New Ecommerce Tools: September 19, 2024

This week’s installment of new products and services for ecommerce merchants includes influencer marketing, virtual try-ons, digital payments, ecommerce platforms, financing, and global and last-mile logistics.

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New Tools for Merchants: September 19, 2024

PayPal partners with Shopify Payments in the U.S. PayPal has expanded its partnership with Shopify in the U.S. PayPal will become an additional online credit and debit card processor for Shopify Payments through PayPal Complete Payments, an offering for marketplaces and platforms. PayPal wallet transactions will integrate into Shopify Payments in the U.S., which will streamline managing orders, payouts, reporting, and chargeback flows. The enhancement creates a single, unified experience for PayPal and Shopify merchants.

TD to launch an ecommerce platform for Canadian small businesses. TD Bank Group has launched TD eCommerce Solutions, a customizable ecommerce platform for Canadian small businesses. At launch, TD eCommerce Solutions, powered by BigCommerce, will be available to all new and existing TD Business Banking customers, offering accounting features, search engine optimization, fraud detection, multiple payment acceptance offerings, and more. TD customers can use same-day deposits and streamlined billing, allowing businesses to manage payments to multiple parties.

Alibaba logistics arm Cainiao launches next-day delivery in Europe. Cainiao, a global ecommerce logistics provider owned by Alibaba, has expanded its local express delivery services, now operational in 10 countries and regions worldwide, in addition to its presence in China. Cainiao Europe now can offer next-day delivery for €2 (roughly USD 2.25) within the home country, along with three-day delivery options ranging from €3 to €5 for other European countries. ​​Cainiao also announced the development of a second batch of global ecommerce logistics hubs, called e-hubs.

Amazon ads to appear in Rufus shopping assistant. To help shoppers discover more products, Amazon may insert ads in Rufus, its generative AI-powered shopping assistant. According to Amazon, Rufus can generate accompanying text based on the context of the conversation. Amazon’s campaign reports won’t include Rufus metrics. Amazon’s tests with Rufus ads are running in the U.S. only.

Humanz launches its influencer marketing platform in the U.S. Humanz, a collaborative AI-powered marketing platform for creators and brands, is entering the U.S. market alongside a partnership with Valeria Lipovetsky, a global influencer in beauty and fashion with more than 6 million followers. By providing a transparent and data-driven platform that gives real-time insight into a campaign’s performance, Humanz aims to empower creators to make informed decisions and optimize their content.

Fero launches embedded personalization ecommerce tool in U.K. Dutch fintech Fero has launched a personalization ecommerce tool, Checkout Companion, for Shopify-based businesses in the U.K. Fero says it can provide online shops with 430 data points to understand and act on why shoppers abandon purchases, including details such as when a customer lands on a site and the number searches and affiliate marketing referral sources.

Walmart Marketplace and Parafin collaborate for seller financing. Walmart Marketplace and Parafin have announced an initiative to provide sellers with financing through the Walmart Marketplace Capital program. Eligible sellers can access funding through Parafin, an approved Walmart Marketplace solution provider, to grow their businesses and prepare for the upcoming holiday retail season. Parafin offers financing services and employs machine learning to analyze sales data from millions of businesses to determine eligibility and terms.

Bold Commerce announces a collaboration with PayPal. Bold Commerce, a customized checkout provider, has announced a partnership with PayPal to integrate Fastlane by PayPal with Adobe Commerce. This integration aims to streamline the checkout process for U.S.-based retailers using Adobe Commerce, allowing them to deploy Fastlane by PayPal without switching platforms. Merchants can now add Fastlane by PayPal to their Adobe Commerce setups through Bold’s Magento extension.

Amazon launches “LastMileTram” in Germany for zero-tailpipe emissions. Amazon is working with partners to use a package transport tram (a vehicle running on rails) to deliver packages to the center of Frankfurt, from where electric cargo bikes complete the delivery, creating a zero-tailpipe emission journey from the delivery station to the customer. The pilot project is part of research from Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences, together with Verkehrsgesellschaft Frankfurt am Main and Intermodal City Injections, a collaboration between Amazon Transportation Services and Amazon Logistics teams.

DNA Payments launches Apple Pay Express Checkout for ecommerce. DNA Payments, an integrated omnichannel payment provider based in the U.K., has introduced Apple Pay Express Checkout, giving ecommerce merchants a new way to accept customer payments. Merchants can offer Apple Pay at checkout or via the Express option through the Safari browser. DNA Payments serves merchants in the U.K., helping them accept transactions through point-of-sale devices, via websites and payment links, or over the phone.

Google adds dresses to its AI shopping tool. Google is expanding its virtual try-on to dresses. Shoppers can now visualize dresses from hundreds of brands across Google’s Shopping Graph. Shoppers can search for dresses on Google and click any style that includes a “try-on” badge. From there, they can see what that garment looks like on a diverse set of real models, ranging from XXS to XXXL. Then, they pick a dress and click to the retailer’s site to buy it.