The eCom Ops Podcast

The New SMB Growth Playbook with Mark GirvanMark Girvan is the Chief Revenue Officer at Cin7, a global SaaS company helping SMBs connect inventory, orders, and fulfillment across every sales channel. With over 20 years of experience in SaaS and business growth, including a leadership role at FreshBooks, Mark has a proven record of helping businesses scale sustainably through smart systems and data-driven operations.The No.1 eCom Operations hack:“You get into this trap of revenue being the only thing that you care about… but it’s actually margin and what you can take out of the business that makes a business profitable over time.”You Will Learn:Why revenue ≠ profit (and how to fix it)How to unify operations without bloated ERPsThe practical role of AI as an SMB co-pilotHow omnichannel protects you from volatilityWhy automation must serve workflows, not featuresShow Notes:(00:01:52) Who is Mark Girvan?(00:03:09) Scalability systems vs size in e-commerce(00:04:29) Common scaling mistake businesses repeat(00:05:45) Why collaboration matters for SMBs(00:07:39) Where product businesses fail in operations(00:09:38) Bridging gaps without bloated ERPs(00:12:23) Tech stack that empowers vs slows down(00:13:50) Omnichannel for inflation and supply chain issues(00:15:47) Making omnichannel work on budget(00:17:35) AI as co-pilot for SMBs(00:20:04) Testing if automation solves right problems(00:21:25) Advice for founders stuck at $1M(00:22:52) Business belief changed in 5 years(00:27:40) Guest Question: How will humans interact with AI in 10 years?(00:30:03) Pass-down Question: SMB impact in next 6-18 months?Let’s keep learning and growing together in the world of eCommerce!If you want to learn more about our podcast or have an exciting story to share with our audience, check SyncSpider’s website for more info.

Actionable tips: SEO in E-Commerce: Backend Secrets to Boost Sales with Louis SmithLouis Smith, an eCommerce SEO Consultant, began his journey with a computing degree, gaining expertise in coding and website development. His career took a pivotal turn towards marketing, particularly eCommerce SEO, where he discovered the profound impact SEO could have on increasing product sales and overall business ROI. As a freelance Shopify SEO expert, Louis has dedicated his life to mastering Google's updates and perfecting his craft. His passion for SEO is evident through the daily eCommerce guides and tips he shares on LinkedIn.Louis has worked with renowned brands such as Otrium, Ling's Moments, LifeHack, and Lenovo, helping them generate significant revenue through effective SEO strategies. With over nine years in the industry, he has aided over 50 eCommerce brands, generating more than £80 million in MRR for a single client. His services include SEO audits, link building, content marketing, and technical SEO, specializing in platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, and Magento. Louis's commitment to delivering exceptional results and freeing up clients' time to focus on business growth is highly praised by his clientele.The No.1 eCom Operations hackIn 99 % of the time, you can improve traffic just by working on the website hierarchy by improving internal linking, top level categories, sub -level categories and building down from that. And the impact you can have on that could hugely impact traffic and profits.You Will Learn:How to optimize your eCommerce store’s hierarchy for better SEO.The importance of link building and how to do it effectively.Strategies for leveraging content marketing in e-commerce.Key SEO tools and how to use them to boost your store’s performance.Show Notes:(00:01:29) Introduction to Louis Smith and His E-commerce SEO Journey(00:02:40) The Realization of SEO's Impact on E-commerce(00:05:01) Common SEO Mistakes Made by E-commerce Store Owners(00:07:35) Best E-commerce Platform for SEO: Shopify, WooCommerce, or Magento?(00:09:47) Keeping SEO Strategies Effective Amidst Google's Algorithm Changes(00:11:15) The Importance of Link Building for SEO(00:12:35) How to Approach "Real" Link Building(00:15:26) Is Content Marketing Still Relevant for E-commerce?(00:16:34) The Role of AI in Content Marketing(00:22:15) Final Thoughts on E-commerce SuccessLet’s keep learning and growing together in the world of eCommerce!If you want to learn more about our podcast or have an exciting story to share with our audience, check SyncSpider’s website for more info.

Building Billion-Dollar Consumer Brands with Michael JonesFrom Dollar Shave Club to Liquid Death, Michael Jones has helped launch and scale consumer companies worth over $6B. In this episode, he shares how venture studios work, why TikTok Shop is a key growth channel, and how AI is changing the speed and cost of building businesses.About the Guest: Michael Jones is the General Partner at Science Inc., a Los Angeles–based venture studio and fund. Over his career, he’s led companies to more than $6 billion in exits, including early investments in Scopely and Goodreads.The No.1 eCom Operations hack:“A smaller portion of a bigger company is typically a better outcome than a larger portion of a smaller company.”You Will Learn:Why obsession beats traction when backing foundersHow Science Inc. builds companies from scratch with entrepreneursWhy TikTok Shop is a game-changer for early-stage brandsThe advantages of venture studios over traditional VCsHow AI is transforming product launches and marketingShow Notes:(00:03:34) The Hidden Challenges of Building Companies from the Inside(00:05:37) The Tech Stack Behind Successful E-Commerce Launches(00:07:04) Navigating Walmart and Major US Retail Channels(00:08:45) Venture Studio vs. Traditional VC(00:11:08) Why Obsession Beats Traction Every Time(00:12:34) Deal-Breaking Red Flags Despite Strong Numbers(00:14:58) The Logic Behind Selling Successful Companies(00:17:33) Shock Value and Brand Differentiation in Today's Market(00:18:39) Product Testing Strategy: From Concept to Big Brand(00:21:09) AI's Role in D2C Over the Next 2-3 Years(00:22:30) Can AI Replace Human Creativity in Marketing?(00:24:01) The Biggest E-Commerce Mentor(00:26:16) Question for the Next GuestLet’s keep learning and growing together in the world of eCommerce!If you want to learn more about our podcast or have an exciting story to share with our audience, check SyncSpider’s website for more info.

Why Most e-Commerce Brands Are Solving the Wrong ProblemJoin host Norbert Strappler as he speaks with Tina Nelson, Product Strategy Director at Optimizely, about the evolution of digital commerce platforms and strategic AI implementation.About the Guest: Tina Nelson brings 20+ years of experience from development to digital strategy, having worked with Sitecore, Salesforce, and Episerver before leading product strategy at Optimizely for 9,000+ global brands.Key Topics: The journey from developer to strategic leader How to choose the right CMS/e-commerce platform Achieving 95%+ client retention rates When headless commerce makes sense (and when it doesn't) Quick-win personalization strategies The future of AI in e-commerceThe No.1 eCom Operations hack:"Technology shouldn't be the leader. Your requirements are really the leader, and then the technology needs to align to those needs."Show Notes:(00:02:54) Developer to Product Strategy Journey(00:04:55) CMS and E-commerce Platform Trade-offs(00:06:45) Change Management in Consolidation(00:09:29) Achieving 95%+ Client Retention(00:11:23) Strategic Development Guidance(00:12:48) AI Benefits for Customers(00:14:48) Aligning Teams with Client Value(00:16:29) Innovation vs. Operational Consistency(00:17:30) AI's Future Impact on MarTech(00:21:35) Simple Personalization for Store Owners(00:24:31) Low Effort, High Impact Actions for E-commerce(00:27:42) Final Thoughts and FarewellLet’s keep learning and growing together in the world of eCommerce!If you want to learn more about our podcast or have an exciting story to share with our audience, check SyncSpider’s website for more info.

$4.61 Lost for Every $1: The True Cost of eCommerce FraudIn this episode of the eCom Ops Podcast, Norbert Strappler talks with Maanas Godugunur, Senior Director of Fraud and Identity at LexisNexis Risk Solutions, about why manual fraud checks are failing, how refund fraud is exploding, and what merchants can do to protect revenue while boosting customer trust.With more than 15 years of experience in product management, B2B payments, and risk solutions, Maanas has built fraud detection systems using behavioral biometrics, machine learning, and device analytics. His background includes roles at Deloitte and Capgemini, where he launched a B2B payment platform in India that generated more than $120M in its first year and scaled cross-border payments by $2B.You Will LearnWhy manual fraud operations are still shockingly common in 2025The rise of refund fraud and how it’s hurting merchants worldwideWhy digital wallets and mobile payments are becoming fraudsters’ favorite targetsHow marketplaces shape (and sometimes enable) fraud behaviorHow API-driven fraud prevention can protect customers and boost loyaltyThe No.1 eCom Operations hack“If you have the right strategies in place, it should actually help you enhance the experience and flip and increase revenue.”Show Notes(00:02:00) - Guest Introduction(00:05:37) - LexisNexis Overview(00:05:57) - True Cost of Fraud Report(00:06:56) - Competing with Native Solutions(00:11:12) - Mobile Payment Fraud(00:14:17) - Manual vs. Automated Processes(00:16:45) - Most Harmful Fraud Types(00:19:37) - Customer Refund Behavior(00:21:26) - Marketplace Policies(00:24:27) - API Integration(00:29:39) - E-commerce Mentors(00:31:29) - Personal AI Use(00:32:32) - Question for Next GuestLet’s keep learning and growing together in the world of eCommerce!If you want to learn more about our podcast or have an exciting story to share with our audience, check SyncSpider’s website for more info.

The Untold Story Behind AI's Rise - Returns, Margins, and Product DataRomain is the CEO of Akeneo and a former data scientist turned global executive. With 20+ years in data-driven transformation, he helps brands modernize product experience through better product information and smarter systems.You Will LearnWhy AI is rewriting how customers discover productsHow to reduce returns by fixing your product dataWhere AI is already helping with product enrichmentWhat mistakes to avoid when “managing” product informationWhy transformation is 90% about people - not toolsThe No.1 eCom Operations hack“Better product data can directly bring you back several points of margin just by lowering the return rates.”Show Notes(00:01:42) Guest Introduction & Background(00:03:34) Mindset Shift for Scaling(00:05:28) AI’s Impact on Product Management(00:09:52) The Future of Shopping Carts(00:12:03) How AI Improves Product Data(00:14:37) AI and Translation Jobs(00:16:18) High Return Rates in E-Commerce(00:18:03) Product Data’s Impact on Profitability(00:20:22) Importance of Product Videos(00:24:10) Misconceptions in E-Commerce & AILet’s keep learning and growing together in the world of eCommerce!If you want to learn more about our podcast or have an exciting story to share with our audience, check SyncSpider’s website for more info.

The Last Mile Catch: What It Really Takes to Deliver for MillionsSri Thirumalai, Director of Last Mile Delivery at Walmart, joins us to share how the world's largest retailer is transforming e-commerce logistics. With 15 years of experience at companies like Apple and Meta, Sri breaks down the real challenges of getting packages to millions of customers daily. We discuss why last mile costs eat up 50% of supply chain budgets, how Walmart uses AI to optimize routes, and why faster delivery isn't always better.The No.1 eCom Operations hack“Last-mile delivery is so local. It comes down to understanding strengths, understanding what best practices are being done in areas where it is successful.”You Will Learn:Why is the last mile the most complex and critical link in the logistics chainHow AI helps plan efficient, real-time delivery routesWhat to automate, and what to leave to humansHow Walmart balances speed with sustainabilityWhy faster isn’t always better (and what customers actually want)Show Notes(00:02:08) Sri's Journey: Tech Giants to Retail Revolution(00:03:37) Why Logistics Matters Most(00:04:35) Lessons from Apple & Meta(00:06:06) Speed, Convenience, Cost: The Last Mile Trinity(00:08:58) Regional Delivery Challenges(00:13:09) AI-Powered Route Optimization(00:14:45) Automation vs. Human Touch(00:21:02) Sustainability & Electric Vehicles(00:23:06) "Faster Isn't Always Better"(00:26:07) Next Guest Challenge: AI & SustainabilityDisclaimerThe views and opinions expressed in this podcast are personal and do not necessarily reflect the official position of Walmart or any of its affiliates.Let’s keep learning and growing together in the world of eCommerce!If you want to learn more about our podcast or have an exciting story to share with our audience, check SyncSpider’s website for more info.

Actionable tips: The Game-Changer's Guide to eCommerce MarketingMatt Janaway is a seasoned eCommerce expert, currently serving as the CEO of Marketing Labs, a UK-based digital marketing agency specializing in SEO and paid advertising. Matt brings a wealth of knowledge to the table with a background in eCommerce entrepreneurship and a keen understanding of marketing strategy and data analysis.Under his leadership, Marketing Labs has helped many businesses unlock growth potential by optimizing their online marketing strategies. From exploring advanced Google advertising features to emphasizing the importance of team learning in staying up-to-date with industry evolution, Matt's insights make him a guiding light in the world of eCommerce.Marketing Labs is a dynamic digital marketing agency passionate about every project. As a boasting award-winning team, their expertise covers a broad spectrum, including SEO, PPC, CRO, branding, content, social media, and website design. They have experience across various commercial websites and understand the importance of aligning their work with clients' business goals.With a commitment to transparency, they ensure clients are involved every step of the way. What sets Marketing Labs apart is their tailored approach to each client - every action they undertake is aimed at growing online businesses sustainably and effectively. They thrive on helping companies to improve their digital strategies and achieve measurable results.The No.1 eCom Operations hackYou've really gotta allow more time to gather that data, to make decisions and test. You can't make a decision on a few hundred clicks. You've got to have enough data to make decisions.You Will LearnMatt shares his experiences with different e-commerce technology platforms from HTML templates to OsCommerce, WooCommerce, Magento, Shopify, and BigCommerce.The role of AI in e-commerce and its impact on personalization is examined.Matt emphasizes the importance of tailoring product descriptions and names to increase search visibility.The challenges of balancing search engine visibility and conversion rates in e-commerce are explored.Matt discusses the effectiveness of link building when done correctly, citing successful campaigns that led to substantial revenue increases for clients.Matt explains the unique features of his agency's approach, focusing on building a team of highly experienced individuals rather than solely scalingLet’s keep learning and growing together in the world of eCommerce!If you want to learn more about our podcast or have an exciting story to share with our audience, check SyncSpider’s website for more info.

Future of Product Visualization: Try Before You Buy Is Dead.Episode SummaryOur guest, Daniel Frith, is the Chief Creative Officer at London Dynamics and a former 3D lead at IKEA, with over 30 years of experience in 3D visualization across gaming, retail, and tech.In this groundbreaking episode, we dive deep into the future of e-commerce with Daniel Frith, a pioneer who's been shaping 3D visualization for three decades. From his early inspiration by Disney's Tron movie to revolutionizing how IKEA presents products online, Daniel shares insights on how 3D technology is transforming retail.The conversation explores how businesses can digitize physical products, allowing customers to interact with items in ways traditional photography simply can't match. Daniel explains how 3D models enable customers to customize products, change materials, and view items from every angle - creating a more engaging and informative shopping experience.You Will LearnWhy 3D visualization isn’t just for large product catalogsHow AR works best as a “fit check,” not the main shopping journeyWhere AI adds value in 3D workflows - and where it still falls shortHow product configurators can impact even manufacturing decisionsWhat standardization means for scalable, cross-platform 3DWhy wearables may finally unlock AR’s full potential in retailShow Notes(00:02:10) Meet Daniel: A Journey Through 3D Visualization(00:03:24) 3D Visualization in E-Commerce(00:06:23) The Future of 3D and AR in Retail(00:16:33) AI in 3D Visualization(00:19:24) Every Pixel Tells a Story(00:21:30) Debunking Myths About AR and 3D(00:22:01) The Future of AR and Wearables(00:26:26) Final Thoughts and FarewellResources MentionedIKEA Place: AR furniture application that pioneered spatial product placementLondon Dynamics: Daniel's current company specializing in 3D visualization experiencesKronos 3D Commerce Working Group: Industry standardization initiativeTron (Disney): The movie that inspired Daniel's career in computer graphicsAmazon AR: Product placement technology for items like TVs and furnitureSnap x Ray-Ban: Wearable AR collaboration exampleMeta: AR/VR technology developmentMojo Vision: Contact lens AR technology pioneerTechnical Platforms MentionedE-commerce Integration: Shopify, Magento, WooCommerce3D Standards: Industry standardization for cross-platform compatibilityMobile Optimization: Responsive design for smartphone usersWeb Technologies: Browser-based 3D rendering capabilitiesLet’s keep learning and growing together in the world of eCommerce!If you want to learn more about our podcast or have an exciting story to share with our audience, check SyncSpider’s website for more info.

Are You Making Data-Driven Decisions or Just Having Opinions?In this data-packed episode, we sit down with Paul "Gravy" Graeve, founder and CEO of The Data Group, who's spent nearly three decades helping 300+ companies transform scattered information into strategic advantage. Paul "Gravy" Graeve is the Founder & CEO of The Data Group and the upcoming author of The Data-Driven Leader. He has spent the past two decades helping over 300 companies demystify data, streamline integrations, and unlock significant growth. The No.1 eCom Operations hack"if you want to have a real grasp on the truth about your company, you need to have a real grasp on your data because it is the truth about your company."You Will LearnWhy "data is just strings, dates, and numbers" - and why that simplicity is powerful.The hidden trap of SaaS proliferation and how it's fragmenting your business intelligence.How a $6 billion wholesaler uses data integration to serve 14,000+ retail stores.The three critical questions every CEO should ask before buying new software.Why your next system migration could hold you hostage (and how to prevent it).Resources MentionedUpcoming Book: "The Data Driven Leader" by Paul Graeve (coming later this year)Leadership Influences: John Maxwell, Pastor Chris Hodges, Pastor Craig GroeschelRecommended Podcast: Craig Groeschel Leadership PodcastCase Study: Orgill Wholesale ($6B revenue, 14K+ retail partners)Show Notes(00:01:14) Meet Paul Graeve: The Man Behind the Data Group(00:04:02) Common Data Mistakes and Misconceptions(00:05:51) The Importance of Owning Your Data(00:08:28) Data Group's Flagship Platforms: Foxtrot, Alpha, and Tango(00:17:32) Writing 'The Data-Driven Leader'(00:19:36) Empowering Non-Technical Leaders with Data(00:21:17) Practical Steps for E-commerce Businesses(00:27:26) Leadership Lessons and Influences(00:30:05) Future of AI and Data Ownership(00:32:29) Conclusion and Final ThoughtsLet’s keep learning and growing together in the world of eCommerce!If you want to learn more about our podcast or have an exciting story to share with our audience, check SyncSpider’s website for more info.