Most AI vendor evaluations chase ROI projections. Peak International ran a single, real-world test instead — pitting an internal build against an external platform — and it settled the debate no slide deck could.
As discovery starts to converge with answer engines, the old challenge of creating a unified shopping experience between channels will intensify. With AI and machine learning, “the customer may simply explain what they are looking for, and let the system narrow it down,” explains Andros Tiong, Regional Director, DTC - Retail & Omni Channel SEA at ASICS Corporation.
The 2026 World Cup produced a record surge in sports betting acquisition spending — and, according to TrafficGuard's data, a significant share of it may never have reached a genuinely new customer.
As buyers delay contacting vendors until deep into their decision-making, the real constraint on personalisation isn't technology — it's trust.
Brand preference doesn’t disappear, but it splits into two audiences. The consumer still forms the preference. They decide which brands they trust enough to let an agent act for them, and that decision stays emotional and human, says Brian Kealey, Managing Director, APAC, Klaviyo.
As AI agents like Alexa for Shopping and Walmart's Sparky curate shortlists rather than search pages, brands need answer-engine optimisation to be seen.
Are APAC shoppers excited about BFCM? The western shopping trend may not hold a candle to China’s Single’s Day but brands still see it as the largest growth market
Martechvibe chatted with Singapore-based Sathya Anand, Digital Strategy Director at Iris, about how brands can create sustainable value for customers.
