The Watson Weekly - Your Essential eCommerce Digest

In this week’s Watson Weekly, we will discuss Fidji Simo is out at Instacart CEO to join OpenAI.  This is a huge feather in Simo’s cap and leaves an opening at Instacart which I predict will be filled by their Chief Product Officer Daniel Danker. Not only did Danker and Simo overlap from their time at Facebook, but Danker was promoted by Simo into his current role as Chief Product Officer.  You’ll find this and other stories every Monday morning on the Watson Weekly, headed straight to your earhole wherever you get your favorite podcasts.Today on our show:Shopify Needs Incentive Alignment to Win in Enterprise3 Notables From BigCommerce earnings callInstacart CEO Departs for OpenAIShopify Reports Solid Earnings Amid Global Uncertainty- and finally, The Investor Minute which contains 5 items this week from the world of venture capital, acquisitions, and IPOs.Today's episode is sponsored by Mirakl.https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ecommerce-podcast-watsonweekly

Today’s Watson Weekly is a special edition that is one of a series of three interviews recorded at Shopware’s Partner Day on April 24th, 2025.  These were recorded in the basement of a German beer hall and restaurant, so I think those interested in the digital commerce complexity of serving manufacturers and distributors should find it a lot of fun.In this special edition of the Watson Weekly, Rick Watson heads to the basement of a German beer hall at Shopware's Partner Day to sit down with Rob Miller of Smith Commerce. Together, they explore the intricacies of modern B2B digital commerce—from account hierarchy challenges and dynamic pricing rules to the evolving role of CRM. Rob shares real-world insights from years of working with wholesale distributors and manufacturers, including the critical role of AI in orchestrating complex systems. Tune in for a grounded, behind-the-scenes take on the future of enterprise commerce and why embracing change is easier than ever before.📘 Learn more about the structural shifts in B2B and private equity’s role in transformation with Shopware’s whitepaper: Winning B2B in the Age of Private Equityhttps://www.rmwcommerce.com/ecommerce-podcast-watsonweekly

Today on our show:Amazon Reports Q1 2025 EarningsWalmart Releases an Annual Shareholder LetterUPS Reports Q1 2025 EarningsKohl’s Fires Its CEO- and finally, The Investor Minute which contains 5 items this week from the world of venture capital, acquisitions, and IPOs.Today's episode is sponsored by Mirakl.https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ecommerce-podcast-watsonweekly

In this insightful episode, The Watson Weekly welcomes Alex Yancher (Yon-cher), CEO of Passport, just hours after the U.S. government announced sweeping new global trade tariffs. With $3.3 trillion in cross-border e-commerce at stake, this conversation couldn’t be more timely.Guided by a Thomas L. Friedman-inspired prologue, we dive deep into the new frontier of Cross-Border Trade (CBT) — where data, logistics, and geopolitical tension collide. Alex shares the origin story of Passport, and why global brands like Carpe, Ogee, and Tommy John trust them to turn complex international challenges into seamless consumer experiences.From navigating 25% tariffs on EU steel to leveraging bonded warehouses and real-time FX for international growth, Alex outlines how Passport is helping brands not just survive—but thrive—in a volatile environment. We explore how Shopify and others are reshaping the landscape, and why transparency, logistics branding, and TikTok-era customer experience are no longer optional—they’re essential.Key Topics:The real impact of April 2025 tariffs on global ecommerceWhy “asset-light” CBT might outpace localized fulfillmentLessons from Carpe and Ogee’s global expansion strategiesLogistics as CX: the new battlefield for consumer loyaltyHow Passport is future-proofing brands against regulatory shocksDon’t miss: Alex’s take on what archaic global trade structure he’d tear down if given the chance.👉 Whether you're a founder, operator, or curious observer of global commerce, this episode will shift how you think about borders, branding, and the future of trade.

Today on our show:Composable Conference in Chicago Shows MACH ProgressChatGPT and Shopify Partnership TeasedShopify Promotes Internally for Chief Design Officer: What's Going On?- and finally, The Investor Minute which contains 5 items this week from the world of venture capital, acquisitions, and IPOs.Today's episode is sponsored by Mirakl.https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ecommerce-podcast-watsonweekly

Is Walmart More Exposed to Tariffs Than They Are Admitting?In a recent investor day, Walmart indicated that only one-third of its products are not made in the USA.  Are we sure about that number?  Given the fact that there is no universal definition of made in the USA, I think that number could be a lot higher than the company is letting on.  Learn about this and more in this week’s Watson Weekly podcast, headed straight to your earhole every Monday morning, wherever you find your favorite podcasts.Today on our show:Walmart Investor Day Shows Strong Tariff HeadwindsIs 2025 The Year to Eat the Entire EnchiladaShop for Brands on Amazon Seen in the WildAmazon Surveys Its Sellers on Tariffs- and finally, The Investor Minute which contains 5 items this week from the world of venture capital, acquisitions, and IPOs.Today's episode is sponsored by Mirakl.https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ecommerce-podcast-watsonweekly

The biggest debate in eCommerce.The business case for replatformingReplatforming can either be trying to use a band-aid on a large wound or it could be like squeezing juice. Vince Santo (The Maze Group) debating Chris Silver (Discoverist AI) on replatforming.Architecture: The headless straw man debate. Headless technology enables brands to move quickly without blockages. Should that cash investment be made in customer acquisition and retention? Nick Kaplan (RMW Commerce) debate Victor Castro (Commercial Leader) on the pros and cons of headless technology.How can we make replatforming more enjoyable?System integrators (SI) can either make a painful process painless or painful due to the SI overselling themselves to get the business. Mark Rubin (Kasama Digital) debating Tarek Muller (ABOUTYOU) on the pain and perils of system integrators.Employees: Who is going to use the platform?Do we really know the impact of AI on employees? On the one hand, it will lead to modifying what employees do, or will 60-70% of staff be impacted? Rob Garf (Cordial) debating Rama Aluri (GSPANN Technologies) on the future of AI and employees.0:00 Introduction11:39 The business case for replatforming22:09 Architecture: The headless straw man debate. 35:35 How can we make replatforming more enjoyable?49:24 Employees: Who is going to use the platform?01:01:14 Closing remarks and more about SCAYLE The debate was sponsored by SCAYLE in cooperation with RMW Commerce.

In this special episode of The Watson Weekly, we sit down with Dirk Hoerig, co-founder of Commercetools, to explore the company’s journey from Germany to global eCommerce leader. Dirk shares insights on their ideal customer, key pain points they solve, and why their North American market entry succeeded where others failed.We also dive into the launch of commercetools InStore, a groundbreaking solution helping retailers unify online and in-store operations under one flexible backend. Dirk explains how InStore tackles legacy system challenges and enables seamless, personalized customer experiences.Plus, we discuss Dirk’s recent transition from CEO and the top retail trends shaping 2025 and beyond. A must-listen for anyone focused on the future of unified commerce.

Is There a Worse Owner For TikTok Than Amazon?Look, I am going to bottom line it for you guys.  I can’t think of a worse owner for Tiktok than logistics company Amazon.  I know there are a lot of chocolate and peanut butter theories of how these two great companies could taste better together, but I think this would be the start of a slow boringification of Tiktok the likes of which.In fact, I bet for this reason, Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg are cheering for Amazon’s bid to go through!You’ll find this and other insights on the Watson Weekly podcast, headed straight to your earhole every Monday morning.Today on our show:Key Takeaways on Public and Private MarketsShoptalk Did Not Answer My Key Industry QuestionsConsumers Getting Stressed OutAmazon Makes Last Minute Bid to Buy TikTok- and finally, The Investor Minute which contains 5 items this week from the world of venture capital, acquisitions, and IPOs.Today's episode is sponsored by Mirakl.https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ecommerce-podcast-watsonweekly

Bryan House, President of Elastic Path and a veteran in commerce, shares insights on modern digital commerce challenges. He discusses why many companies still struggle despite having strategies, pointing to knowledge gaps and outdated mindsets. The conversation dives into the evolving roles of CFOs and CMOs, the impact of AI, and the importance of composable commerce. House also explores the changing dynamics of customer loyalty and the need for innovative subscription models to tackle high acquisition costs, all while navigating the complexities of re-platforming and user experience.