Software Engineering Insights

Have you observed a change in customer service with some of the large e-commerce stores lately? When we need help regarding an order, the customer service is handled by chatbots or AI instead of a human assistant. We even get a personalized recommendation on the website. When we want to return an order or report about it, an AI agent in retail service asks a few questions and resolves the issue right there in 30 seconds. 

Noon’s dominance in the MENA region isn’t just a story of logistics or sleek UI; it’s about building a business that deeply understands and adapts to local consumers. Launched in 2017 by Mohamed Alabbar, Noon raised over $2 billion and became the Middle East's answer to Souq (now Amazon), proving that even markets with 23 years of dominance present opportunities for strategic regional champions.

Noon saw an opportunity in hyper-localization for the Middle Eastern market. The MENA (Middle East and North Africa) e-commerce market is expected to hit $80 billion by 2029, driven by high internet and smartphone penetration rates.

AI is becoming a central component in shaping e-commerce, not just through automation, but by enabling smarter and more personalized digital experiences.

According to SellersCommerce, the valuation of the global AI-enabled eCommerce market is projected to reach $8.65 billion by 2025 and grow to $22.60 billion by 2032, fueled by a 14.6% CAGR. 

The e-commerce industry is entering a new era, driven by the rise of agentic AI systems capable of making decisions and taking actions independently. Unlike traditional AI tools that require constant human input, agentic AI in e-commerce understands context, plans, and executes complex tasks across multiple touchpoints.

Gen Z’s shopping habits are driving a major shift in retail, and for tech leaders, the focus is on how to meet their expectations for speed and personalization. AI in visual search is quickly becoming the preferred tool with the majority of Gen Z favoring it over text-based searches. They want quick results, where a single photo can lead them directly to the products they’re after. AI-powered styling takes it a step further by analyzing personal preferences and delivering real-time suggestions that align with each shopper’s unique taste. These tools don’t just cater to Gen Z’s desire for instant gratification - they create new opportunities for brands to understand and engage with their audience more deeply. 

Standing out in the e-commerce industry isn’t just about offering more products - it is about offering the right products to the right people. From personalized product recommendations to targeted email campaigns and dynamic website content, these efforts are all done to make the shopper feel understood and valued.

E-commerce success isn’t just about great products - it’s about speed, discoverability, and seamless user experience. Shoppers expect instant page loads, frictionless navigation, and personalized interactions, and anything less can drive them straight to a competitor. This is why more businesses are turning to Next.js, a framework that’s redefining how online stores operate.

With thousands of online stores at our fingertips - one of the biggest challenges for eCommerce businesses is customer loyalty. According to HubSpot research, the probability of selling to an existing customer is 60-70%, compared to merely 5-20% for a new one. So, how do you turn one-time buyers into lifetime customers? 

The answer lies in a well-crafted loyalty program - these programs have grown from simple point-collection systems into exciting engagement engines that drive billions in revenue.

Modern-day users are incredibly demanding. They expect seamless, fast and highly personalized interactions at every touchpoint. On the other hand, brands are striving to meet these demands by creating experiences that are not only engaging and customized but also cost-effective. 

Algorithmic websites have become the driving force behind immersive and personalized shopping experiences. Imagine your last online shopping spree: the tailored recommendations, targeted ads, and seamless search results that you saw, weren’t just coincidences—they were the products of sophisticated algorithms at work. These algorithms are the brain behind how algorithmic websites work.

Wondering what are algorithmic websites? Simply put, these are websites that use complex algorithms to deliver personalized recommendations and content to users.