194. Future of Retail and AI Trends with Avani Oswal

In this episode of Mastering eCommerce Marketing, Eitan Koter sits down with Avani Oswal, Head of Digital at Elizée and Founder at Catalyst.

Avani works closely with retail brands, eCommerce teams, and tech startups, helping them make sense of where technology actually fits into their day to day work. She brings a grounded point of view shaped by real experience, not trends for the sake of trends.

They talk about how teams can test new tools without overcommitting, why measuring results matters more than adding more software, and how personalization is finally becoming something brands can deliver in meaningful ways. Avani also shares why clean product data is now just as important as design when it comes to being discovered.

The conversation touches on how shopping behavior is shifting, how people want answers faster, and what brands need to do to show up when customers are searching differently. Later on, Avani explains why she started Catalyst and how retail leaders are learning from each other in smaller, more honest settings.

It’s a clear, thoughtful conversation about what to focus on and how to move forward without making things harder than they need to be.

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Guest: Avani Oswal, Head of Digital at Elizée | Founder at Catalyst

Avani Oswal’s LinkedIn | Elizée | Catalyst

Watch the full Youtube video here:

https://youtu.be/XmgZXrFuehQ

Takeaways:

• Curiosity drives learning and innovation in retail.
• Testing AI solutions is crucial for understanding their impact.
• Personalization is evolving towards one-to-one experiences.
• Clean data is essential for effective discoverability.
• Customer expectations are rising, demanding better experiences.
• Building relationships is key to success in business.
• AI can significantly improve inventory management.
• The retail landscape is rapidly changing, requiring agility.
• Consolidation of tools in e-commerce is on the horizon.
• Community building fosters knowledge sharing and collaboration.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Avni Oswal and Her Values

02:54 The Impact of AI on E-commerce and Retail

05:27 Testing and Measuring AI Solutions

08:25 Personalization in E-commerce

11:19 The Shift from Search to Answer Engines

14:07 Data Management and AI Integration

16:55 Catalyst Community and Its Purpose

19:57 Emerging Trends in Retail and AI

22:36 Advising AI Startups and Building Relationships