New Ecommerce Tools: August 12, 2024

Every week we publish a rundown of new products from companies offering services to ecommerce and omnichannel merchants. This installment includes updates on AI writing assistants, biometric payments, social commerce, fraud protection, and cross-border payments.

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New Tools for Merchants: August 12, 2024

Automattic rolls out AI-powered writing assistant for WordPress. Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com and its Jetpack AI performance and security application, has released Write Brief with AI, an AI-powered writing tool in JetPack. Write Brief with AI can measure readability, simplify lengthy sentences, write and suggest strong and clear prose, and suggest word alternatives to keep your writing clear and direct. Write Brief with AI is free (while in beta) for all WordPress.com plans and users.

Adobe launches generative AI-powered Journey Optimizer for B2B marketing. Adobe has announced the general availability of Adobe Journey Optimizer B2B Edition, leveraging generative AI to engage customers. Built natively on the Adobe Experience Platform, which provides a single view of customers across every channel, AJO B2B Edition can identify buying groups while creating personalized journeys for each individual.

Amazon Deals lets shoppers buy products on TikTok and Pinterest. Amazon has partnered with TikTok and Pinterest to allow visitors to purchase products from the ecommerce company without leaving the social media apps. Shoppers can link profiles from TikTok and Pinterest to their Amazon accounts and then buy products directly from ads. Amazon’s agreements with TikTok and Pinterest follow similar deals with Meta and Snap. The Pinterest-Amazon partnership extends an existing relationship to help Amazon fill excess ad inventory.

WorldFirst partners with Walmart for secure online fund collection. WorldFirst, a digital payment and financial services platform, has partnered with Walmart to enable China-based ecommerce sellers to collect funds from Walmart Marketplace securely. Funds collected are directly deposited into the merchant’s WorldFirst account. Merchants benefit from no service charges and protection against exchange rate losses on collected payments. Additionally, fees for withdrawals and transfers are capped at 0.3%.

One Page Inventory introduces feature to help ecommerce sellers fight fees. One Page Inventory, a multichannel inventory management solution, has launched a financial feature to provide insights into inventory financials, helping ecommerce sellers to understand fees, sales costs, and profitability. Sellers can (i) track unit totals and potential gross sales, gaining a clear understanding of inventory performance and revenue potential, (ii) evaluate potential profit margins and manufacturer costs, and (iii) break down financial data by total inventory or by individual warehouses for localized analysis.

Checkout.com launches secure payment authentication service from Google Pay. Checkout.com, a payment authentication platform, will offer Google Pay’s biometric authentication to brands. Per Checkout.com, Google Pay is a streamlined alternative to other authentication methods where customers verify their identity with a one-time passcode and are often redirected to multiple pages. Checkout.com says it is the first payment provider to partner with Google Pay to bring its biometric-based secure payment authentication service to merchants.

Fastlane by PayPal provides a fast and simple guest checkout. Fastlane by PayPal is now available for all U.S. businesses to accelerate the guest checkout experience. Fastlane helps merchants recognize consumers early in the guest checkout process using their email, allowing them to access their saved information with a one-time passcode so they may autofill their checkout and complete their purchase in as little as one click. Consumers with a Fastlane profile can speed through checkouts anywhere Fastlane is enabled.

Kombatix launches Shopify app to protect merchants from friendly fraud and refund abuse. Kombatix, a fraud-prevention platform, has launched a Shopify app. According to Kombatix, the app helps online merchants fight against friendly fraud and refund abuse, retain revenue, and improve dispute deflection success rates. The app can determine if transaction details match a disputing customer. Customer and transaction data is run against a fraud network in real time to determine friendly fraud vs. true fraud.

Flexport and Passport partner to provide international shipping for DTC brands. Passport, a platform to help brands go global, has partnered with Flexport, a provider of global supply chain technology. The partnership will allow Passport to expand its international shipping and customs clearance options for Flexport’s clients who are fulfilling direct-to-consumer orders from the U.S. This will help Flexport merchants sell in 180-plus countries. With Delivered Duty Paid, brands can prepay import duties before the package crosses the border.

Bluehost unveils enhancements for web professionals and agencies. Bluehost, a WordPress hosting provider, has announced the expansion of its agency partner program, providing web professionals, agencies, and freelancers with enhanced solutions and updated product offerings. Along with the expanded partner program, agencies can take advantage of Bluehost’s Cloud product with new features such as a migration tool, AI-powered WordPress website builder, and a refreshed lineup of virtual private server and dedicated server options.

DHL Express launches Small Business PartnerSHIP Program. DHL Express has launched its Small Business PartnerSHIP Program, a free service to provide small and medium-sized enterprises with resources and support to tap global markets. Benefits include shipping promo codes and discounts, simplified shipping solutions, the Global Trade Services for guidance on international shipping regulations, and the GoGreen Plus program to reduce carbon emissions. Additionally, SMBs can access ecommerce guidance, mentorship, informative webinars and events, and dedicated support from certified international specialists.