The Watson Weekly - Your Essential eCommerce Digest

Today on our show it's no news, just thank yous.It's been a roller coaster of a year for everyone, and despite everything, you have tuned in. Walking your dog, on the way to work, even in the shower you were there. Listening, laughing, cringing, and hopefully, even learning.I started this podcast back in 2021 and look forward to doing it for many more years. The fact that our content and presence continue to grow each year is a testament to you.So, here it is. Thank you for listening. If you like what we're doing, reach out. Tell us what you like about it, recommend it to a friend. And of course, have a Happy Holidays wherever the end of this year takes you.This is Rick Watson, signing off for the year. I also wanted to say a huge thank you to my partners in crime Hendrik, Libby, Kaylea, Jacque, Vinny and Ron, without you this podcast would not be possible.Today's episode is sponsored by Mirakl.https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ecommerce-podcast-watsonweeklyThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

Today on our show:Shopify Winter Editions 2025 Special Podcast- 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-watsonweeklyThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

Today on our show:Black Friday Cyber Monday - You Devil You!Sam Altman Calls a Code Red to Stop Google ThreatAmazon and Visa Partner on Agentic PaymentsNike CEO Purges John Donahoe's Lieutenants- and finally, The Investor Minute which contains 3 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-watsonweeklyThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

Today on our show:Walmart Plans a CEO TransitionCommerce Operations Foundation Critical to Our Common Agentic FutureIntuit's Announcement Makes it Clear: OpenAI Coming for Operating SystemsWalmart Earnings Call Important for Everyone to Understand- 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 Rithum.https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ecommerce-podcast-watsonweeklyThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

Today on our show:Same-Day Facilities Key to Amazon's New Powerful Grocery StrategyWalmart CEO Doug McMillion Steps DownTheRealReal Records Record GMV During EarningsGoogle Releases Some AI Shopping Updates- 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 Rithum.https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ecommerce-podcast-watsonweeklyThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

Today on our show:Implications of Amazon Working with OpenAI and ChatGPTShopify Reports Great Q3 EarningsSome of the Worst Mistakes I Made First Time as CEOKlaviyo's Earnings Answer Some Key Questions- 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 Rithum.https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ecommerce-podcast-watsonweeklyThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

Today on our show:Walmart Holiday Plans Shows There Will Be BloodUPS Gains Margin, Plans Strong Peak, But Remains Mired in UncertaintyAmazon All In On Agentic - Reports Great EarningsShopify Merchants Go Live with ChatGPT Instant Checkout- 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 Rithum.https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ecommerce-podcast-watsonweeklyThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

Today on our show:Commercetools CEO is out, so what's next?Bigcommerce partners with Paypal to improve monetizationWill the new Ulta Beauty marketplace cook?Shopify and Lovable Integration Shows a Fire and Motion Strategy- 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-watsonweeklyThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

Today on our show:Walmart Partners With OpenAI, Cannot Hold Back the TideS&P Global Puts Tariff Costs at $1.2T This YearSalesforce Partners With OpenAISaks Struggles to Deliver in Q2- 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-watsonweeklyThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

Today on our show:Process Re-Engineering Is a Key Skill in the Age of AIStripe Link Moving More Consumer FacingIs OpenAI Building a Super App?Shopify CRO Bobby Morrison Forced Out- 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-watsonweeklyThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

In this second episode of The CEO Spot, Rick Watson sits down with Matt Harris, Founder of Harris Digital. The interviews were conducted at Shoptoberfest 2025, discussing the state of B2B e-commerce and the challenges of 'hard commerce' faced by manufacturers and distributors.Harris explains that many companies struggle with legacy ERP systems, analog data management, and complex pricing models involving tiered and customer-specific discounts. He emphasizes the importance of product information management (PIM) systems in cleaning and centralizing data before launching e-commerce platforms. Harris shares his background, starting in the 1990s, with early e-commerce projects and how his agency helps mid-market manufacturers (with up to $1 billion in revenue) modernize sales by augmenting—not replacing—existing ERP systems. He discusses the friction caused by generational mindset shifts and private equity consolidation in these industries. On AI, Harris notes that while small-scale AI and analytics are useful, most enterprise AI projects fail to deliver revenue due to siloed data and unrealistic expectations; he advocates for building unified data lakes and warehouses as a foundation for future AI-driven business improvements.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

Today on our show:ChatGPT Is Actually The Ultimate In Influencer-Driven CommerceOpenAI x Stripe Agentic Commerce Protocol Has Makings of Silicon Valley Catfight- 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-watsonweeklyThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

Today on our show:What the Hell Will Happen At Tiktok?Ryder Releases New eCommerce StudyKlaviyo Innovations Made Possible By Different Ecosystem ApproachOpenAI Announces They Are Pursuing Ads- 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 Rithum.https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ecommerce-podcast-watsonweeklyThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

Today on our show:Google and Paypal Announce New Commerce PartnershipAndy Jasy Fireside Chat With Andy Jassy at Amazon Accelerate ConferenceThe First Q4 Holiday Predictions Appear- 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 Rithum.https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ecommerce-podcast-watsonweeklyThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

We have a special episode of the podcast this week. Today we preview a new podcast from RMW Commerce — actually a Youtube Exclusive, called “Oh Shift! Where SaaS Meets AI”.In this week's episode, I interview the Shailesh Kumar, the SVP Of Engineering at Salesforce Commrece Cloud to talk about the company's approach and pilots in the world of AI and Model Context Protocol or MCP. To be clear, this is not any kind of sponsored interview. It's just an exploration of how the platforms - and I have asked them all to come on the program - are approaching AI and MCP, and what implications it has for brand and merchants.Today's episode is sponsored by Rithum.https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ecommerce-podcast-watsonweeklyThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

Today on our show:Shopify Betting Big on DesignAmazon Still Stuck Muddling Through Day 2Why Software Sales Is Still Hard in 2025A New Podcast where SaaS Meets AI: Oh Shift- 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:Best Buy Relaunches Its MarketplaceTarget Earnings: Like a Slow-Moving Train WreckUpcoming RMW Commerce Events in Second Half of the YearWalmart Raises Revenue Guidance in Earnings Call- 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

Join Rick and special guest Nate Skiver, founder of LPF Spend Management, as they dive into a fiery discussion about the state of shipping in e-commerce. In this spicy wing-eating challenge, Nate debunks a major shipping myth and shares his expertise from over two decades in the retail and consulting world.In this episode, we explore:The biggest myth in shipping and why it's finally dying a slow death.How the e-commerce market has changed, creating more options beyond the "big three" carriers.The role of regional carriers and why more retailers are turning to them.How shipping technology advancements are making multi-carrier shipping easier to manage.Grab a glass of milk and get ready for a fast-paced, insightful conversation that will change the way you think about your shipping strategy!Today's episode is sponsored by Mirakl.https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ecommerce-podcast-watsonweekly

Today on our show:We Once Made a Deal with Google. The Deal Has ChangedThe Unspoken AI Enthusiasm Gap At Large CompaniesThe Road Ahead for Commerce.comAn Update On Gnawing Your Arm Off, or Replatforming- 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:Amazon Reports Earnings, Dogged by AI QuestionsShopify Q2 Earnings Show Its Not Going AnywhereKlaviyo Delivers Growth, But Efficiency Still LackingRecap from Austin: Auctane's Spicy Innovation Delivered Event- and finally, The Investor Minute which contains 4 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:Bigcommerce Rebrands as Just CommerceUPS Q2 Earnings Highlights Strange Economic TimesLast Flight of the Aggregator: OpenStore Valuation BurnsAmazon Pulled out of Google Shopping for AI, not for Advertising- 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 debut episode of The CEO Spot, Rick Watson sits down with Dipti Desai, Founder and CEO of CRSTL, for an unfiltered look into one of the most quietly powerful protocols in commerce—EDI.From her early days as an electrical engineer in Silicon Valley to building mission-critical infrastructure for today's omni-channel brands, Dipti shares the journey that led her to found Crystal—a SaaS network designed to modernize the way suppliers and retailers communicate.We explore:The surprising origin story of Crystal during the PPE crisisWhy EDI is more like the English language than a piece of legacy techThe difference between the application layer and the protocol layer—and why it mattersHow penalties, complexity, and digital transformation are reshaping supplier operationsWhy Crystal doesn't charge by seat and how it's enabling real collaboration at scaleThe future of B2B commerce in an age of AI, API, and protocol convergenceWhether you're a founder, brand operator, or just EDI-curious, this episode unpacks how structured data exchange is fueling the future of retail—and why ignoring the "boring" infrastructure could be your biggest mistake.

Today on our show:NRF Files Suit Against NY State LawWhy Is There No Best Practice for ECommerce Org StructureAmazon Quietly Cornering Market on Robot PatentsLuluLemon in Markdown Hell- 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:Klarna CEO Claims They Will Be a Super AppWalmart Investor Event Sheds New LightShould You Put a Chatbot In Front Of Your Retail StoreMusings from CommerceNext and Mirakl's Summit- 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:Saks Global Still Sounds in TroubleFacebook Says eCommerce is Great -- For Other PeopleJassy's AI Memo Was a Snoozefest, In a Good WayAmazon Extending Prime Day Doesn't Give me Warm Fuzzies- 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:Palantir Partners with BoltAmazon Releases AI Video Generation ToolsSezzle Sues Shopify For AntiCompetitive PracticesWalmart Releases New AI Tools- 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:Shopify MCP Server Raises More Questions Than AnswersCould the AI Race Become a Hardware Race?Temu Half Off - Just In Time For Summer- 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:Salesforce to acquire InformaticaSocial Commerce Panel Reveals Influencer ImportanceLowes Launches Its MarketplaceTariff Feud Event with Passport Recap- 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 special CEO spotlight edition of the Watson Weekly, host Rick Watson welcomes Scott Eckert, newly appointed CEO of Mirakl, for an inside look at how his leadership is poised to accelerate Mirakl's role at the heart of modern commerce.With a distinguished career spanning innovation leadership roles at Dell, Rethink Robotics, and Walmart's Store No. 8, Scott brings deep experience navigating the intersection of scale, agility, and emerging technology. Now at Mirakl, he's guiding a platform that is redefining how retailers, brands, and third-party sellers thrive in an increasingly ecosystem-driven world.

Today on our show:Rapid Fire Headline UpdateShopify Releases Its Summer Editions- 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 the final installment of our Shopware Partner Day series, Rick Watson chats with Ashley Laing of Pimcore to uncover how product information management is reshaping complex B2B ecosystems. From managing fitment data in industrial catalogs to orchestrating multi-channel content for sales, customer care, and ecommerce, Pimcore is tackling the data mess head-on. Ashley shares his global journey from consultant to VP, explains how AI is transforming catalog digitization, and offers strategic guidance for companies that are "too hard to do business with." Expect practical takeaways for building buyer-ready systems and future-proofing your product data stack.

Today on our show:Amazon Announces New AI Tool to Enhance Product ListingsVenture Capital Dominated by AI Right NowFedEx and Amazon Strike Up a PartnershipKlaviyo Reports Q1 2025 Earnings- 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.Rick Watson sits down with Aysnd's leadership duo, Carrie Weidenbach and Chris Harrison, for a conversation that dives into purpose-driven digital transformation. Broadcasting from the Shopware Partner Day beer hall, the trio discusses Aysnd's mission to help brands with complex commerce needs—particularly in regulated industries. From global eCommerce replatforming at AB InBev to real-time prioritization frameworks and the value of first-party data, this episode is packed with insights on how to move fast, test smart, and build agile systems without sacrificing long-term goals. If you're navigating transformation in uncertain times, this one's for you.

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.Today's episode is sponsored by Mirakl.https://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.

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

Why is digital commerce still hitting roadblocks in 2025? In this special episode, Bryan House of Elastic Path joins us to unpack the paradox: companies claim to have a clear digital strategy, yet budgets for tech investment remain elusive. We tackle the real barriers—lack of knowledge, outdated mindsets, and the hidden opportunity cost of standing still.From the evolving CFO-CMO dynamic to the role of AI, platform discovery challenges, and the tension between growth and efficiency, we're breaking down the forces shaping modern commerce. Can we redefine success in digital strategy, or are we just running in circles? Tune in to find out.

Today on our show:Shoptalk Recap- 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 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

Today on our show:Shopify Q4 2024 earnings: The age of efficiency comes to ShopifyIt's not just you - age of efficiency acceleratingAmazon Q4 earnings wins the Grammy for free cash flowAmazon ad engine getting hungry: look out Google ShoppingAnd 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:Trump eliminates the de minimis for ChinaAI won't solve all the problems, but we don't realize it yetUPS Q4 2024 earnings: steering towards margin, away from AmazonAI is not the new SEO. Brands could be in a marketplace without realizing itAnd 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