Breaking News
TikTok prepares standalone US app
TikTok wants to circumvent the impending ban in the US by developing an app version specifically for the US with its own algorithm and based exclusively on US data. Malte Karstan sees this as a possible end to TikTok as we know it. Meanwhile, US President Trump wants to continue negotiations with China on a sale to a US-led joint venture. More at Reuters and on LinkedIn (Malte Karstan).
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SMEs sell on Amazon worldwide
More than 80% of the approximately 47,000 small and medium-sized businesses that sell on Amazon do so worldwide. Their export sales rose by around €200 million to €5.7 billion in 2024, reaching a new record high. More at About Amazon (German)
Tesco offers logistics services for marketplace sellers
The British supermarket chain and online marketplace has opened a new automated distribution center near Southhampton. The site can distribute 600.000 orders per day and is intended to handle marketplace SKUs. So far, the Tesco marketplace has been a classic dropshipment platform, but now the retailer seems to take more stakes into direct marketplace logistics. More on LinkedIn
Temu now ventures into the food market
As cheap non-food imports from China become more difficult, Temu is looking to become an FMCG player in Europe. The Chinese platform is already approaching local suppliers of food and cosmetics in Germany. Get more at Retaildetail
Amazon focuses on fast food delivery
In the UK, Amazon is now delivering food nationwide within 60 minutes, and in some cases even within 15 minutes, in collaboration with the fast delivery service Gopuff. See more on ChannelX.
Marketplaces are turning to AIZalando has expanded its AI-powered size guide to include a personalized avatar for virtual try-ons and is also experimenting with AI-based makeup testing. Digitec Galaxus uses AI for product recommendations, pricing, logistics optimization, and fraud prevention. And its competitor Brack.ch uses AI features to optimize its search algorithms, recommendations, and customer service. See more on Stores-Shops (Zalando; German) and on HHandelszeitung (Geman)
AI News
Perplexity takes on GoogleAI company Perplexity has launched its own AI-powered web browser. “Comet” includes the Perplexity AI search engine as standard and prominently displays AI-generated search summaries in the browser. Perplexity aims to challenge Google’s dominance in the search and browsing space. However, it is currently only available to selected subscribers. Perplexity has also introduced its first ad format, “sponsored follow-up questions.” More at PPC (Comet browser) and Business Insider (ad format)
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