Time waits for no one – a saying that rings truer than ever. It feels like just yesterday we welcomed the New Year, and now, we are wrapping up the first month, with the eCommerce Industry constantly evolving, delivering innovations and updates at lightning speed. With that in mind, we bring you the first edition of this year’s eCommerce updates.
Buckle up, because the journey is just getting started!
Platform Updates
Adobe’s Latest Updates: AI-Driven Efficiency for Premiere Pro, After Effects, and Frame.io
Adobe has announced major updates to Premiere Pro (beta), After Effects (beta), and Frame.io aimed at streamlining workflows and saving time for video professionals.
- Premiere Pro (beta): This new AI-powered search recognizes objects, locations, and camera angles in your videos enabling you to search for visuals, spoken words, or metadata without the internet. The update also features Caption Translation, which supports 17 languages and streamlines multilingual editing.
- After effects (beta): Enhanced caching improves playback for complex compositions, even on older machines. HDR monitoring ensures accurate color for PQ and HLG video with enhanced video scopes.
- Frame.io: This update of Camera to Cloud integration now works with Canon C80 and C400 cameras, enabling instant proxy uploads.
File Picker For Streamlined Image Management Now Available in Shopify Admin
Shopify now lets you add images to product variants individually or in bulk, enhancing customer experience by showcasing specific variant images. You can upload new images or select from existing ones directly in the Shopify admin under the product’s Variant section. While only one image per variant is supported, merchants on Plus plans can use the Shopify Combined Listing App to combine products for additional image options. In addition, to protect your images consider adding a watermark using apps from the Shopify App Store.
Shopify Updates Checkout Blocks
During the past month, Shopify updated the Checkout Block Apps, transitioning it from a sales channel to an app listed in the Apps section of the admin panel. Previously, Checkout Blocks appeared under every sales channel publication card, including products, collections, and discounts. This update simplifies the way merchants interact with Checkout Blocks, unifying its management within the Apps area.
Merchants on the Basic Shopify plan can use blocks in the “Thank You” and “Order Status” pages while full features are exclusive to Shopify Plus users.
Authenticated Checkouts Now Available For All Shopify Plans
Shopify has introduced continuous cart authentication, permitting authenticated customers to seamlessly proceed from the cart to logged-in checkout without re-entering credentials.
To enable this, developers must append the customerAccessToken to the Buyer identity Object in the Storefront API cart and include the buyer’s IP address in server-side requests.
Authenticated checkouts are now available for merchants on all plans and customer account versions, eliminating the need for Multipass ( exclusive to Shopify Plus previously). Additionally, mobile app merchants can use the Checkout Sheet Kit to create authenticated checkout experiences.
Industry Updates
WhatsApp Rolls Out New Creative Features: Effects and Stickers
WhatsApp recently launched new features to enhance user experience.
- Camera Effects: Users can now apply 30 different backgrounds, filters, and effects to photos and videos taken within the chat allowing them to unleash their creativity.
- Selfie Stickers: This new feature allows users to create personalized stickers from their selfies. By tapping the Create Sticker icon and selecting the camera option, users can click a selfie and transform it into a sticker. This feature is currently available on Android phones and will be available on iOS soon.
Instagram Unveils New Feature: Edits
Instagram has announced “Edits”, a new video-editing app designed to enhance content creation for mobile users. It is positioned as an alternative to apps like CapCut, Edits offers a comprehensive suite of creative tools, including AI powered animations, generative captions, and various overlays such as text, sound, filters, voice effects, stickers, etc. With this new feature, users can now edit videos up to 10 minutes long and access features like a dedicated tab for trending audio, idea tracking, and analytics for Reels. The update is currently available for pre-order on the App Store. It is expected to launch in February 2025.
YouTube Premium Users To Receive New Features and Updates
YouTube recently announced new features and experiments for Premium subscribers, enhancing their viewing experience.
- High-Quality Audio: Viewers can now enjoy 256kbps audio on music videos for better viewing experience.
- Picture-in-Picture for YouTube Shorts in iOS: Apple users can watch Shorts while multitasking on their devices.
- Smart Downloads For YouTube Shorts on iOS: This feature automatically downloads recommended shorts for later viewing.
- “Jump Ahead” on the Web: Users can easily skip to “Key moments” while viewing on a web browser.
- Faster Playback Speeds on Mobile: Adjust playback speeds up to 4x on mobile devices for a more customized viewing experience.
Instagram Increases Reels Duration to Three Minutes For Enhanced Creativity
Instagram has officially extended its Reel duration from 90 seconds to 3 minutes. This update provides content creators with more control giving them the opportunity to produce longer and more engaging content on the platform. Adam Mosseri, Head of Instagram, shared that this extension allows creators to better engage their audience with longer videos while maintaining the interactive short-form nature of Reels.
X Unveils 2025 Marketing Calendar For Strategic Planning
X has released its 2025 marketing calendar, offering an interactive overview of key events and dates. This enables marketers to plan relevant content aligned with significant dates and events. The calendar features an interactive interface allowing users to tap on specific dates for more information regarding the event. In addition, the interface offers regional versions to enable filters by event type. Furthermore, the “Download View” option provides a basic listing of key dates within the set timeframe.
Upcoming Events
Meet Magento Florida 2025
This is a two-day event for the Adobe Commerce community, including merchants, developers, and industry leaders. The event aims to provide insights into the eCommerce industry and professional development in the field.
Date: 5-6th February, 2025
Location: Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood – Hollywood, Florida
Register: https://meetmagentofl.com/
E-commerce Berlin Expo
The eCommerce Berlin Expo is a major B2B event for eCommerce professionals. It features over 290 exhibitors and draws over 1100 participants. The expo is ideal for retailers, brands, service providers, and industry professionals.
Date: 19th-20th February, 2025
Location: STATION Berlin, Luckenwalder Str. 4-6
Register: https://ecommerceberlin.com/
Hyvä Developers Paradise 2025
This key Magento and Adobe Commerce Community event will feature training sessions, showcases, workshops, and ample networking opportunities for developers and eCommerce communities. It is designed to share insights about Hyvä themes and Magento development.
Date: 27th February – 1st March, 2025
Location: Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
Register: https://www.hyvadevparadise.com/
Retail Leadership Summit 2025
The Retail Leadership Summit 2025 is organized by the Retailers Association of India. The event will bring together industry leaders to discuss trends in retail, omnichannel strategies, and innovations.
Date: 27th-28th February, 2025
Location: Hall no. 6, Bombay Exhibition Centre, Mumbai
Register: https://www.rls.net.in/
Ecommerce Experience Evolution (EEE)
This premier event for eCommerce professionals is to connect, learn and grow. It features industry leaders who will be sharing insights on building successful eCommerce businesses. Attendees can network and gain actionable strategies for scaling their brand.
Date: 28th February, 2025
Location: Miami, FL
Register: https://eeemiami.com/
