete access to both the Starter and Unlimited plans, allowing users to evaluate advanced features such as: 1. CRM and Pipeline Management: Track leads, manage opportunities, and visualize every stage of the sales funnel through customizable pipelines. 2. Multi-Channel Automation: Automate SMS, email, voicemail, and Facebook Messenger campaigns with powerful workflow builders and drip sequences. 3. Appointment Scheduling: Enable clients to book, confirm, and receive reminders for appointments, minimizing no-shows and manual coordination. 4. Landing Page and Funnel Builder: Design and launch high-converting landing pages, sales funnels, and even entire websites—no coding required. 5. Course and Membership Platform: Build and deliver online courses, manage memberships, and generate recurring revenue with integrated e-learning tools. 6. White-Label SaaS Capabilities: Agencies can fully rebrand the platform, offer it as a proprietary solution, and set custom pricing for their clients. 7. Reputation Management: Automate review requests, monitor feedback, and manage online presence to build trust with customers. 8. Payment Integration: Process payments seamlessly via Stripe integration for appointments, memberships, or sales pages. 9. Comprehensive Analytics: Real-time dashboards provide visibility into campaign performance, pipeline progress, and ROI metrics. 10. Unlimited Contacts and Users: Add as many users, clients, or sub-accounts as needed, with no restrictions. 11. Mobile App Access: Manage campaigns and client interactions from anywhere with the full-featured GoHighLevel mobile application. 12. API and Third-Party Integrations: Easily connect GoHighLevel to popular tools like Zapier, Zoom, Google Ads, and more. ==> Click Here to Sign up and Access GoHighLevel 30-day Free Trial Streamlined Onboarding and Global Availability The 30-day free trial is available globally to entrepreneurs, coaches, agencies, and businesses seeking to consolidate their sales and marketing tools. Registration is quick and straightforward: users simply visit select the desired plan (Starter or Unlimited), and follow the prompts to create an account. No long-term contract is required, and businesses may cancel at any time before the trial period ends to avoid charges. Both plans unlock the entire suite of GoHighLevel's tools, and there are no hidden fees for trial participants. How to Start Your Free GoHighLevel 30-Day Trial: Step-by-Step Trial Registration Process 1. Visit the official 30-day trial registration page. 2. Select a plan: Starter or Unlimited. 3. Complete the sign-up form with business and contact information. 4. Set up account credentials and verify email. 5. Access the GoHighLevel dashboard and begin exploring features. Trial users receive onboarding support and access to GoHighLevel's extensive knowledge base, video tutorials, and customer support team, ensuring a seamless transition to the platform. Who Should Use GoHighLevel? GoHighLevel was developed by marketers, for marketers—yet its intuitive, scalable design makes it equally valuable for coaches, consultants, freelancers, and any business with a need to manage leads, automate communications, and drive sales. Key use cases include: - Digital Marketing Agencies: Manage multiple client accounts, automate recurring campaigns, and deliver white-label services from one platform. - Consultants and Coaches: Streamline client onboarding, schedule appointments, and automate nurture sequences. - E-Learning Providers: Host courses, manage memberships, and automate enrollments and payments. - Service-Based Businesses: Automate appointment bookings, confirmations, and follow-ups to reduce administrative overhead. 'From the beginning, we designed GoHighLevel as a truly integrated platform to help businesses spend less time on manual tasks and more time growing their client relationships,' said Shaun Clark, CEO. 'Our customers use HighLevel to replace four or five separate tools—reducing both expenses and complexity.' Detailed Feature Highlights 1. CRM and Contact Management: At the core of GoHighLevel is a flexible CRM that captures all client interactions, lead information, and sales activity in one place. Users can segment contacts, apply tags, assign tasks, and move prospects through custom sales stages, enhancing visibility and improving conversion rates. 2. Automation and Workflows: GoHighLevel's drag-and-drop workflow builder allows users to automate routine communications—sending personalized emails, texts, or voicemails based on lead actions or time-based triggers. Advanced users can create multi-step campaigns that adapt based on recipient responses, ensuring leads are nurtured and followed up with efficiently. 3. Funnel and Website Builder: With no coding required, agencies and business owners can design responsive websites, sales funnels, and opt-in pages to capture leads and drive conversions. Templates are available to speed up deployment, and all landing pages are fully integrated with the CRM and automation engines. 4. Reputation and Review Management: GoHighLevel makes it simple to request, track, and manage client reviews on platforms like Google, enhancing online reputation and search visibility. 5. White-Label and SaaS Mode: Available on the Unlimited plan, agencies can fully white-label the GoHighLevel interface, offering a customized software solution under their own brand. This includes personalized domains, branding elements, and the ability to resell the platform as a monthly subscription. 6. Analytics and Reporting: The real-time analytics dashboard gives a comprehensive overview of marketing performance, from lead acquisition to sales closed. Users can track every campaign, see where prospects are dropping off, and optimize for better ROI. 7. Mobile App: Manage leads, respond to messages, monitor pipelines, and track appointments on the go via the GoHighLevel mobile app, available for iOS and Android. 8. Third-Party Integrations: Connect GoHighLevel with existing tools and workflows using built-in integrations for Stripe, Zapier, Google Ads, Zoom, Facebook, and more. For advanced automation, API access is included. 9. Support and Resources GoHighLevel provides 24/7 global support through live chat, email, and phone channels. An extensive library of help articles, onboarding videos, and how-to guides assists users in making the most of the platform from day one. Dedicated onboarding specialists are available for agencies and enterprise clients seeking a more hands-on implementation process. Transparent Pricing After the 30-Day Trial Upon completion of the 30-day free trial, users can select the plan that best fits their needs. GoHighLevel offers two main subscription tiers: - Starter Plan: $97/month — Ideal for individuals and small teams needing a single business account with all core features. - Unlimited Plan: $297/month — Best suited for agencies, consultants, and businesses managing multiple clients or brands. Includes unlimited sub-accounts and white-label capabilities. - Optional add-ons, such as the SaaS Pro package (+$497/month), unlock additional advanced features for agencies seeking to resell GoHighLevel as a branded SaaS solution. Discounts are available for users who opt for annual billing, with up to 20% savings over monthly pricing. Frequently Asked Questions 1. What is included in the 30-day free trial? The trial provides unrestricted access to all features available in either the Starter or Unlimited plan, including CRM, automation, website and funnel builder, appointment scheduling, analytics, mobile app, integrations, and white-labeling (Unlimited only). 2. Is the trial available globally? Yes, the GoHighLevel 30-day free trial is available to businesses, marketers, and agencies worldwide. 3. Do I need a credit card to sign up? A valid payment method is required to activate the trial. Users may cancel any time during the 30-day period to avoid charges. 4. Can I downgrade or change my plan after the trial? Yes, users can upgrade, downgrade, or cancel their plan at any time. There are no long-term contracts. 5. Does GoHighLevel offer a longer or lifetime trial? At this time, the 30-day trial is the most extensive free access available. No lifetime or 60-day trial is offered. 6. How do I cancel before the trial ends? Cancellation can be completed through the account settings dashboard with no penalty. The GoHighLevel Commitment GoHighLevel's mission is to help entrepreneurs and organizations automate, scale, and succeed by providing enterprise-grade tools in a user-friendly, affordable package. By extending the free trial period, the company aims to further lower the barrier to entry for businesses looking to upgrade from legacy systems or fragmented software stacks. 'Our customers are seeing the benefits of automation and integration every day,' said Shaun Clark, Chief Executive Officer. 'We believe the 30-day trial will show businesses how much more efficient and profitable their marketing and client management can be with GoHighLevel.' About GoHighLevel GoHighLevel is a leading all-in-one CRM and marketing automation platform serving agencies, marketers, and businesses globally. With a focus on scalability, integration, and customer success, GoHighLevel provides innovative solutions to help users capture leads, nurture clients, and grow revenue—all from a single, unified dashboard. To learn more, visit Olusola David Torch Enterprise LLC email us here Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
Forbes
25-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
AI In E-Commerce: Are Brands And Customers Aligned?
Rytis Lauris is the cofounder and CEO of Omnisend, a marketing automation platform built for e-commerce. I don't think there is a single industry AI hasn't touched, and e-commerce is certainly no exception. Chatbots, product recommendations, segment creation and churn prediction have been well underway for some time, but these tools are only the beginning. It seems like every day we read stories of another brand implementing new and improved AI on their site. However, while brands see the value and promise in using AI to revolutionize the customer experience, do consumers want it, and if so, for what purposes? What Online Shoppers Want From AI While times will surely change, currently, many consumers want AI to improve their shopping experiences, not transform them. A consumer survey from my company learned that the AI-powered features shoppers found most useful were improved product recommendations and faster product discovery. Nearly half also said they want to see improvements in customer service. However, product recommendations, whether on-site or in marketing emails, aren't always relevant, much to the dismay of shoppers. This is an opportunity for brands to use AI to give shoppers what they want. The more relevant the recommendations, the easier it is to find a product, leading to a better chance of capturing a sale. For example, take Muse by Wayfair, where users can type a description of what they're looking for (e.g., "modern chic dining room with hints of lime") and find design inspiration. Upon clicking on the 'muse' they like, shoppers can click on the Wayfair products pictured in the image. The challenge for brands with customer service is that many chatbots, though improving, are clunky and often frustrating. This needs to change. For more complex inquiries, there needs to be a seamless escalation procedure that directs to human representatives without losing the chat history or background from the customer. If chatbots or other AI customer service tools can't provide a more intuitive level of support, it creates friction and becomes a detriment to the business. This can't happen. Agentic AI, where autonomous decisions are made, is a rapidly advancing area for e-commerce brands. Maybe the most newsworthy example is Amazon's Buy For Me feature, which allows users to discover products through the Amazon site that are not sold on Amazon and then complete the purchase directly with the off-site retailer on their behalf. Amazon isn't alone in using agentic AI to drive purchases. Visa and Mastercard got into the fray with tools that can make purchases on people's behalf. Admittedly, we are at the early stages of this type of use case for agentic AI, and it's going to be interesting to see where it leads. But right now, most consumers aren't quite ready. In my view, the current behavior for most shoppers is to verify all details, from size and color to shipping information, before clicking 'complete purchase.' Trusting AI to select the right size, color and other variables feels like a large behavioral and trust issue that needs to be overcome. Agentic AI holds a lot of promise for e-commerce brands on the customer-facing and operational sides of the business. It can be used to make product recommendations, sift through product reviews, solve customer service inquiries and track and find lower prices. Operationally, it can be used to track and forecast inventory, analyze data, personalize marketing campaigns and detect fraud. What Brands Can Do Now Consumers' hesitation to use AI for more than basic improvements to their shopping experience isn't irrational. The online purchase process is mostly the same as it was 20 years ago: search, click, browse, add to cart and check out. Expecting consumers to abandon this instinctive behavior overnight is an impossible ask, especially when it comes to making purchases for them. Trust in AI needs to be established and built through use and consistency. But like ecommerce's early days, it's going to be an evolution—one step at a time. If AI applications are consistently useful for shoppers, they'll trust and adopt them. If they're not, they won't. Brands can look to AI to help in various ways, but what they can't lose sight of is that, within this, shopping is often enjoyable for people. Leaving this to programmatic tools removes the thrill of the hunt to find the perfect item. Striking this balance will be a challenge. As such, e-commerce brands should adopt AI thoughtfully and use it to put consumers first. While experimenting with new tools is fine, the goal should be to give shoppers better experiences, whether it's support, product discovery or personalization. If brands can't execute the fundamentals and instead create friction, asking them to change their instinctive shopping behaviors will be a pipe dream. The two 'simplest' ways brands can begin building consumers' trust in AI is through chatbots and product search. Chatbots have come a long way in the past several years, moving from a tool that provides help article links to one that can accurately provide answers and triage customer concerns. By refining customer service chatbots to handle customer queries accurately, consumers can realize their value and trust them further. This trust in one tool gives them a reason to trust the next one. On-site search is another area where brands can use AI to support the customer experience. As search moves from keyword matching to an intuitive prediction model, shoppers' ability to discover additional products and have an expanded, non-linear shopping experience improves. A non-linear shopping experience creates a more enjoyable one, similar to the surprise-and-delight experience of in-store shopping. If AI-powered search results stay relevant and helpful, shoppers are more likely to see AI as a helpful asset vs. an annoyance. The Takeaway Is AI in e-commerce going anywhere? Absolutely not. Will it transform the way online shopping is done? Probably. Are consumers clamoring for radical changes instead of everyday improvements? Not yet. It's OK to dream big, and I'm excited for what's to come, but don't lose sight of what got you here: your customers. Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders. Do I qualify?
