THE LAYER

Fractional CPO

CommerceIsDigital

CommerceIsDigital is helping companies of all sizes to implement digital commerce initiatives and upskill their teams. It helps customers define Ecommerce vision and strategy, prioritize functionality, and build a long-term roadmap using a unique top-down approach – the Digital Commerce Canvas framework.  CommerceIsDigital offers self-paced and instructor-led training to help businesses improve in-house skills to take greater control of ecommerce and digital marketing. Courses are based on our extensive library of ecommerce knowledge and proven best practices from different industries and businesses.

Founder

wAIpify

Advisor

Spryker

Spryker is a provider of highly modular Commerce System for B2C, B2B, and Marketplace businesses.  
Transformed Spryker developers-focused framework into an ecommerce platform for enterprise customers included into Gartner Magic Quadrant for Digital Commerce. Implemented advanced B2B functionality with quoting, workflows, configurable products, punchout support, and B2B order orchestration. Spryker is now recognized by analysts as a major player in B2B commerce.
Envisioned and led the implementation of the Spryker Marketplace Suite that supports standard and Enterprise marketplace business models. Guided first customers in Marketplace implementation.
Introduced UX discipline in the company and implement a modern user interface for business users that increases productivity, reduces employees' onboarding time, and minimizes training costs.
Built product management and UX teams and implemented modern agile processes.

VP Product

WebInterpret

WebInterpret is an innovative company that revolutionizes cross-border e-Commerce. 
Our goal is to fully democratize international e-Commerce, by making it possible for any company, small or large, to offer their products worldwide. By applying natural language processing and data science technologies we create localized online stores for thousands of merchants on eBay, Amazon, Shopify, Magento, and other Ecommerce platforms.
As Chief Product and Technology officer, I am responsible for product vision and road map, as well as overall management of the development organization.

CTO / CPO

hybris software, SAP company

hybris delivers the top-rated E-Commerce software and omni-channel solution to help enterprises across the globe innovate faster and sell more. The unique hybris omni-channel commerce solution is built on robust, modular and open architecture.
At hybris I lead a global team of about 20 product managers responsible for a wide range of products in Hybris Commerce Suite and Hybris Commerce SaaS solution. My team guides roadmap for 15 development teams working on B2C and B2B Ecommerce features, order management, customer experience management, subscriptions, promotions, bundling, customer service,and others. One of my focus areas in last two years was developing vertical omni-channel commerce solutions for a range of industries - telco, insurance, software, publishing, media and travel, manufacturing, and others.

Head Product Management, Commerce

Partnerpedia

Partnerpedia Enterprise Marketplace is a private label, cloud service that allows vendors to deploy an ISV or partner marketplace around their brand of products. 
Partnerpedia Enterprise AppZone is a SAS App Store solution that allows corporate IT to control the publishing, distribution and management of approved applications and content to end-user mobile devices.

•	Transformed a number of scattered software projects into a single cohesive multitenant SaaS product to support multiple enterprise customers.
•	Collected and categorized feature requests from the field to prioritize the product roadmap, identified competitive feature gaps, and directed product team to innovative solutions 
•	Launched Mobile Application Management SaaS service to provide IT organizations with a cross-platform (iOS & Android) enterprise App Store solution.
•	Improved product’s architecture, scalability, and quality.

VP Engineering

Elastic Path Software

Elastic Path Software is the leading provider of an enterprise Ecommerce platform which powers online stores of such well known companies as Google, Symantec, Time Inc., TELUS, Virgin Mobile, VANOC, and others.

•	Transformed Elasticpath’s product from a solution for middle sized companies into enterprise Ecommerce platform
•	Conceptualized a digital marketplace based on the App Store business model as a new direction in digital Ecommerce. Evangelized the idea inside the company and to potential customers. Secured government research funds and implemented a working proof of concept. 
•	Helped to establish  Elasticpath’s thought leadership by regularly contributing to the #1 Ecommerce Blog Get Elastic and presenting on conferences and webinars
•	Established a developer community to facilitate knowledge exchange between developers who use the Elasticpath platform in their Ecommerce implementations http://grep.elasticpath.com/
•	Directed strategic planning, market research, and product innovation process

Luxoft Canada

Luxoft is Russia’s largest provider of high-end IT outsourcing services, with operations in the US, Canada, the UK, Ukraine, and Russia. Luxoft works with global enterprises and independent software vendors, enjoying long-term relationships with industry leaders such as Deutsche Bank, IBM, UBS, Areva, Boeing, and Dell.
I established and managed the Canadian subsidiary of Luxoft expanding it to 20 people, and achieving $2.5 million in revenue within the first year.

Blackboard (formerly WebCT)

WebCT - one of the world's leading providers of e-learning systems, which are used by thousands of colleges and universities in more than 70 countries worldwide. As VP of Product Development at WebCT, I managed a 100+ person product development department, with offices in Vancouver and Boston. 
•	Built a highly efficient distributed development organization by converging different development cultures and transforming a start-up into an enterprise software company
•	Reduced the development budget by 15% by optimizing allocation of resources and reducing reliance on outside contractors
•	Ensured timely delivery of  multiple projects per year with improved quality and reliability
•	More than doubled application performance by establishing a performance lab and optimizing the product’s architecture
•	Shortened development times and improved quality of the product by introducing Agile software development practices 
•	Re-engineered the organization and development process to strengthen quality of service, timely delivery, and staff capabilities
•	Contributed to development of open XML based standards for interoperable learning technology as a representative of WebCT in the IMS Global Learning Consortium
.

VP Product Development

I transformed my 20+ years of experience at major Ecommerce platform companies (Hybris, EP, Spryker) into online training and roadmap consulting for professionals implementing and operating Ecommerce projects.
CommerceIsDigital offers online and in-person B2C & B2B Ecommerce Training courses to provide you with an expert-level understanding of the Digital Commerce domain and the skills required to define and implement a successful digital commerce roadmap for your business.  https://commerceisdigital.com
Ecommerce companies, software providers, and agencies license my courses to offer training opportunities to their customers and upskill internal teams.
I write extensively on Ecommerce and Artificial Intelligence.

Great B2B ecommerce webinar next Wednesday 17th (5pm UK time). 
Sign up link in the comments.

Michael Vax

Looking for ways to truly optimize your B2B purchasing experience? Join ecommerce experts Aaron Sheehan, Director of Product Marketing at OroCommerce, and Michael Vax, Founder of CommerceIsDigital, for a live discussion on April 17th at 11 AM CT.

They'll be tackling questions like:

▪ What are the unique challenges of B2B buyers and sellers compared to B2C?
▪ How do expectations differ between B2B buyers in manufacturing and distribution?
▪ What strategies can you implement to improve your B2B buying experience?

Register now and join the conversation: https://lnkd.in/dGZGchcP

#b2becommerce #customerexperience #b2b #digitization

You're scanning either a real object or a person, gathering immediate information about them. 

No need for a QR code anymore. The QR code has already bridged the gap between online and offline realms. 

And now, this object or person comes to life with added information—perhaps marketing details. 

But more than that, they become purchasable, researchable, and discoverable. 

It's an intriguing way to sell intricate products or offer supplementary information.

Listen to the podcast:
https://lnkd.in/g2F2z6c4

#eCommerce #AI #WBSRocks

Many B2B purchases involve multiple team members, approvals, and a ton of paperwork. Take our quick LinkedIn poll and share your experience!

If you want to streamline this process as a B2B seller, join our webinar on April 17 to learn how.

Michael Vax and Aaron Sheehan will explore how your team can digitize complex B2B processes and dive into buyers' specific needs when purchasing from manufacturers vs distributors.

Click here to learn more: https://lnkd.in/dGZGchcP

#b2becommerce #b2b

https://lnkd.in/dBwykCVG
The lines between digital and retail experiences are blurring as they merge into a unified customer journey.

commerceisdigital.com • 3 min read

👩‍🎓🛒👨‍🎓Digital Commerce in Retail Locations

https://lnkd.in/eDueFktd
A very thoughtful analysis of new AI use cases for B2B Ecommerce. 

👉 AI-driven recommendations will play an even bigger role in B2B vs. B2C due to the complexity of B2B products.
 
👉 Data management challenges are common across all businesses, but for B2B distributors, they are magnified by the sheer volume of products with complex dependencies and compatibility rules.

👉 the rise of AI-driven trade credit with new data sources and real-time tracking will bring a faster and more reliable way to make decisions on the extension of net 30/60/90-day terms to buyers by B2B sellers.

digitalcommerce360.com • 5 min read

4 ways AI will reshape B2B commerce

👩‍🎓🛒👨‍🎓 Benefits of Digital Payments in B2B
Implementing B2B payment technology solutions can significantly reduce transaction friction, costs, complexity, and risk in the realm of e-commerce. By utilizing sophisticated algorithms, flexible payment solutions can seamlessly integrate into the checkout process, streamlining the overall experience. Unlike traditional trade credit applications that require buyers to download and complete extensive forms, a few simple questions followed by an API call to a credit bureau can determine a buyer's creditworthiness.

With real-time automation, the system can instantly determine the buyer's credit limit and payment terms, allowing for credit approval within seconds. This integration of high-speed credit line checks enables sellers to minimize obstacles in the B2B purchase process while increasing the number of completed transactions. Additionally, payment technology solutions provide sellers with valuable data that can be utilized to develop targeted marketing campaigns and remarket products and services to existing customers. By segmenting the customer base based on credit access, businesses can tailor their marketing efforts accordingly.

For customers with smaller credit limits, merchants can offer specials on lower-cost items that are regularly needed. On the other hand, customers utilizing their credit lines for high-cost capital investments can be enticed with complementary products and services such as maintenance packages or service agreements. Through strategic utilization of B2B payment solutions, merchants can effectively remove purchase barriers, increase overall sales and order value, and improve cash flow.

Modern B2B payment platforms consolidate various payment methods into a single system and aim to provide a business-to-consumer-like payment experience for business buyers. An example of such a platform is Balance, an e-commerce payments company built on top of Stripe. Balance offers a wide range of payment options, including credit cards, ACH, and bank wires, as well as diverse payment terms such as payment on delivery, net payment terms, and payment by milestone. By evaluating the risk of customers, merchants, and selected payment terms, Balance ensures secure transactions for all parties involved.


The benefits of digital payments for B2B e-commerce are profound. Implementing B2B payment technology solutions not only reduces transaction friction, costs, complexity, and risk but also enhances the overall purchasing experience. Through streamlined processes, businesses can boost sales, order value, and cash flow. Modern B2B payment platforms consolidate payment methods, providing a seamless payment experience akin to B2C transactions. By embracing digital payments, businesses can thrive in the competitive B2B e-commerce landscape, driving growth and improving customer satisfaction.

👩‍🎓🛒👨‍🎓 How New AI Models Revolutionize eCommerce Search
While many eCommerce search queries today are just one to two words, younger people tend to search differently. They often use complete sentences and look for contextual results that match their intent. This shift requires a different approach to search that goes beyond keywords to understand the meaning of shopper's requests.

👩‍🎓🛒👨‍🎓 How New AI Models Revolutionize eCommerce Search

https://lnkd.in/dWn2ZaeJ
When considering AI's role in digital commerce, the right question to ask is
Can AI Approximate Help From a Human in Retail?


👩‍🎓🛒👨‍🎓**Enroll** in CommerceIsDigital online courses to become a certified ecommerce expert
🔔 Follow me on LinkedIn and Hit the 🔔 on my profile to stay updated on the latest Ecommerce implementation trends

biztechmagazine.com • 2 min read

Can AI Really Transform the Customer Experience in Retail?

commerceisdigital.com • 2 min read

👩‍🎓🛒👨‍🎓 Using AI to Discover Complex Products

https://lnkd.in/emR8FkX7
I wrote before that customers perceive interactions with a chatbot in your online shop as interactions with your brand. If they find the conversation helpful, their opinion improves. If it is unhelpful and wastes their time, they will have negative feelings, which will reflect on your brand.
It is a tiny step from thinking what a stupid bot it is to thinking how unhelpful this company is.
This means that there are several essential things to consider before adding a chatbot to your online store.

Learn how to use AI in Ecommerce with free vendor-independent online course: "AI-Powered Ecommerce" at commerceisdigital.com

10 Essential Factors for Successful AI Chatbot Deployment in Ecommerce

https://lnkd.in/dVQTTAVe
Are you looking for innovative ways to boost customer satisfaction and drive sales? Consider offering payment in installments as a payment option. This flexible payment method has become increasingly popular and can benefit both customers and businesses. 

👩‍🎓🛒👨‍🎓Enroll in CommerceIsDigital online courses to become a certified ecommerce expert
🔔 Follow us on LinkedIn and Hit the 🔔 to stay updated on the latest Ecommerce implementation trends
🤝Share with your network and coworkers in Slack groups

👩‍🎓🛒👨‍🎓 How to implement Payments in installments and its benefits

👩‍🎓🛒👨‍🎓How to use wish lists to grow sales

 When to Define Payment Methods Availability for different channels
When it comes to managing payment methods in e-commerce, it’s important to consider that not all payment options can or should be universally supported across all channels, countries, or stores. Each merchant needs to implement specific business logic to determine the availability of payment methods based on certain conditions.

The availability rules for payment methods can vary depending on factors such as the customer group, store settings, cart context, or total value of the cart.

For instance, a merchant may decide that new customers who have not undergone a credit check can only pay by credit card, ensuring a secure payment process for both parties involved.

In some cases, payment terms and methods may be defined contractually and tailored to specific customers. This means that certain customers may have unique payment options available to them based on their agreements with the merchant. These contractual arrangements can ensure a customized and convenient payment experience for specific customers.

Additionally, a merchant may choose to restrict specific payment methods for certain product categories. For example, they may decide not to offer invoice payment for products in certain categories where the risk of non-payment or returns is higher.

By implementing these restrictions, merchants can mitigate potential risks and streamline the payment process for both themselves and their customers.

To effectively manage payment methods, merchants need to carefully define the conditions under which different payment options are allowed. By considering factors such as customer eligibility, contractual agreements, and product categorizations, merchants can ensure that the available payment methods align with their business requirements while providing a seamless and tailored payment experience for their customers.

As e-commerce continues to evolve, merchants must stay vigilant in adapting their payment method strategies to meet changing customer expectations, regulatory requirements, and industry trends.

Regularly reviewing and optimizing payment options can lead to increased customer satisfaction, improved conversion rates, and a stronger overall e-commerce business.

https://lnkd.in/djhjyuzN

https://lnkd.in/emR8FkX7
I wrote before that customers perceive interactions with a chatbot in your online shop as interactions with your brand. If they find the conversation helpful, their opinion improves. If it is unhelpful and wastes their time, they will have negative feelings, which will reflect on your brand.
It is a tiny step from thinking what a stupid bot it is to thinking how unhelpful this company is.
This means that there are several essential things to consider before adding a chatbot to your online store.

Learn how to use AI in Ecommerce with free vendor-independent online course: "AI-Powered Ecommerce" at commerceisdigital.com

https://lnkd.in/dj2ajjzH

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