Here is a list of product releases and updates for late-May from companies that offer services to online merchants. There are updates on social commerce, financial products for merchants, self-service ad platforms, selling on Amazon, and quick-launch commerce services.
Got an ecommerce product release? Email releases@practicalecommerce.com.
Ecommerce Product Releases
Facebook introduces Facebook Shops. The new Facebook Shops enables businesses to set up a free store on both Facebook and Instagram. Businesses can choose the products they want to feature from their catalog and then customize the look and feel of their shop with a cover image and accent colors. Facebook is also working with partners such as Shopify, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, ChannelAdvisor, Cedcommerce, Cafe24, Tienda Nube, and Feedonomics. Consumers can find Facebook Shops on a business’s Facebook page or Instagram profile, or discover them through stories or ads.
Facebook Shops
Shopify announces Shopify Balance and Shop Pay Installments. At Reunite, its virtual conference, Shopify announced several new products for merchants. Shopify Balance provides an account to pay bills and track cash flow, a card to access money online or from an ATM, and a rewards system for cashback and discounts on everyday business spending such as shipping and marketing. Shop Pay Installments, Shopify’s new “buy now, pay later” service, lets merchants offer customers the option to split purchases into four equal payments, interest-free. Shopify has also begun rolling out a new local delivery product for merchants globally.
Criteo launches self-service retail media ad platform. Criteo, a retargeting-ad service, has announced the launch of its first-to-market, self-service retail media platform. Now retailers can drive incremental revenue by providing tools that make it easy for brands and agencies to manage retail media campaigns while also maintaining control of the shopper experience. Additionally, retailers and brands using the platform can deliver consent-based, personalized advertising without relying on third-party cookies. The new platform will enable retailers to power their vendor marketing programs, to tap into different types of budgets such as search and national media, and to allow a variety of creative and targeting capabilities. The Criteo retail media platform is available to clients in the U.S. and Canada.
WooCommerce introduces Payments to help merchants. WooCommerce, the WordPress-based ecommerce platform, has announced the availability of WooCommerce Payments, a system to let shoppers pay directly using major cards as well as helping merchants manage charges, deposits, and disputes. The service is free to add, with no setup fees. Prices start at 2.9 percent plus $0.30 per transaction.
WooCommerce Payments
FedEx and Microsoft announce collaboration. FedEx and Microsoft have announced a new multi-year partnership by combining the global digital and logistics network of FedEx with Microsoft’s intelligent cloud. FedEx Surround, the first service from the collaboration, allows any business to enhance visibility into its supply chain by leveraging data to provide near-real-time analytics into shipment tracking. FedEx Surround can also collect multiple data points gathered through the enhanced scanning and FedEx’s proprietary internet-of-things technology and analyze them using Microsoft’s artificial intelligence, machine learning, and analytics services.
Fulfillment by Amazon expands New Selection program. Fulfillment by Amazon’s New Selection program offers free storage, free removals, and free return processing for a limited time to eligible new-to-FBA items. All eligible ASINs (Amazon Standard Identification Numbers) qualify for free monthly storage for the first 50 units sent to Amazon fulfillment centers for 90 days after the first unit is received. In select product categories, FBA will waive return processing fees for up to 50 units of each ASIN that customers return to the fulfillment center within 120 days of the first inventory-received date.
Salesforce launches Quick Start Commerce Solutions. Salesforce has launched four packages of services to help businesses quickly adjust and operate during Covid-19. The tools of Quick Start Commerce Solutions include “Quick Start for Direct-to-consumer Commerce,” “Quick Start for Curbside and Store Pickup,” “Quick Start for B2B Commerce,” and “Quick Start for Grocery and Quick Service.” Participating businesses receive a commerce toolkit to help set up and run a site and fulfill orders. The program also offers partner-managed services to run everything for the first three months.
Salesforce’s Quick Start Commerce Solutions
TrueCommerce upgrades Pack & Ship. TrueCommerce, a commerce platform, has announced an update to TrueCommerce Pack & Ship, a web-based service that offers multichannel merchants “ship any way you want” capability. An extension of the TrueCommerce Foundry platform, Pack & Ship allows suppliers and retailers to pack more accurately, find the lowest shipping rates, analyze fulfillment processes in real-time, and more.
Net at Work and Pixafy announce erpCommerce for Magento Commerce and Sage X3. Net at Work, a technology and business consultancy, and Pixafy, an Adobe partner, have released erpCommerce, enabling organizations using the Sage X3 enterprise resource platform to integrate with Magento Commerce and launch a website within 60 days. The erpCommerce service combines an enterprise-level management system with ecommerce (Magento Commerce) via a cloud-based integration platform (Boomi, from Dell), allowing merchants and partners throughout the Sage and Magento ecosystems to fast-track B2B and B2C implementations.
OroCommerce launches free ecommerce training for B2B leaders. OroCommerce, a B2B ecommerce platform, has announced a new online training program. Participants will use a hands-on staging environment to explore the OroCommerce platform in real-time and receive expert guidance to help them deploy B2B features and adjust the platform to suit their needs. Two senior Oro developers will lead the courses. Participants can ask questions and receive guidance on the common B2B pain points. The entire training program is free as part of Oro’s commitment to supporting global B2B brands, manufacturers, distributors, and suppliers during a time of economic turmoil. Recordings of the sessions will be available for on-demand viewing through August 31.
OroCommerce
