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Category: Retail & eCommerce

eCommerce, Online Retail & Retail News

  • Shopify’s Instagram Integration to Open Doors for Millions of Vendors

    Shopify’s Instagram Integration to Open Doors for Millions of Vendors

    Christmas comes early for Shopify and Instagram users, with the former now providing Instagram integration to most of its vendors.

    The eCommerce company and Instagram had been collaborating on the new shopping service the whole year. Now the integration appears to be ready and Shopify is offering it to its millions of sellers.

    Shopify has already established integration tools with Buzzfeed, Facebook, Facebook Messenger and other sites. With this new tool, vendors on Instagram can now tag photos of their products. This will include links to a page that includes more information about the product and its price. Users can buy the product straight from the mobile app using a “Shop Now” button that takes the buyer to the merchant’s page. And this feature is easier to set up with the Shopify integration, especially for users that already sell products on the site.

    The company has admitted that Instagram is one of the major drivers of traffic to merchant stores and this collaboration can boost eCommerce sales. In fact, 72% of Instagram users revealed that they bought products they saw on the site. And last July, Shopify closed a deal with eBay that allowed vendors to sell their goods directly through the website, opening it to around 400,000 users. The company also made a similar deal with Amazon in 2015.

    It has been Shopify’s game plan to integrate with various eCommerce channels to make it possible for its clients to branch out from their own sites. It also provides its sellers with small loans, shipping services, and payment tools. Shopify even offers tools for vendors to sell their products offline and provides point-of-sale hardware and software for those with physical shops.

    The Instagram integration is currently being offered to select vendors but will ultimately be made available to all the stores and vendors that have accounts on Shopify.

    [Featured image via Shopify]

  • Walmart Challenges Amazon, Launches Grocery Line With Jet.com

    Walmart Challenges Amazon, Launches Grocery Line With Jet.com

    Walmart’s competition with Amazon has just reached new levels, with the former looking to cut into a bigger piece of the millennial pie.

    Millennials aren’t exactly Walmart’s demographic, as its scant number of stores in urban areas attest. But the company’s acquisition of Jet.com might change all that. The website is set to launch Uniquely J, a high-end brand of home and grocery items like coffee, detergent, olive oil, paper towels and other merchandise for the household. The brand is aiming to cater to city-based millennials, a demographic with a penchant for buying exclusive products online and a group that Walmart doesn’t really reach.

    Meredith Klein, Jet.com’s public relations director, explained that everything about Uniquely J’s products– from the quality ingredients, bold packaging, and fun label copy– were designed and developed with the express goal of attracting and serving the millennial consumers from metro areas.

    Walmart is hoping the introduction of Uniquely J will help it narrow down Amazon’s lead with millennials, particularly now that Jeff Bezos acquired Whole Foods Market for a whopping $13.7 billion. The company’s private label– 365 By Whole Foods Market– is expected to expand further now that it’s under Amazon.

    This is why Walmart’s decision to push Uniquely J isn’t really surprising, especially if the company wants to make inroads in the demographic that Amazon has a strong grip on. There’s also no denying that private brands can bring in higher profit margins since the company would have sourcing control.

    Bringing in Jet.com and launching Uniquely J is also a good way for Walmart to show that it can also be known for its high quality products, as well as its low prices. After all, the retail discount giant has had issues about the state of its products before.

    Jet.com will reportedly include deluxe brands like Modcloth and Bonobos in its product line. It’s also been reported that Uniquely J will have “better quality than many of the national name brands.” And if those brands do well, the Uniquely J product line might eventually find its way to Walmart stores.

    Consumers can expect to see Walmart pushing its boundaries further as it explores and experiments with ways to win a greater share of the grocery industry. Aside from launching Uniquely J, the company is reportedly conducting trials in Silicon Valley by having staff from the Deliv company bring groceries to customers who are away from home.

    [Featured image via Jet.com]

  • Target Partners With Pinterest, Find Products by Taking a Photo

    Target Partners With Pinterest, Find Products by Taking a Photo

    Searching for products being offered on Target will soon be as easy as taking a photo on your mobile phone. In a recent announcement, Pinterest revealed that it teamed up with Target allowing the retailer to use the former’s visual search called Lens.

    The deal aims to harness the power of Pinterest’s visual search tool by shortening the buying cycle and catching potential shoppers at their moment of discovery. If something catches a potential buyer’s eyes, like an article of clothing, for instance, the buyer can just snap a picture of the clothes and, with the Lens technology, the system will display similarly styled clothes being sold at Target.

    As part of the deal, Target has committed to increasing its ad spending on Pinterest in exchange for gaining access to the Lens technology, Marketing Land reported. However, it was not disclosed just how much ad spending Target will be shelling out for this commitment.

    There are speculations that Target and Pinterest might enter into some form of ad revenue sharing scheme in the future where they can sell ads to businesses that want their products to be featured prominently in the Lens search results. While indeed a possibility, a Pinterest spokesperson explained that such partnership is not yet being considered at the moment.

    The companies are trying to position themselves on the rising trend of using images and voice to search the web instead of typing the actual phrase. If this trend continues, estimates project that by 2020, 50 percent of internet searches will be done using images and voice.

    The deal could encourage consumers to buy from Target. Even if the actual product being photographed is not sold by Target, the search result generated by Lens will only show similar products being sold by the retailer.

    Pinterest has been sinking serious money into its image search technology program. It allocated a large chunk out of the $120 million it got from the latest round of funding for r&d. This resulted into the redesigned Lens which introduced new useful features into the image search tool such as zoom, focusing ability by tapping and a search option for previously taken photos saved to the Camera Roll.

    Target will initially plug Pinterest’s Lens tool into its Target Registry mobile app. However, there are plans that the image search tool will eventually be integrated into the main Target mobile app as well its desktop counterpart sometime in the future.

    [Featured Image via Pinterest]

  • How Retail Must Adapt to Compete with eCommerce

    How Retail Must Adapt to Compete with eCommerce

    The number of eCommerce businesses has doubled in the past five years. The rise of the industry has admittedly caused less foot traffic and some brick and mortar businesses to suffer closure. But contrary to popular belief, retailers are not going out easily. Studies have shown that the majority of shoppers still prefer to go to physical establishments.

    To ensure that they do remain relevant, retail has to adapt in order to compete with eCommerce. This means targeting the right demographic and merging what consumers want based on their shopping preferences and experience, both online and offline. This fusion has already started to manifest in the services offered by some companies.

    Shoppers Still Want to Get Physical

    One advantage that stores have is the tactile experience they provide. Even though eCommerce stores can boast of features like high-resolution images or 360-degree visualizations, people still prefer to touch, smell, and feel products when they go shopping. As a matter of fact, about 78% of shoppers prefer a physical engagement with a product over a virtual experience. Being able to physically touch a product can affect a person’s purchasing decision.

    Image result for 78% percentage of shoppers prefer physical store

    In a study that had participants think abstractly and concretely about buying a coffee cup, those that were able to touch the cup were found to be more willing to make a purchase as opposed to those who just looked at the product. Retailers can take advantage of that by utilizing consumer research data obtained from online retailers to recognize customers who value a more tactile approach to shopping and focus their marketing strategies on them.

    Highlight Instant Gratification

    Another feature that physical stores can continue to play up to their advantage is the instant gratification they can give their customers. People shopping at department stores can immediately buy and take home whatever it is that catches their eyes, something that online sites are still working to provide.

    Retailers are also starting to integrate artificial intelligence to allow them to better compete with their virtual counterparts. AI can be used to help customers identify products they need to purchase without having to spend hours browsing online. For instance, a user can post a picture of an item they’re looking for and brands with AI technology can display similar products that they have in their inventory.

    AI technology can also help combine the efficiency often associated with online browsing with the immediate access physical stores provide. For example, groceries can utilize mobile apps that would allow clients to check what they need online, scan a barcode, order the products and check them out without having to go through the checkout line. This type of efficiency allows busy shoppers to finish their task with no interruptions and will undoubtedly keep them going back to that store.

    Shopping Becomes Personal Again

    Businesses like Amazon might appear to be the future of shopping, what with the store’s vast product offerings, availability, speedy delivery and even the proposed usage of drones. However, that doesn’t mean it’s what all shoppers want. As a matter of fact, a majority of shoppers still prefer to have in-store experiences. Millennials, in particular, are looking for unique shopping encounters.

    Some traditional fashion and beauty companies are now providing their customers with personalized shopping experiences inspired by online retailers. Beauty giant Sephora is one such store. The cosmetics company tracks their customer’s purchase preferences using their Beauty Insider card. Once a customer goes to a Sephora store, the Visual Artist, an augmented reality 3D facial recognition program, uses the customer’s buying history to give suggestions on beauty products they might be interested in. Meanwhile, fashion stalwart Ralph Lauren is experimenting with smart mirrors that can adjust the lighting in fitting rooms, recommend pieces that complement the customer or suggest an alternative color or size.

    Though eCommerce might tempt shoppers with convenience, drone deliveries or robot customer service officers, people will keep going back to brick-and-mortar stores. However, retailers should continue to find ways to adapt and give their customers a memorable shopping experience if they want them to keep returning.

    [image via Pixabay]

  • Voice Commerce: The Next Wave in eCommerce

    Voice Commerce: The Next Wave in eCommerce

    There was some skepticism over the idea that voice commerce would be the future of retail. This wasn’t surprising, given the limitations that AIs like Cortana and Siri exhibited. However, recent improvements made to the technology hinted that big changes are on the horizon and that it will affect customers’ retail interaction.

    Rise of Voice Commerce

    The number of Alexa-powered devices at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show was a testament to how quickly voice commerce is changing. Guests to the event were treated to an LG smart refrigerator that used Alexa to order food items. Car giants Ford and Volkswagen had the AI integrated into their vehicles, allowing drivers to do some voice shopping while driving. Alexa was also built into Dish consoles so that users can utilize their voice to look for their favorite channels, search for good shows, and to shop.

    Amazon has also gotten into the act by coming out with the Alexa Voice Service, an API. The company has also introduced the Alexa Skills Set – self-service APIs and tools that make it easier to develop voice-driven abilities for the AI. The attention that Amazon is giving to Alexa clearly indicates the eCommerce giant is betting on voice commerce to deliver big in a few years.

    What Voice Commerce Can Mean to Retailers

    Voice commerce can introduce many benefits to both retailers and consumers. For one, the technology can definitely streamline and improve customer experience. These days, people can check the availability of a product or order their coffee from Starbucks just by clicking on their smart devices. With voice commerce, those clicks would be eliminated. 

    A more personalized shopping service is another thing that voice commerce could improve on, as brands can collate and utilize data more effectively with each customer interaction. This possibility was underlined in an Adobe prototype. The Alexa-backed application could recognize guests and ask particular questions about their stay and preferences so that it could give customized information, promotions, and recommendations.

    Not only will this information lead to personalized experiences for every customer, it also gives companies valuable data about consumer behavior that will help them come up with more effective product strategies and marketing plans.

    Future of eCommerce

    Voice-activated virtual assistants are present in a lot of devices and while their functions overlap, they all have their own isolated and defined ecosystems. But a collaboration between Amazon and Microsoft will not only change that, it will potentially have a big impact on the future of eCommerce.

    The collaboration between the companies will allow Alexa and Cortana to talk to one another, giving Windows 10 users the capacity to access Alexa’s skills by giving voice commands to Cortana. Meanwhile, Alexa will be able to assist Amazon Echo users to stay on top of all the appointments and reminders that Cortana has gathered.

    The partnership will also allow the two AIs to combine their specific capabilities to enhance voice-controlled purchases. Cortana is great for finding and securing information while Alexa has the most defined skills that can be used for specific cases. In short, Cortana can be used to search for a particular product while Alexa can be utilized for ordering.

    The technology behind voice commerce is gaining ground and can open new opportunities for both retailers and consumers. And with the promise of partnerships between the different virtual assistants, voice-controlled commerce isn’t far off.

    [Image via Amazon]

  • Shopify Makes it Even Easier for Merchants to Sell on Amazon

    Shopify Makes it Even Easier for Merchants to Sell on Amazon

    Shopify has been quite busy making things even better for their sellers this year. Much like its recent announcement about a marketplace integration with eBay, Shopify revealed a similar integration with Amazon.

    The integration would allow US merchants to set up listings in seven new merchandise categories straight from Shopify. What’s more, it will also provide sellers support for the Amazon Brand Registry.

    New Amazon Categories for Shopify

    In the past, Shopify users were only allowed to list from their Shopify site to Amazon’s Clothing and Accessories group. With the new integration, users now have support for categories like Beauty and Personal Care, Health and Household, Home and Kitchen, Patio and Garden, Toys and Games, Sewing, Arts and Crafts, and Sports and Outdoors.

    This is a great development for Shopify sellers with multiple channels, particularly with the holidays fast approaching. The seven categories are undoubtedly popular during the holiday season and integration will help generate more opportunities to close sales.

    Additional Support for Brand Registry

    Amazon also rolled out an update for their Brand Registry. Shopify sellers on Amazon can secure their brand better now as the Brand Registry provides a faster way to list their items. Sellers who want to utilize the registry can simply add the brands they registered on Amazon in Shopify to easily set up and organize listings.

    Sellers have long asked for this feature as the Amazon Brand Registry not only protects product makers and brand owners, it also makes listing on the site go more smoothly for brand owners. For instance, an Amazon Brand Registered merchant is given total control of their listings and does not need UPC/EAN codes. And since the feature is now live, merchants can develop their Brand Registered listings without having to leave the Shopify site.

    It should be pointed out that these updates are currently available for U.S customers only. However, other channels are expected to follow. While there’s no extra Shopify fees for selling products on Amazon, merchants still need to sign up for an Amazon Professional Seller account in order to use the Amazon Integration feature.

    [Featured image via Shopify]

  • Amazon Price Cuts Led to Whole Foods 25% Boost in Shoppers

    My two most recent visits to my local Whole Foods Market, including this past weekend, were distinctly different from preview visits. Lots more shoppers and some friendlier produce prices. Apparently this is what is called another “Amazon Effect” and it really should come as no surprise.

    According to Foursquare data, both the Amazon acquisition and deep price cuts resulted in a whopping 25% increase in customer traffic.

    Foursquare compiled location information during the first two days after Amazon completed its acquisition of the grocer. The data, culled from shoppers’ mobile devices, was compared with the same period a week earlier.

    As reported by Bloomberg, Amazon acquired the upscale chain last month for $13.7 billion, a move that has brought turmoil to the supermarket industry and sent shares of grocery rivals tumbling. The same day it completed the acquisition, the e-commerce giant cut prices by as much as 43 percent on a range of items. Organic fuji apples were marked down to $1.99 a pound from $3.49 a pound, for instance. Organic avocados dropped to $1.99 each from $2.79.

    The traffic data is an optimistic sign that Amazon can succeed in the brick-and-mortar world. In some areas, the jump in customers was dramatic. At stores in Chicago, 35% more shoppers visited Whole Foods stores, Foursquare found.

    Amazon biggest obstacle with online grocery shopping is fresh foods and produce. Whole Foods certainly begins to solve part of that puzzle by building a good distribution network. And Wall Street certainly took notice:

    However, Amazon with Whole Foods, still only holds a 2% foothold in the $800 billion grocery industry. Established companies such as Kroger and Wal-Mart dominate the market. And the appeal of organic food, which was unique to Whole Food shoppers, has been wisely co-opted and built out by the big groceries.

    But this is Amazon we’re talking about and they intend to completely re-shape the grocery industry with the unrelenting Amazon Effect.

    So what are some grocery shopping innovations that you see coming from Amazon?

  • 5 Google Adwords Mistakes Every Online Marketer Should Avoid Making

    5 Google Adwords Mistakes Every Online Marketer Should Avoid Making

    There’s no doubt that Google Adwords can be very beneficial to a business. It’s one of the best ways to drive traffic to your site, generate leads and close sales. But like most good things, it also takes time, careful planning and execution, and a bit of an investment.

    Google Adwords campaigns have to be set up carefully for it to succeed. This means that you should be keenly attuned to Adwords and know how to avoid critical and costly mistakes. If you want to make the most of your Google AdWords campaign, check that you’re not making these 5 mistakes:

    1. Not Spending Enough Time to Research Keywords

    One of the key parts of an AdWords campaign is choosing theImage result for keyword research right keywords. After all, if you are not using keywords that are most relevant to your brand or what your customers are searching for then your campaign would suffer. This is why it’s vital that you spend time researching the proper and relevant keywords for your company.

    To help narrow down the best keywords to use, make use of tools like WordStream or Google AdWords Keyword Tool. Take a critical look at your brand and come up with a list of possible keywords. Use available keyword tools to see the different variations of how people use your proposed keywords in their search.

    2. Forgetting Phrase and Exact Matches

    There are different types of keyword matches – broad match, phrase match, and exact match. Broad match keywords mean that your ads will appear when people search for your keywords, regardless of the other terms in the search string while phrase match keywords will only appear in searches with that exact word order. This is the same principle for exact match keywords.

    Most ad groups only use broad match keywords, as it’s the default match type used by AdWords. The good news is that broad matches appear in more searches, but it also means that the odds are high that these are less relevant searches. This could lead to less generated sales and lower click rates if the searcher finds your ads irrelevant. It could potentially cost more money due to a misplaced click.

    Research has shown that exact match keywords have better conversion odds, so it’s better to start by using exact matches before expanding it to include phrase and broad matches.

    3. Not Utilizing Negative Keywords

    Another common AdWords mistake internet marketers make is disregarding negative keywords. This keyword acts in the opposite way of a targeted keyword, meaning it precludes keywords that do not match your product or service. For instance, if you are targeting backpacks designed for hiking or camping then you don’t want your ads to show up in searches for “school backpacks.” You can put “school” as a negative keyword and your ads won’t be displayed in searches with the term “school.”

    To ensure that you exclude the right words, check out Google Analytics. Click on “Acquisition,” followed by “AdWords” and “Matched Search Queries.” Click on “Query Match Type” next and choose either “broad match” or “phrase match” to see the keyword phrases that are generating leads and those that are not converting. This can help you choose the words that can be added as a negative keyword so that your campaign will perform better.

    4. Not Embracing Mobile

    There’s no stopping the mobile trend so it’s best ifImage result for Mobile-Specific Ads you embrace it, especially as how customers use mobile devices to search and engage in is vastly different from how they use laptops or desktops. And since more people opt for mobile devices these days, you should make sure your campaign is mobile-friendly.

    There are several ways to make your ad campaigns better suited for mobile devices. You can use Click to Call Extensions, Mobile Bid Modifiers, Mobile-Specific Ads, and Short Tail Keywords.

    5. Directing Visitors to the Wrong Pages

    This is a mistake that owners of eCommerce stores should take pains to avoid. Some e-stores have erred in directing the traffic from their ad to their home page instead of the page for a specific product.

    Make sure that when a visitor clicks on your ad, they’re directed to the item they’re looking for. Otherwise, they might just leave your page and that’s a lost sale. So double check your ads and ensure prospective clients are led to the right page.

    There’s no question that Google AdWords can be a key component to increasing traffic and generating sales. However, this will only happen with the right AdWords strategy and implementation.

     

    [Featured image via Google AdWords]

  • AI Learns to Write Convincing Fake Reviews on Yelp

    Savvy netizens have learned to be a bit distrustful of online reviews. For one thing, fake reviews glowingly recommending a service or a product can be easily bought. On the other hand, there are those reviews that seem genuine enough but ultimately reflect the particular biases of the reviewer.

    However, there is another type of review that modern consumers need to be wary of. Besides biased and sometimes untruthful people, technology has now spawned AI bots that churn out reviews like it was nothing. And the worst part is, according to researchers, you can’t tell the difference between fake reviews done by a robot against one written by a human.

    Researchers from the University of Chicago have just trained an AI system to write convincing fake Yelp reviews, Engadget reported. The team harnessed a deep learning program called recurrent neural network (RNN), teaching bots to craft quality short written prose. While the team admits that the AI may mess up when writing longer articles, the usually short reviews on Yelp prove to be no challenge. In fact, the fake reviews churned out by the AI bot proved to be so convincing that they fooled the human test subjects who rated them.

    For instance, the AI wrote the following fake review about a New York restaurant, which could easily pass for the real thing:

    “My family and I are huge fans of this place. The staff is super nice and the food is great. The chicken is very good and the garlic sauce is perfect. Ice cream topped with fruit is delicious too. Highly recommended!”

    And here is another AI manufactured review as reported in the NY Post:

    “I love this place. I have been going here for years and it is a great place to hang out with friends and family. I love the food and service. I have never had a bad experience when I am there.”

    Of course, Yelp assured The Verge that AI generated fake reviews will not become a problem for the rating site. While the bots did manage to create seemingly authentic reviews, Yelp’s own recommendation software claims to use signals other than mere textual content to recommend a particular review.

    [Featured Image via Yelp]

  • Facebook Promotes eBay Daily Deals— Will it Help Sellers?

    Facebook Promotes eBay Daily Deals— Will it Help Sellers?

    It looks like Facebook is testing out a new way to get its more than 2 billion users to spend money via its platform. Though not yet publicly announced, the tech giant has recently partnered with eBay bringing the online retailer’s Daily Deals to the FB Marketplace.

    Currently in the testing phase, the new Daily Deals feature is only available to a small portion of FB users in the U.S. and displays 100 discounted products available on eBay, showing both the percentage discounted from its price as well as a countdown on how long the deal for a particular item is available. To see the actual price, however, you’ll have to click on the deal to be transported eBay’s site for check out.

    Until now, Facebook Marketplace has always been about peer-to-peer transactions. Relaunched last fall, it aggregates postings from various “buy and sell” groups and, with its integration of Messenger, allows both buyers and sellers a means to communicate and seal their deals, reports Tech Crunch.

    With FB Marketplace setting up an online space for buyers and sellers to meet, the feature was seen as a competitor for Craigslist and eBay, according to TheVerge. Thus, it is a bit surprising that Facebook has now teamed up with a third-party site for deals promotion and with eBay at that.

    However, it looks like Facebook offering eBay’s Daily Deals is the social media giant’s tentative step in looking for new ways to monetize its more than 2 billion active user base. As stated by  Akash Anand, Facebook Production Manager, “We’re conducting a test to determine if people are interested in shopping for discounted products when they visit Marketplace.” The bottom line is that Daily Deals is still in its testing phase; the feature may not even reach mainstream users as it could be dropped depending on user reception.

    In a way, Facebook’s partnership with eBay could be the company’s response to Spark. Last month, Amazon entered the social media scene by creating its own platform – Spark – which is basically a network where consumers can compare notes on the various products being sold by Amazon.

    In Facebook’s case, it will be the reverse of what Amazon did with Spark since the social media giant will now be venturing into eCommerce. Though Facebook is not asking for a share from eBay in the revenue from the Daily Deals feature at the moment, it is easy to see how such an arrangement could be worked out in the future.

    But there is one reason why Facebook could be hesitant in going all out on eCommerce. Unlike Amazon whose revenue is mainly sourced from online sales, Facebook’s cash cow is advertising. The deal with eBay, however, might turn off some sellers/advertisers as they might see it as competition to their brand’s visibility unless their product is included in eBay’s Daily Deals of course.

    It is interesting to note that Facebook’s deal with eBay is not exclusive. This opens up the possibility that the company could enter into an agreement with other third-party sellers in the future for them to post their own daily deals.

    Just like Facebook, advertisers need to follow how FB’s deal with eBay pans out. Don’t worry, we’ll keep you posted on the latest developments.

    [Featured Image via Youtube]

  • How Will Amazon’s New Social Media Platform Benefit Brands?

    How Will Amazon’s New Social Media Platform Benefit Brands?

    Online retailer giant Amazon just found another way to make it easier for people to part ways with their money. The company has ventured into the world of social media with Amazon Spark, which was launched last July.

    Amazon Creates Social Media Platform

    At first glance, Amazon Spark looks a lot like some other social media platforms such as Instagram and Pinterest. The newcomer platform’s feed is also heavy on photos but a marked difference is that these are images of products available on Amazon.

    Image result for amazon spark

    Of course, encouraging people to post pictures of the products they love or make reviews on items they have tried is Amazon’s brilliant way to deepen consumer engagement on their platform. At the moment though, only Amazon Prime members can make posts or comment on them, but non-Prime members can still use the platform to view posts.

    Just like your typical social media platform, Spark requires first-time users to register. Once a user has logged in, Spark requires the user to choose at least five interests that would later become the basis for what posts will be included in the feed. The platform actually allows more than five interests, which range from generic, broad categories like “Music” or “Books” to more narrowed-down options like “TV Bingewatching.”

    Spark is also using its own version of a “Like” called “Smile” to indicate approval of a post.

    Image result for amazon spark smile

    The Advantages of Spark

    While it shares a lot of similarities to older platforms, Amazon Spark has several advantages over its competitors. Unlike other social media platforms where people log on to see what’s the latest buzz on virtually everything, there is only one reason why Spark users would log on to the platform and that is to see what is worth buying.

    Essentially, Spark is a social media network for consumers—people looking for the best products to buy. As such, you can expect the conversion from traffic to actual sale to be higher on this social media platform than most others. Before logging into the platform, users are already eager to buy something. They’re just looking for the right product to justify a purchase.

    The higher conversion rate will offset Amazon Spark’s smaller user base compared to other platforms. At the moment, there are around 80 million Amazon Prime members who are allowed to post and comment on Spark. However, there’s a hidden number in there somewhere that brands should not ignore. Apparently, Prime members spend around $600 more per year than non-Prime members. Multiply that by 80 million and you’ll get a rough estimate of its gargantuan potential for brands.

    Image result for amazon spark social comparison chart

    Aside from tapping the purchasing power of the horde of Amazon shoppers, there is one thing that sets Amazon Spark apart from other platforms. Since Spark is inside the Amazon application, buyers can buy the item tagged in a particular post seamlessly and without the need to log into another app to make the purchase. Since the eCommerce component is already integrated into the platform, there is simply no time for consumers to hesitate and, in a way, Spark has made impulse buying even faster.

    Current Limitations for Brands

    At the moment, Amazon Spark does not allow brands to make posts to the platform. However, brands can work around this problem by reaching out to “enthusiasts,” which is Amazon’s term for influencers, to make posts for their products in the meantime.

    Another limitation is that Spark is only available for iOS devices at the moment although Amazon previously promised that an Android version is on the way. In addition, there is no word yet if the company plans to expand Spark’s access via desktop.

    [Featured Image by Amazon]

  • Microsoft’s New Outlook Sports Smarter Features and Customization Options

    Microsoft’s New Outlook Sports Smarter Features and Customization Options

    On Tuesday, Microsoft launched its new Outlook.com beta, which sports a new design and comes packed with new features users might find useful. For instance, the search interface has been relocated, email attachments can be previewed and the new inbox comes with a ton of smart features designed to give users an easier way to tag useful information with their emails.

    The redesigned Outlook.com may be activated by clicking on the “try the beta” toggle. Since the new features of the beta—which are still being tested and may be improved on—might take some getting used to, Outlook users can simply revert back to the old format by clicking on the toggle again.

    One of the more noticeable changes brought by the beta is the placement of the search interface, which is now located at the top portion of the inbox rather than the side. But the search interface’s change is more than mere aesthetics as email and people are now included in its search results.

    Another interesting change in the Outlook beta is the conversations view. Files and photos in the conversations may now be previewed which makes it easier to take a quick peek into email contents while browsing through ones’ emails.

    In addition, the new Outlook beta allows for a greater degree of personalization with the new options found in the conversations view, according to Tech Crunch. For instance, users can pin at the sidebar shortcuts to important emails. In addition, the inclusion of emojis and GIFs inside the new Outlook beta makes it easier to add some personal touch to one’s emails to close friends.

    The new beta version also introduced a smart new feature called Quick Suggestion. Placing tags on emails regarding restaurant location, flight details, and even sports teams’ schedules is now a breeze with the new feature in place.

    Of course, the purpose of the Outlook.com beta is to gauge customer reception and gain important feedback on the new changes. Things could still change for the better as the Outlook team announced that “based on your feedback we’ll iterate, improve, refine, or discard them.”

    Want to try the beta version of Outlook right now? Follow the link below:

    https://outlook.live.com/mail/#/inbox

    [Featured Image by Outlook]

  • Skype Partners With PayPal, Users Can Now Send Money Even While Chatting

    Skype Partners With PayPal, Users Can Now Send Money Even While Chatting

    With the new Skype Send Money feature in place, the “I’m on the phone” excuse for not paying someone quickly becomes obsolete. The popular online messaging app just entered into a partnership with PayPal making it possible for people to send money to each other even in the middle of a chat.

    Skype launched its Send Money feature yesterday just last week, allowing its users to make peer-to-peer payments. The feature, which is activated by a mere swipe to the right and tap on the Send Money option, is only available in 22 countries at the moment.

    Aside from the U.S. and Canada, most of the countries where the Skype Send Money feature works are located in Europe. These list of countries include Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Portugal, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and U.K. Skype is making payment extra convenient by allowing users in these regions to send funds even in the middle of a conversation.

    For the feature to be activated, the latest version of the Skype mobile app needs to be installed on the sender’s phone, Tech Crunch reported. The receiving party, on the other hand, may use any version of Skype and still receive the funds. Of course, the receiver must have a PayPal account for the transfer to work.

    Skype and PayPal will not charge for the transfer if the funds come from the user’s PayPal balance or from a U.S. debit card. On the other hand, transfers funded by a credit card will be slapped with a 3.4 percent transaction cost plus a fee of 30 cents.

    Send Money on Skype

    PayPal has been busy positioning itself to retain its market share amidst emerging threats to its business like Apple Pay and Zelle, a service offered by U.S. banks that works like Venmo. The U.S. based online payment system even partnered with rivals Apple, Visa and MasterCard to make financial transactions for its users as seamless as possible. The recent partnership with Skype will allow it to have access to the latter’s 300 million active users, a sizable potential boost to its client base.

    [Featured Image by Skype]

  • Packing Robots: The Future of Warehouse Operations for eCommerce Businesses

    Packing Robots: The Future of Warehouse Operations for eCommerce Businesses

    Automation has always provided immeasurable benefits to businesses and economies alike. It paved the way for the industrial revolution and the rapid rise of production plants. These days, a new type of automation is making its presence felt – intelligent warehouse robots. These robots have started changing the way warehouses and eCommerce do their business.

    Robots are already being used in a lot of warehouses. Their tasks are usually to bring boxes or shelves of products to an employee who will then pack the orders into boxes in preparation for shipping. So far, the intricacy of sorting through tens of thousands of products has made the idea of using robots for packing orders unrealistic. However, that might soon change, as reports have indicated that the newer warehouse robots are now more flexible.

    Rise of the Warehouse Robots

    It comes as no surprise that Amazon is leading the charge in the use of robots in their warehouses. After all, the eCommerce giant prides itself on its fast and efficient delivery system, something that robotic automation undoubtedly helped with. Amazon started using robots from Kiva Systems in 2011 before buying the company a year later. Now there are more than 15,000 Kiva robots in Amazon’s warehouses, where they are used to bring products to an employee for picking and packing. This significantly cuts down the time an employee would take to navigate the warehouse and look for the product.

    Kiva Systems, which is now known as Amazon Robotics, paved the way for companies like Fetch Robotics and GreyOrange to develop their own line of warehouse robots. The former developed the Fetch and Freight system, with the Fetch robots picking items from a shelf while the Freight component moves the product through the warehouse. Meanwhile, GreyOrange developed a Butler robot that helped merchants like Flipkart and Jabong run their operations smoothly by moving through their warehouses to collect high-volume and high-mix orders set to be shipped.

    Advantages of Robotics

    A 2015 report on the rise of the warehouse automation market discussed the growth of eCommerce and its effects, particularly on the workforce. Picking and packing robots can provide a distinct advantage to retailers. Unlike their human counterparts, companies don’t have to provide sick days, vacation leaves, health insurance or lunch breaks to robots. No training is required for robots and they can be utilized 24/7, a feature that comes in handy during busy holiday seasons. Instead of having to hire extra warehouse workers to cope with massive orders, robots can pick up the bulk of the work while substantially reducing costs. Plus, it requires minimal human interaction.

    Analysts have also projected that robots will cost the company less in the long run. For instance, one of the more advanced Fetch warehouse robots is priced anywhere from $35,000 to $100,000. However, that price will certainly go down as more units are sold. It’s estimated that in about five years, one robot will be less expensive to maintain that an employee with a $15 minimum wage and benefits.

    Fears About Robots

    The price of fully automating a warehouse is a major stumbling block, especially for small retailers or medium-sized businesses. Companies would also have to deal with the fall-out and anger from employee groups and labor unions who are worried that warehouse robots will cost them their jobs.

    Robotics and the Future of eCommerce

    Automation will undoubtedly play a big part in companies getting a competitive boost in a bustling market. Consumers are getting more demanding, making speed a key consideration in eCommerce. This means that companies need to figure out how to cut down their shipping time and ensure that customers receive their orders as soon as possible. Amazon’s claim of same day delivery has also put pressure on itself and other companies, as well as raising expectations among consumers.

    The emergence of newer and smarter warehouse robots can cut down on the time and effort needed to pick orders, pack and ship parcels, scan and update inventory, arrange existing items on shelves or add new ones and complete other tasks.

    Robotics companies are already working to meet the demands of eCommerce. One mystery retailer has been reported to have invested in a picking robot from robotics company Kuka while RightHand Robotics has begun testing the capabilities of its picking robots at another unnamed retailer’s warehouse. Meanwhile, Amazon continues to pour money into robotics – hosting robotic competitions and funding research – in a bid to further develop this technology. If the company continues this course, experts predict that it might accomplish full automation in less than a year.

    When picking and packing robots are finally utilized, companies like Amazon can cut down the cost and time of fulfilling orders by 1/5, thereby push their profits higher. However, it might also push out an immense number of the human employees out of the workforce, further fueling the disdain and anger people feel against the use of these machines.

    [Image via YouTube]

  • 5 Ways to Build Customer Loyalty for Your eCommerce Business

    5 Ways to Build Customer Loyalty for Your eCommerce Business

    A decade or so ago, most businesses develop relationships and loyalty with their customers based on one-on-one and personalized interactions between the company owner or the staff. These days, most transactions occur online. However, customer loyalty remains a key component to the success of any business.

    As the Beeketing blog explained, it’s more expensive to gain new customers than to retain current ones. A company has to spend a lot of time, effort and resources to find new clients. It’s far easier and more profitable to just keep existing customers satisfied, happy and loyal. As a matter of fact, keeping customers happy and returning can boost profitability by up to 75%.

    But how does one build customer loyalty? Here are five tactics an eCommerce business can use:

    1. Sell Good Quality ProductsImage result for quality

    You can’t expect to garner customer loyalty if the customer’s first experience with a purchased product is one of disappointment. This is why it’s imperative that you sell good quality products. If the item, software, or downloadable content you’re selling is poorly made, your customers will not come back. They might also hurt the business further by leaving bad reviews. Conversely, delivering a well-made product will ensure repeat business and develop loyal customers.

    2. Provide Great Customer Service

    Aside from offering high-quality products, providing good customer service is another vital way for an eCommerce business to develop and encourage customer loyalty. A 2011 survey conducted by American Express revealed that 8 out of 10 customers would not patronize a business anymore after one bad customer service experience.

    Providing good customer service isn’t necessarily hard or expensive. There are also several options open to companies, like incorporating a live chat to make it easier for customers to reach someone. Self-service options can also make it simpler for clients to troubleshoot common problems or find answers to frequently asked question. Interacting on social media and offering flexible return and exchange plans can also keep clients returning.

    3. Be a Logistics MasterImage result for logistics

    Much like the two previous examples, fast and reliable shipping service also strengthens customer loyalty. This is particularly true for eCommerce businesses as they have to master logistics like shipping packages safely, quickly and cheaply to their customers. This also means having a clear concept of how to pack products properly, finding the best courier and service for a specific shipment, and setting realistic expectations with the client. Remember, good products bought at fair prices that arrive promptly or when they’re expected will go a long way to earning customer loyalty.

    4. Develop a Fun and Relevant Rewards or Loyalty Program

    Loyalty programs are an effective but surprising underutilized marketing tactic. Make your customers feel important and valued by offering rewards for their continued engagement. This can be in form of major discounts, free gifts, or instant or early access to exclusive sales. Personalizing the promotions you give loyal customers will also make them feel important and give the impression that the company is taking care of them.

    More and more companies are also opting for fun and gamified rewards programs that allow the customers to participate. For instance, a coupon app can give customers access to special deals and promotions while encouraging them to earn badges by looking for deals on particular products. Aside from making it more fun, it also creates interest for the product and could even tap into the customer’s social media network.

    5. Offer Useful and Entertaining ContentImage result for useful content

    Another way to boost customer value and loyalty is via content marketing. Studies indicate that retail sites that made use of content marketing could have six times better conversion rates than those sites that do not. However, the trick is to make sure that the content, copy, and marketing actions are informative, entertaining, and engaging. One prime example is the weekly digital magazine of fashion house, Mr. Porter. The articles are often about the company’s products but they also include topics that deal with health, fashion, food and the arts.

    Think about the various ways your customers interact with your company. Make sure they have a positive experience every step of the way and they will keep coming back for more. More importantly, your loyal customers might even tell their friends about your business.

    [Featured image via Flickr.com]

  • Twitter Tries to Boost Revenue With New $99 Subscription Plan

    Twitter Tries to Boost Revenue With New $99 Subscription Plan

    Twitter is introducing a new way to help individuals, as well as small businesses, increase the reach of their posts outside of their current follower base. Called the “private beta program,” it automatically promotes up to 10 tweets per day for a monthly subscription rate of $99. Of course, it is also the company’s attempt at increasing its revenue which has been declining recently.

    With the automated promotion of tweets under the “private beta program,” the new service is aimed at individuals and small businesses which may not have the necessary skills to run their own marketing campaigns, according to Forbes. At the moment, though, it appears that the product is being offered by invitation only and is not yet aggressively marketed to everyone.

    According to reports, there is a tracking system in place for those who wish to subscribe to the new service, which is free for the first month. Twitter will provide bi-weekly reports that detail growth of follower base as well as improvement in engagement.

    There is one drawback to the new services, though. Users cannot choose which posts will be included in the daily promotional campaign offering up to 10 posts.

    However, the monthly subscription does offer some flexibility in terms of targeting an audience. Users can choose their posts to target either a specific category such as sports or fashion or target them to users within a specific area like New York or Chicago. Twitter explained that they cannot support both target criteria simultaneously at the moment.

    The company is under increasing pressure to increase its revenue after a disappointing second quarter performance. Twitter revealed that its second quarter advertising revenue fell by 8 percent to $489 million, though the figure is still better than the $451 million estimate.

    Twitter is a popular platform among personalities in the entertainment industry and politics. Yet, its popularity has not translated into user growth. Second fiscal quarter reports showed 328 million users per month for the social media platform, a figure that remained unchanged since the first quarter.

    [Featured Image by Pixabay]

  • AWS Outpaces Rival Cloud Platforms, Props Up Amazon’s Q2 Earnings Report

    AWS Outpaces Rival Cloud Platforms, Props Up Amazon’s Q2 Earnings Report

    Amazon Web Services’ (AWS) performance was highlighted in the recent second quarter earnings report of parent firm Amazon. In fact, it seems that the retailer’s cloud computing unit held the fort for the entire group, becoming the leading contributor to the company’s profits.

    While Amazon.com, Inc. missed its earnings estimates, AWS continued to dominate its niche, beating rivals Microsoft’s Azure and Google Cloud Platform, The Street reported. Its second quarter revenues rose by 42 percent from year-ago levels to an astounding $4.1 billion after introducing 400 new features and services and becoming the largest publicly held cloud computing provider in the process.

    AWS managed to woo a number of big corporate clients in the last 12 months, which contributed to its massive revenue increase. These include BP PLC, Ancestry.com, and the California Polytechnic State University. In addition, AWS has already entered into an agreement to provide artificial intelligence and machine learning services with Capital One Financial Corp., the American Heart Association and U.S. space agency, NASA.

    Meanwhile, parent firm Amazon’s second quarter earnings fell short of Wall Street estimates despite AWS’ massive contribution. The online retailer also warned of possible negative earnings next quarter as the company continues to allocate massive investments to ensure its future growth.

    “AWS continues to move forward on new products and win more significant enterprise business. That said, it – and public cloud more generally – is not the right answer for every organization at the moment,” was how Kate Hanaghan of IT analyst company TechMarketView explained the anticipated growth slowdown.

    Despite that, Wall Street appears comfortable with Amazon’s strategy, as the company has always shown continued profitability. Amazon share prices have climbed  40 percent since the start of 2017.

    [Featured Image by Robert Scoble/Flickr]

  • Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos Became World’s Richest Man for One Day

    Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos Became World’s Richest Man for One Day

    Move over Bill Gates. Someone finally managed to topple the Microsoft founder from his number one spot on the world’s richest list; a spot that he has occupied for over four years.

    Jeff Bezos, the founder of online retail giant Amazon, briefly became the world’s richest man last Thursday after his net worth surged by an astounding $2.5 billion. Before the company released its earnings report, Amazon shares rose to an intraday high of $1,083.31 which translates to Bezos’ net worth escalating to an unprecedented $92.3 billion, according to Bloomberg. This amount overtook Bill Gates’ net worth, computed to be $90.8 billion as of Wednesday.

    However, Amazon was not able to sustain Thursday morning’s rally. By the end of the day, its shares fell by 0.7 percent, eventually settling to $1,046 per share, as reported by the Seattle Times. Thus, Bezos has settled to the number two spot on the list while Gates reclaimed the number one spot that he has held since May of 2013.

    The price of Amazon’s shares has been steadily rising in recent years, eventually moving past the $1,000 per share mark. Jeff Bezos, who is also the CEO and Chairman of the Seattle-based behemoth, owns a substantial 17 percent of Amazon and has greatly benefited from the meteoric rise of its shares.

    Amazon shares rose by a whopping 40 percent since the start of 2017, adding an enormous $24.5 billion to Bezo’s fortune. The increase helped him dislodge famed investor Warren Buffet of Berkshire Hathaway from the number two spot.

    According to Independent, Amazon’s market performance was buoyed by its media streaming services, the popular home digital assistant Alexa, as well as its Prime shopping club. However, investors are still vigilant about the company’s long-term prospects as they keep a close watch on the performance of Amazon Web Services, the company’s cloud-computing business, which accounts for nearly 10 percent of their revenue. In fact, Thursday’s correction already reflects the company’s failure to meet estimates and the projected possibility of a third quarter operating loss.

    [Featured Image by Steve Jurvetson/Flickr]

  • 7 Ways to Improve Customer Service for Your eCommerce Business

    7 Ways to Improve Customer Service for Your eCommerce Business

    Online businesses have been booming in recent years due to the conveniences they offer. If you’re planning to enter this industry, you should bear in mind that an online shop is significantly different from a physical store. Unlike the latter, where location and the establishment itself plays a role in attracting customer, online businesses rely mostly on the products and customer service.

    To help you conquer this industry here are seven ways you can improve customer service for your eCommerce business.

    1. Personalize Each Customer’s Experience

    Nearly 80 percent of customers from the U.S. expect a personalized shopping experience when visiting an online store.  If you want to stand out from other eCommerce companies, you must reach your customers on a personal level remotely.

    You can offer this by providing an account for each customer where they can see their past purchases and save personal information for easier checkouts. You could also call customers once their order has been completed to verify their orders and to inform them of the delivery date. There are many ways to make shopping at your online store more personal for your customers, so don’t hesitate to experiment.

    2. Provide a 24/7 Live Chat

    This is one of the customer service platforms you must invest in if you have the means to do so. Having 24/7 chat Image result for eCommerce customer servicesupport readily available will provide your customers with peace of mind.

    Try putting yourself in your customer’s shoes. Would you prefer waiting for an email response over a real-time conversation with a customer service representative? Sites like Influx can handle chat support for your online business.

    3. Establish an Easy-to-Understand Return Policy

    There are few things that can earn a customer’s trust better than a simple return policy. Make sure that your customer is properly informed about the terms and process of the after-sales service. About 15 to 30 percent of online purchases are returned and 68 percent of online purchases are influenced by the availability of easy and free return options, so this is something you shouldn’t overlook.

    4. Create a FAQ Section on Your Page

    Although some may find this hard to believe, many online buyers look for a FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) page before attempting to contact you to inquire about certain items or services. Setting up a FAQ page will save both you and your customers time and effort in the sales process.

    5. Open Customer Service Through Social Media

    If you have social media accounts like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram set up for your business, establish a direct Image result for customer service social medialine of communication with your customers using these platforms. While chat support on your website is useful, some customers prefer not to leave whatever social media site they’re in to make inquiries. This is also an excellent way to update your customers on policy changes, new deals, and other developments in your operations.

    6. Provide a Billing History

    Transparency is everything when it comes to customer service. Provide your customers with the means to access their account information. More often than not, customers need to have an account where they can access their preferred payment method, order status, and billing history. An eCommerce business that fails to deliver this will pale in comparison to its competition and customers will most likely flock elsewhere.

    7. Measure & Analyze Customer Satisfaction

    You deserve a good pat on the back if you’ve established all the customer service improvements stated above. Related imageHowever, there will always be areas for improvement and what better way to find them than by measuring customer satisfaction?

    There are plenty of ways to do this. One way is to send out customer satisfaction surveys after every completed order or inquiry. Your customers, regardless of how good or bad their shopping experience was, will appreciate this.

    Customer service will set your eCommerce business apart from the others. You have to be prepared to invest finances, time, and effort to provide your customers with a unique shopping experience. Remember that your business is as much about your products or services as it is about your customers.

  • How to Use Whatsapp to Generate More Sales

    How to Use Whatsapp to Generate More Sales

    Since launching in 2009, WhatsApp has become one of the most popular ways for people to communicate with each other across the globe. Today, the mobile app’s active user base is second only to its parent company, Facebook, with over 1.2 billion people using it to send messages and share data every month.

    Social network sites ranked by number of active users (in millions) as of April 2017

    For most users, WhatsApp is a chatting application for casual conversations between friends and family. However, the app also has a lot of potential for doing business.

    Here are a few reasons Whatsapp makes a great business tool:

    • Easily send brochures, catalogs, e-books, images, and videos.
    • Get customer feedback by using WhatsApp as a survey tool.
    • Send alerts and notifications about sales and events.
    • Accept sales inquiries
    • Receive payment from purchases instantly.
    •  Direct engagement via phone calls.

    Getting Started With Whatsapp

    Perhaps one of the reasons behind WhatsApp’s popularity is its advertisement free experience. However, the lack of advertisement opportunities has caused business people to believe that there is no revenue to gain in WhatsApp.

    The thing is there are no media to invest in or ad space to purchase, and you most certainly can’t get away with spamming people you don’t know.  Fortunately, there are still a number of ways to make the app a useful business tool. Here’s how to get started:

    1. Build a Phone Database

    Image result for people using whatsapp

    The one thing that can stand between your messages and your target audience in WhatsApp is their phone number. Without a phone number, you cannot send messages to prospective customers which means you’ll have to earn their contact invitation.  You can do this by offering something of value to catch their interest, such as a special promo, a free service, or a free item.

    2. Establish User Loyalty

    Take advantage of WhatsApp’s extremely loyal users. The group lists on Whatsapp have shown more brand loyalty than any other social media groups. Couple this with a friendly and personal brand persona, and you will be able to develop a great reputation with your target audience.

    3. Be Quick on Your Feet

    WhatsApp has an amazing 70 percent open rate, which means that more often than not, your target audience is online and will see your messages. If you receive an inquiry, you must respond promptly. The worst thing you can do is establish a massive phone list and fail to reply to your customers.

    4. Create Quality Content

    You’ll have to stop thinking of WhatsApp as a mere chatting application. That being said, you must ensure that you deliver top notch quality content. Similar to how you would advertise on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter, your WhatsApp ads must adhere to your brand’s style and format.

    WhatsApp is a very direct and personal app, so it pays to make sure that your brand is represented by a friendly persona to engage with customers. Like any other social media platforms, you’ll have to prioritize your target audience to get the most out of it.

  • Is Amazon Building a New Messaging App Called ‘Anytime’?

    Is Amazon Building a New Messaging App Called ‘Anytime’?

    Messaging apps are here to stay. Even big tech names such as Facebook, Apple, and Google are battling it out on the field. So, it is no wonder that Amazon may now be working on having its own messaging app called ‘Anytime.’

    Amazon has reportedly started surveying its customers on what features are important to them. And it seems that the retail giant decided to go for a feature rich all-in-one app that can rival existing social networks.

    Feature Rich App

    Amazon’s messaging app will be available on Android, iOS, and desktop. Its focus is on the standard text, video, and voice, but with a few more twists of their own. The service will also have video special effects and masks, photo filters, and even activities such as ordering food, playing games, and listening to music.

    In addition to Anytime’s standard features, the app could also accommodate private chats that allow users to encrypt sensitive messages such as bank details. This will be very useful for business conversations and transactions.

    The Major Hurdle

    Despite all these impressive features, Amazon’s biggest hurdle will be getting people to use the app. Unlike standalone messaging apps like WhatsApp and Viber, Anytime would let you reach your friends by using their names instead of their phone number. Of course, this could be a problem if nobody you know uses the new Amazon messaging app.

    However, it’s still not entirely clear how the app will work. It could be that the app will work across multiple platforms. That means, Anytime will be allowed to link to existing social media platforms and messaging apps. If that is the case, it might be the most convenient messaging app.

    No Word From Amazon

    Engadget asked for a comment from Amazon about the accuracy of recent reports. However, there seems to be no clear answer. The report mentioned that the retail giant has recently added a voice calling and messaging features to its Alexa devices. So, it shouldn’t come as a surprise if the company suddenly drops a standalone messaging app.