Everyone loves a deal, and e-commerce shoppers are no different. Coupons, discounts, and other offers can draw in new customers and build loyalty with existing ones. In fact, according to recent survey by Vericast, 83 percent of consumers bought at least one item in the last six months -- and 62 percent shopped with a brand for the first time -- because of a coupon or discount. [More...]

E-commerce merchants are literally at the mercy of the digital checkout systems tied to their web stores. For retailers, what happens on the other side of the "pay" button is critical to avoiding denied approvals. Online payment service provider Credorax peeled back the curtain for the E-Commerce Times to reveal the ins and outs of what happens behind the pay button. [More...]

The U.S. government is moving at a brisk pace to launch information technology projects authorized by the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan. Federal information technology providers are looking for the chance to participate in contracts flowing from the $1 billion allocated by the plan to the government's Technology Modernization Fund. [More...]

A definitive merger agreement has been announced for Amazon to acquire MGM for $8.45 billion. MGM will bring to Amazon's table more than 4,000 movies and 17,000 TV shows. All totaled, MGM productions over the years won more than 180 Oscars and 100 Emmy awards. MGM will continue to operate as a label under the Amazon brand. [More...]

A Russian-language dark web marketplace called Hydra that is known to facilitate the illegal sale of narcotics has seen cryptocurrency transactions soar over the last five years. According to a report by Flashpoint and Chainalysis, Hydra's crypto business began accelerating in 2017 after its chief competitor was shut down by Russian law enforcement authorities. [More...]

Emerging from the pandemic, people are more concerned than ever before about their health and well-being. As a result, increasingly they're turning to digital solutions to address their needs. The E-Commerce Times talked with health and wellness experts from a variety of sectors for perspective on how e-commerce has been brought into service in this new -- and newly health-conscious -- world. [More...]

Across all businesses, the entire C-suite leadership team is looking to validate an experience management program by asking one question: what is the financial impact of my CX investment? Making a business case to the financial leaders of your company means that you have to be prepared to answer any value-based questions they might throw your way. [More...]

Important as it is to continually acquire new customers, it's every bit as vital for businesses to nurture existing clientele. The E-Commerce Times talked with several experts in customer engagement to get their thoughts about why it's critical to cultivate current customers -- and how to encourage them to stick around. [More...]

As the value of cryptocurrencies continue to soar, new investors are eager to get in on the action, and scammers are more than willing to accommodate them. According to the Federal Trade Commission, claims of losses from cryptocurrency fraud skyrocketed from October 2020 to March 2021. The median loss reported neared a 1,000 percent increase over the same period a year ago. [More...]

Twitter is adding some new powerful features to its repertoire that users will be able to access for a price. The new premium offering, called Twitter Blue, will allow users to "undo" tweets, as well as create collections of their favorite tweets, according to independent researcher Jane Manchun Wong. [More...]

As the digital health space continues to expand, new opportunities are emerging that enable companies to act in the public good by making healthcare accessible online. Along with the emerging opportunities available in this industry it's important to understand the dynamics that have, historically, made it difficult to enter the health e-commerce space. [More...]

If you are looking to expand your sales territory and have not yet put Latin America on your bill of lading, you're missing a golden opportunity. Latin America offers the fastest-growing regional e-commerce marketplace in the world. Last year, the total retail e-commerce sales to the LATAM region grew 36.7 percent to $84.95 billion. That is still growing this year. [More...]

Livestream shopping delivers an interactive experience for brands, influencers, or celebrities to promote and sell products; and for consumers to participate by asking questions and shopping during the event. The E-Commerce Times checked in with experts in the field to see what's driving this shopping phenomenon. [More...]

Last month's ruling by the Supreme Court in Google LLC v. Oracle America Inc. ended 10 years of tortuous litigation. While the Court definitively addressed the dispute between the two high tech giants, it put aside answering one critical infringement factor. Still, the ruling appeared to reduce the legal leverage available to software developers who seek copyright protection. [More...]