The FOD – The Future of Digital Commerce – Season 1

4th August 2021

The FODcast features company Directors Tim and James interviewing some of the most influential thought leaders of the digital commerce industry.

Given the global impact of the pandemic on eCommerce during the last 2 years, The FOD couldn’t have been better timed. Using our network, we delve into the real challenges facing the retail industry in the current market and identified some of the key trends to keep an eye on in future.

Highlights from Season 1 of the FODcast

So far, the most popular episode was with the brilliant Michael Vax, creator of Digital Commerce Canvas framework and author of the course ‘Digital Commerce for YOUR Business’.

Michael thinks that linking offline and online experiences is crucial. Michael said ‘the collaboration between in-store and online shopping need to meet to stay innovative for customers. Using technology to link the two will pave the way for upselling to customers and make the experience more personalised’.

We asked each guest their thoughts on the future of the high street

Generally, most of our guests think the high street will survive, but that it will undoubtedly change, with retailers possibly focussing on the bigger flagship stores and offering a more personalised experience using AI. Whilst the online space will become more important for other retailers, enhancing online shopping with technologies such as augmented reality will be key strategies.

Guests were also asked what was going to be the single most disruptive piece of technology over the course of the next couple of years.

Topics on this ranged from personalized AI to setting up microservices. Kevin Murray from Greenlight Commerce thinks when brilliant people are faced with difficult situations, innovation is usually the outcome. And given the year and a half we’ve just had, we could be in for some seriously awesome new ideas in the eCommerce sector! Interestingly, Malcolm Wild raised the possibility of cryptocurrency being the most disruptive technology to impact retail. Is this something your business is considering?

If MACH is on the cards for your business, then keep an eye out for our next episode with Kelly Goetsch – VP of Product for commercetools. One not to be missed!

Listen to the FODcast here and on all the usual apps.

Season 2 is coming soon. Don’t forget to comment and share. What would you like to hear discussed next?