When ChatGPT first burst onto the scene in late 2022, it sparked a wave of both admiration and anxiety. Within just a few months, the GPT-3.5-based chatbot became a global phenomenon, showcasing the incredible capabilities of machine learning in customer service. It didn’t just mimic human speech—in tasks like content generation, query processing, and even code writing, AI began to surpass humans in speed and accuracy.
But while ChatGPT became the most visible manifestation of AI, behind the scenes, machine learning has long been transforming e-commerce.
Modern retailers leverage artificial intelligence far more extensively than it might seem at first glance. Here are just a few key areas:
One thing is certain: artificial intelligence is not a temporary trend but a new reality that everyone will need to navigate. Those who adapt faster will gain a decisive advantage.
Although the terms “machine learning” (ML) and “artificial intelligence” (AI) are often used interchangeably, there are important distinctions between them.
Machine learning is a subset of artificial intelligence that literally enables machines to “learn.” Instead of rigid programming, ML models analyze large volumes of data, independently identifying patterns and trends. This allows them to make predictions and decisions without explicit instructions for each specific case.
A prime example of machine learning in e-commerce is recommendation systems. These algorithms study user data:
Based on this data, the system generates personalized recommendations, predicting which products are most likely to interest a specific customer.
Artificial intelligence is a broader concept. It encompasses not only machine learning but also other technologies that enable computers to perform tasks traditionally requiring human intelligence: natural language understanding, pattern recognition, and decision-making.
At Walba Dynamics, we leverage both approaches. Our solutions combine ML for data analysis with more complex AI algorithms to help businesses better understand customers, optimize processes, and boost sales.
Where AI is Found:
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Voice assistants (Alexa, Siri)
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Personalized product recommendations
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Smart chatbots in customer support
Benefits for Businesses:
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Simplified product search through voice queries
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Increased sales through precise recommendations
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Optimized logistics and inventory
Seizing Business Opportunities: How Can AI and ML Benefit E-Commerce?
AI and ML have a profound impact on the e-commerce industry. Here are the key benefits of AI and machine learning in e-commerce for companies looking to transform their businesses today.
Higher Return on Investment
Few truly understand how AI can boost e-commerce sales. According to the McKinsey State of AI Report, 79% of respondents reported that integrating AI into marketing and sales increased business revenue. Integrating it into CRM can create a more efficient sales process. Adding an AI-powered e-commerce platform, such as CDP or business intelligence (BI), paves the way for personalization, increasing average order value (AOV) and customer loyalty.
In fact, there are numerous examples illustrating this advantage. Amazon’s recommendation system, for instance, drives 35% of the company’s annual sales. This is achieved by analyzing data on past purchases and user behavior, enabling the system to suggest products highly likely to interest the customer. Alibaba, meanwhile, reduced delivery errors by 40% after investing in its intelligent logistics program. This significantly improved service quality and lowered logistics costs.
Targeted Marketing and Personalization with Walba Dynamics
Salesforce, a global leader in CRM solutions and a strategic partner of Walba Dynamics, provides compelling data: 87% of modern consumers expect a personalized approach at every stage of their interaction with a brand. However, only 26% of marketing departments are confident in the effectiveness of their personalization strategies.
Key Challenge:
Data silos across departments (marketing, sales, support) lead to inconsistent customer experiences. For example:
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Customer support cannot see order history
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Marketing continues to advertise already purchased items
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Sales teams offer outdated terms
Walba Dynamics’ Solution:
Traditional Approach | AI-Based Solution | Impact |
Manual data collection from 3-5 sources | Automatic integration of 15+ channels (CRM, social media, email, chats) | Unified customer view |
Analysis of 40% of data | Processing 100% of data in real time | Prediction accuracy +89% |
Generic audience segments | Individual recommendations for each customer | Conversion +35% |
Manual hypothesis testing (2-3 weeks) | Automated A/B testing (48 hours) | Optimization speed x7 |
Next-Generation Predictive Analytics
Traditional BI systems deliver prediction accuracy of 60-65%. Walba Dynamics’ AI-driven solutions demonstrate:
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92% accuracy in demand forecasting
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85% efficiency in identifying profitable niches
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Automatic reallocation of 30% of ad budget to high-potential areas
Logistics Optimization: Numbers and Facts
Comparison of inventory management approaches:
Parameter | Traditional Method | AI Walba Dynamics |
Demand forecast accuracy | 65-70% | 88-92% |
Market response time | 14-21 days | 2-3 days |
Inventory optimization | 15-20% savings | 35-50% savings |
Delivery error frequency | 1 in 50 orders | 1 in 500 orders |
Boosting Customer Conversion with Artificial Intelligence
Modern AI algorithms empower marketers with a powerful tool for analyzing and optimizing web pages, enhancing audience engagement, and significantly increasing conversions. Unlike traditional methods, AI processes vast datasets in real time, identifying patterns and suggesting precise adjustments that drive sales growth.
Case Study: SodaStream and a 15% Conversion Boost
A notable example is the experience of SodaStream, a PepsiCo subsidiary. The brand implemented machine learning to analyze the effectiveness of marketing campaigns across 46 international markets. The study revealed that audience response varied by communication channel.
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Email campaigns drove a conversion increase of 3–5%,
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SMS campaigns showed an even more impressive result — 10–15%.
This example demonstrates how AI not only collects data but also identifies optimal ways to engage different customer segments.
Where Else Can AI Be Applied in E-Commerce?
Artificial intelligence is not just a tool for analysis but a multifaceted technology capable of transforming key aspects of online sales:
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Smart Site Search
The faster a customer finds the desired product, the higher the likelihood of a purchase. AI algorithms enhance search suggestions, analyze user behavior, and adapt results to their queries.
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Remarketing Campaigns
Personalized offers sent after cart abandonment increase the chances of customer return. AI determines the optimal timing and format for communication, boosting campaign effectiveness.
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Automated Customer Service
AI-powered chatbots reduce the workload on support teams by instantly resolving common queries. This speeds up request processing and improves user experience.
Success Stories: Amazon, eBay, and Beyond
Major market players like Amazon and eBay have been using AI to optimize sales for decades. However, the benefits of this technology are not exclusive to giants.

For example, after implementing Certona’s recommendation system from Walba Dynamics, the American fashion retailer Carbon38 recorded:
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Increased average order value (AOV) through cross-selling,
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Higher repeat purchases thanks to personalized offers.
This proves that even mid-sized and small online stores can achieve significant results with AI.
Pricing Strategy
AI-based pricing technology is a powerful tool that transforms the approach to pricing in B2B commerce. Walba Dynamics’ algorithms analyze vast datasets — from 10,000 to several million records, depending on the business scale. They account for parameters like customer geographic location, purchasing habits, seasonal demand fluctuations, and current market prices in specific segments. This enables companies to dynamically adjust prices, securing a competitive edge. This approach has been a breakthrough for the B2B market, where pricing accuracy and flexibility directly impact profitability.
Advanced analytical tools collect data from multiple sources: online platforms, CRM systems, inventory programs, and even social media. For example, Walba Dynamics’ algorithms can determine how flexible prices can be for a specific customer by analyzing their purchase history and on-site behavior. Customer segmentation happens in real time. This means companies can offer personalized discounts or special terms for large wholesale orders. Finnish company Wexon, specializing in technical component supplies, uses Walba Dynamics’ solution to analyze data on 15,000 registered users and new customers. As a result, they adjust prices based on order volumes, purchase frequency, and current market trends, increasing their revenue by 12% over the past year.
Personalized pricing is not just a trend but a necessity in highly competitive conditions. Algorithms not only optimize costs but also predict which pricing strategies will be most effective in the future. This enables companies to prepare for demand shifts or market fluctuations in advance. Walba Dynamics helps businesses not just react to changes but anticipate them.
Visual Search
Visual search radically simplifies the product selection process in e-commerce, especially when customers struggle to describe the desired product in words. Instead of entering lengthy text queries, customers can upload a photo to find matching products. This reduces search time and increases result relevance. According to studies, 62% of shoppers prefer visual search over text-based search for fashion, furniture, or electronics. The technology is especially popular among mobile users who value convenience and speed.
Visual search tools like Google Lens, Bing Visual Search, and Pinterest Lens Your Look have become leaders in this field. They use advanced machine learning models to analyze images and match them with product catalogs. For example, Pinterest allows users to find clothing that complements their wardrobe by analyzing colors, textures, and styles in uploaded photos. British retailer ASOS went further, implementing the Style Match feature in its mobile app. Customers can photograph an item they like on the street or in a magazine, and the algorithm finds similar products in ASOS’s catalog. This increased conversion by 8% among app users.
Combining visual search with other technologies, such as voice search and conversational commerce, opens new possibilities. For example, integrating Amazon Lex models enables brands to process voice queries from customers, converting them into precise search commands. This is particularly effective for niche products where accurate descriptions are critical. Walba Dynamics actively develops such solutions, helping brands create intuitive interfaces. As a result, customers not only find the right products faster but are also more likely to make a purchase, boosting brand loyalty.

Customer Sentiment Analysis
Traditional methods of analyzing customer sentiment — interviews, surveys, ratings, and social media monitoring — provide valuable but fragmented data. Manual processing requires significant resources and inevitably risks missing critical details.
Modern AI-based tools handle this task much faster and more effectively. They can process large volumes of information in real time and detect even subtle changes in customer behavior.
Thanks to natural language processing technologies, machine learning systems identify the emotional tone of words and phrases, determining whether a review is positive or negative. This approach not only collects feedback but transforms it into deeply analyzed, valuable insights that serve as the foundation for improving products or services.
Inventory Management
Retailers invest significant effort in establishing effective inventory management. Their goal is to ensure timely delivery of the right products to the right place with the required quality. This process involves meticulous tracking and comprehensive analysis of warehouse reserves and supply chains.
In the context of inventory management, applying machine learning in e-commerce uncovers hidden patterns and relationships between individual product items and supply chain components. Specialized algorithms develop optimal strategies for regulating inventory and stock levels. Based on the analytical data obtained, specialists optimize logistics processes and manage inventory effectively.
Customer Support
One of the most prominent examples of machine learning in e-commerce is chatbots, which serve as an effective tool for partially automating customer interactions. Moreover, implementing chatbots significantly reduces operational costs while maintaining a high level of service. In situations requiring deeper analysis, an intelligent bot recognizes the need for human involvement and directs the customer’s query to a competent support agent.
Generative artificial intelligence plays a crucial role in this area. As data on individual customer preferences accumulates, online communication with customers takes on a personalized feel, resembling a consultation with a stylist or personal shopping assistant. For example, the second-hand goods marketplace Mercari introduced an intelligent assistant based on ChatGPT technology. This tool can not only answer user questions but also suggest products based on the content of their queries.

Practical Examples of AI and ML Integration in E-Commerce
So far, we’ve explored the benefits and applications of artificial intelligence and machine learning in e-commerce, supported by practical examples from various retailers. Now it’s time to introduce you to well-known companies, recognized leaders in their fields, that are maximally leveraging these cutting-edge technologies.
Amazon: Customer-Centricity as a Key Advantage
Amazon places special emphasis on impeccable customer service, viewing it as one of its primary competitive advantages in e-commerce. This high level of service is achieved through the active adoption of artificial intelligence technologies. In which specific areas does the company apply these innovations?
- Recommendation Systems. Amazon uses Collaborative Filtering and Next-in-Sequence models to predict products that may interest a specific customer. This tool operates by analyzing extensive user behavior data.
- Logistics. Artificial intelligence significantly improves route planning, optimal delivery timing, and other logistics parameters, enhancing efficiency and accuracy. In the future, Amazon plans to introduce drone-based delivery.
- Natural Language Processing. This advanced deep learning technology powers Amazon’s digital assistant, Alexa.
Alibaba: Customer Needs at the Core
The company relentlessly adopts cutting-edge tools based on artificial intelligence and machine learning. Alibaba actively uses augmented reality mirrors, facial recognition payment systems, interactive mobile games, and numerous other innovative features and tools. Alibaba places particular emphasis on the following aspects:
- Intelligent Business Processes. Alibaba’s proprietary chatbot, Tongyi Qianwen, launched on April 11, 2023, aims to optimize workflow efficiency. This tool can perform tasks like transcribing voice conversations into written notes and drafting business proposals. In the long term, this allows employees to save time and resources, focusing on strategic tasks rather than routine operations.
- High Degree of Personalization. Creating an engaging customer experience is a fundamental principle for most modern retailers. Alibaba achieves this through a highly targeted AI-based e-commerce platform. Regardless of a customer’s purchase history, the system can match their purchased items with new offers from Alibaba’s extensive assortment.
- Intelligent Supply Chain. Alibaba developed Ali Smart Supply Chain, an AI-based tool that forecasts product demand, optimizes inventory, identifies the most relevant product offers, and develops pricing strategies.
IKEA: Augmented Reality Opportunities
Retailers selling furniture online are well aware of the challenges associated with returns. The bulky nature of products makes it difficult for customers to visualize how an item will look in their home, significantly increasing return costs. IKEA is one of the brands successfully addressing this issue with artificial intelligence and augmented reality:
- Enhanced Customer Experience in Online and Offline Channels. IKEA’s new Kreativ feature, integrated into its website and mobile app, allows customers to design and visualize their living spaces using digitized furniture models. There’s no need to visit a physical store to evaluate an item — a few taps on a smartphone screen suffice.
- Visual Search. Users can point their device’s camera at a furniture item of interest, and the IKEA Place app will find similar items. The GrokStyle search feature has been integrated into the app and is considered a future-forward technology for product search.
Gap: Innovations in the Fitting Process
When Heather Mickman took on the role of interim Chief Information Officer at Gap, one of the world’s leading clothing and accessories retailers, he set an ambitious goal — to integrate artificial intelligence into all aspects of the company’s operations. Gap has achieved significant success in several key areas:
- Optimized Inventory Movement. The company’s machine learning-based solution generates automated, highly accurate size profiles that predict sales volumes for specific products in each store. This enables the brand to respond effectively to demand fluctuations and ensure high customer satisfaction.
- Virtual Fitting Rooms. Gap offers customers an app with augmented reality technology that allows them to virtually try on clothing without visiting a physical store. Users can select one of five preset body types in the app, “try on” their chosen Gap clothing, and make a purchase online if the result meets their expectations.

Strategy for Implementing AI and Machine Learning in E-Commerce
The potential of machine learning in e-commerce is truly impressive, covering a wide range of tasks: from enhancing customer service to improving business security. Significant growth in the adoption of AI-based automation in retail is projected in the coming years.
To successfully integrate machine learning into your e-commerce business and capitalize on the opportunities it offers, a structured approach and a clear strategy are essential. Here are a series of sequential steps to guide you through the process:
1. Identify Business Processes for Optimization with ML.
Start with a thorough analysis of your company’s existing workflows. Ask yourself key questions:
- Which processes are highly labor-intensive and require significant staff involvement?
- Which operations are routine and repetitive?
- Which processes involve processing and analyzing large volumes of data, making them challenging for humans?
Answers to these questions will help identify areas where AI and ML technologies can significantly save time and resources for your business.
2. Organize Data Collection and Processing.
Data is the cornerstone of effective AI and machine learning applications. Ensure centralized storage of all relevant data in a structured database. This will enable deeper analysis and efficient information management in the future.
3. Define Goals and Assess Capabilities.
Attempting overly broad AI implementation at the outset can lead to unjustified financial costs. Focus on specific business goals and start with relatively simple tasks. For example, you might prioritize predicting and preventing customer churn. Once positive results are achieved, you can gradually scale AI adoption to other areas.
4. Select Suitable Tools and Platforms.
Choosing e-commerce software plays a critical role in your business’s success, significantly impacting the cost and efficiency of your online store. In some cases, switching platforms may be necessary to find the optimal solution for your company’s needs. Modern cloud computing technologies make machine learning more accessible and significantly reduce time and labor costs.
Depending on your business’s specifics, there are numerous specialized AI and ML tools designed to optimize various aspects of operations and boost sales. Examples include Adobe Sensei, which automates routine tasks and frees up time for creative processes, and Nosto, a comprehensive marketing solution that uses AI to deliver real-time personalized customer experiences, enhancing engagement and driving sales growth.
5. Build a Dedicated Team and Assess the Need for External Vendors.
To effectively manage the AI implementation process, you’ll need a dedicated team to oversee the project. This team will closely collaborate with external vendors brought in for specific stages and ensure the process aligns with your goals.
Conclusion:
Despite potential organizational challenges associated with adopting new AI and ML technologies in e-commerce, or conversely, inspired by industry leaders successfully integrating these innovations, no modern retailer can afford to ignore technological progress.
Implementing AI and ML will enhance business process efficiency, optimize customer experiences, improve marketing campaign targeting, and even unlock new market opportunities.
Key success factors include developing a clear plan, building a team that embraces the value of new technologies, and exercising organizational patience during the learning, refinement, and strategy adaptation process.
With over 14 years of experience working with retailers as developers and consultants in e-commerce, Walba Dynamics is ready to provide comprehensive support in assessing your business’s current state, developing a phased implementation plan for the necessary technologies, and integrating them at all levels.