The Watson Weekly - Your Essential eCommerce Digest

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.

Explore the key takeaways from the recent Shoptalk event, highlighting the significance of authenticity in e-commerce. Discover how traffic dynamics and new terminology are reshaping the landscape. Tune in for insights on funding innovations that are transforming e-commerce and fintech, with a focus on startups leveraging tech for better revenue. Hear about notable acquisitions and funding rounds designed to enhance customer experiences and compliance. Plus, get the latest scoop on venture capital and IPO trends!

Is Adobe Hopeless or Will The New Product Teases Get Them Back in the Game?This week on the Watson Weekly podcast, we unpack two new product announcements from Adobe that are expected to launch by June 2025.  One is the Adobe Commerce Optimizer, an eCommerce front-end that can be used with any storefront platform.  This is one that I’m excited to see, particularly for larger merchants.Second is a new cloud version of the Adobe Commerce Suite.  This is a managed cloud version of the current Adobe Commerce product, which seems like a nothing burger to me?  You’ll find this and other stories about BigCommerce and Klarna’s new IPO filing…  on the Watson Weekly podcast, coming straight to your earhole wherever you find your favorite podcasts.  Today on our show:Adobe teases new commerce offeringsBigCommerce launches new account functionalityKlarna files IPO paperworkWelcome to Shoptalk Week!- 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 Paypal Running an Affiliate Scam?  That’s What Google’s New Chrome Rules Seem to Be Saying.  Many users don’t realize that Paypal’s Honey Application, the plugin which is supposed to secure you discounts on items.  Instead, it looks to be cutting certain publishers out of affiliate credits that they would otherwise be due.You’ll find this and other stories about Shoptalk, AllBirds, and Walmart on this week’s Watson Weekly podcast, coming straight to your earhole wherever you find your favorite podcasts.Today on our show:Paypal in hot water over its Honey applicationAllBirds sales plunge in 2024Why did Walmart buy a mall?Upcoming eCommerce debate event at Shoptalk- 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 on our show:Target 2024 earnings shows company falling behindWhen will merchants stop treating data as a project?Commercetools layoffs throws into question IPO plansHas Shopify Enterprise turned a corner?- 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 on our show:Is Beyond.com doomed?Klaviyo reports 2024 earningsKlaviyo coming for Salesforce Service CloudPaypal Investor Day offers problematic vision- 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 on our show:Walmart reports fiscal year 2025 earningsSaks stopped paying vendors on timeTikTok subscriptions could help creatorsBigCommerce reports 2024 earningsAnd 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