A Shopify Podcast To Grow Revenue And Loyalty
Welcome to another episode of eCommerce Fastlane. Today, we’re excited to have Vikas Jha, the Vice President of Engineering for Conversational Commerce at Bloomreach.
In this episode, we dive into the transformative world of AI in e-commerce and how it’s revolutionizing online shopping experiences. Vikas shares his expertise on Bloomreach’s innovative AI solutions, including their advanced assistant, Loomi, which creates personalized shopping journeys for customers.
We explore the evolution of conversational AI, from basic chatbots to sophisticated commerce tools. Vikas explains how these technologies are helping businesses boost engagement and revenue through natural, chat-based interactions with shoppers.
We discuss real-world applications, featuring success stories like the Japanese snack box company Bokksu, demonstrating the practical impact of AI-powered commerce tools.
Vikas also shares insights from his extensive tech career, offering valuable perspectives on the growth of conversational AI and its future in e-commerce.
Whether you’re an e-commerce entrepreneur looking to enhance customer retention or simply curious about AI’s role in shaping online retail, this episode offers actionable insights and forward-thinking strategies.
Join host Steve Hutt and Vikas Jha as they unpack the exciting possibilities at the intersection of AI and e-commerce, revealing how businesses can leverage these technologies to create more engaging, efficient, and profitable online shopping experiences.
This is Vikas Jha‘s StoryâĤ
Vikas brings a wealth of experience and innovation to his role as Vice President of Engineering for Conversational Commerce at Bloomreach. His journey in the tech world is marked by significant achievements and a deep understanding of AI and commerce technologies.
Prior to Bloomreach, Vikas founded Radiance Commerce, a startup specializing in conversational commerce solutions. Launched about seven years ago, Radiance Commerce pioneered AI-powered shopping assistants, showcasing Vikas’s early vision for the future of e-commerce. In December 2023, Bloomreach acquired Radiance Commerce, integrating Vikas’s expertise into their team.
Vikas’s career also includes a notable tenure at Google, where he served as Director of Engineering for Display Advertising. This experience provided him with valuable insights into data-driven marketing and advertising technologies, which now inform his innovative work in conversational commerce.
At Bloomreach, Vikas leads the development of Clarity, an advanced AI-powered platform revolutionizing online shopping experiences. His focus is on creating personalized customer journeys that transcend traditional chatbots, leveraging sophisticated AI to deliver human-like interactions at scale.
Vikas envisions conversational commerce as more than just customer support; he sees it as a powerful revenue-generating tool with significant potential to impact a retailer’s bottom line. Under his guidance, Bloomreach is pioneering solutions that seamlessly blend marketing, search, and AI-driven conversations to create more engaging and profitable e-commerce experiences.
With his extensive background and forward-thinking approach, Vikas is at the forefront of reshaping brand-consumer interactions in the digital marketplace. His work is driving innovation in the rapidly evolving field of conversational commerce, setting new standards for personalized and efficient online shopping experiences.
Key Takeaways From Our Conversation:
1ï¸â£ AI-Driven Personalization: Bloomreach’s Loomi AI makes online shopping more personal. It uses real-time data about customers and products to create unique experiences. This AI is built just for online stores. It understands what customers want and how businesses work. Loomi makes sure every part of shopping feels tailored to each customer.
2ï¸â£ Conversational Commerce Evolution: Vikas Jha told us how chatbots have grown up. They used to be simple helpers before a sale. Now, they’re smart AI assistants that can really sell. Bloomreach’s Clarity is even better than regular chatbots. It talks like a real person and knows a lot about a brands products. It works on websites, chat, and text messages. The best part? It remembers your conversation even if you switch between these.
3ï¸â£ Integration and Revenue Generation: Bloomreach Clarity isn’t just for answering questions – it’s made to boost sales. It connects easily with product lists and other business tools. This means stores can start using it in about two weeks. Clarity can be set up to match a brand’s style and voice. It even personalizes chats for new visitors based on how they browse. This helps turn more visitors into buyers and can make each sale bigger.
Summary Of What We Covered:
- Bloomreach uses Loomi AI to personalize online shopping by combining customer and product data.
- Conversational commerce has evolved from simple chatbots to AI-powered virtual sales assistants.
- Clarity, Bloomreach’s conversational product, aims to generate revenue, not just answer questions.
- The platform integrates with existing tech stacks and can be used alongside other e-commerce tools.
- Conversational commerce is especially effective for high-consideration purchases.
- Success is measured by conversation-assisted revenue percentage and lift in conversion rates.
- Bloomreach’s solution can handle both marketing and search-initiated customer interactions.
- The system can seamlessly hand off to human agents when needed.
- Bloomreach works with various e-commerce platforms like Shopify and Salesforce.
- Real-world examples, like Bokksu, show how mid-market brands can benefit from the technology.
Links and Resources Mentioned
Unlock the Secrets to Scaling Your Shopify Store
Are you ready to take your Shopify store to the next level? Join Steve Hutt every week as he sits down with expert guests to uncover proven strategies for expanding your business and boosting your bottom line.
Each episode is packed with actionable tips and insights!
- The top Shopify apps to streamline your operations and drive sales
- Marketing platforms to reach and convert more customers
- Essential growth tactics used by successful brands in DTC and retail
If youâre not innovating and optimizing, youâre falling behind. Thatâs why Iâm excited to bring you the latest trends and best practices from industry leaders every week. â Steve Hutt
Help Us Reach More Shopify Entrepreneurs
Your support is invaluable in helping us provide more value to entrepreneurs and marketers just like you. By subscribing to eCommerce Fastlane and sharing your thoughts in a rating and review, you enable us to reach and assist more listeners on their ecommerce journey.
Here’s how to make a huge impact in just a few clicks:
Apple Podcasts: Search for “eCommerce Fastlane”, tap Subscribe, then leave a rating and review letting us know what you enjoy about the show.
Spotify: Search for “eCommerce Fastlane”, click Follow, and leave a rating on our show page sharing your feedback.
As a valued listener, your feedback is crucial for us to keep creating the content you need to thrive. As a thank you, we’ll send you our “10 Essential Shopify Apps” guide to boost your store’s success. This is a limited time offer, so act now! Once you’ve subscribed and reviewed, email [email protected] with the subject line “Podcast Feedback” and we’ll send your free guide right away.
Your support means the world to us and the entrepreneurs we strive to help. Subscribe, review, and share now to join us in guiding more Shopify store owners to ecommerce success!