E-commerce leaders worldwide say brands are facing growing pressure to meet higher customer expectations while also controlling costs and handling rising competition. As a result, many companies now see artificial intelligence as a core business tool rather than an experimental technology.
These insights come from a new survey titled “From Insights to Execution in AI-Powered Commerce,” commissioned by ecommerce growth firm Pattern. The study surveyed more than 1,000 senior business leaders across the US, UK, UAE, and Germany, all working at companies with at least $3 million in annual ecommerce revenue.
The survey shows that day-to-day operations are becoming harder to manage. Nearly 78% of leaders said customer demand for next-day delivery is putting serious strain on supply chains. At the same time, 76% said it is increasingly difficult to maintain brand consistency across multiple digital sales channels.
Shopping habits are also changing quickly. Around 79% of respondents said social commerce platforms are influencing how people discover and buy products by mixing feature insights with shopping.
Meanwhile, 77% said ultra-low-cost online marketplaces are intensifying price competition, making it harder for traditional brands to stand out.
To cope with these challenges, e-commerce companies are investing more in AI. On average, surveyed brands spent nearly $292,000 on AI tools over the past year, and spending is expected to rise further in the year ahead.
Industry forecasts suggest the global AI-powered e-commerce market could grow rapidly over the next decade.
Many brands are already putting AI into action to enhance product experience. About one-third of companies surveyed said they have deployed AI-powered shopping assistants, while many others are testing AI tools to improve product search, discovery, and personalization.
Overall, the findings highlight a clear shift: as pressure on ecommerce businesses continues to rise, AI is becoming a key solution for brands trying to keep up with modern shoppers.