Artificial intelligence is opening up new possibilities in e-commerce: creating images, presenting products, automating tasks and improving customer communication. These tools can be useful for smaller retailers as well as large brands.
My view: use them thoughtfully. Too much automation can feel generic or irritate customers. Some tools already deliver impressive results, but they need a clear purpose and human direction.
1. AI image generation
Strong visuals help people understand and remember your offer. AI can support the development of campaign images and creative ideas:
- Midjourney supports creative image generation and visual exploration for marketing concepts.
- Stable Diffusion Web provides an accessible interface for experimenting with AI-generated images.
- fal.ai offers media generation and processing through APIs. This creates opportunities to integrate visual workflows into a store or marketing process.
2. Shopify apps for product visualisation
Product imagery is a major part of your store’s presentation. Tools can help produce a more consistent appearance or let customers explore products interactively.
- PhotoFixer & BG Remover supports product image editing and background removal.
- Angle 3D Configurator provides interactive product views, useful when details need to be seen from several angles.
- Spiff 3D combines product personalisation with configuration and fulfilment workflows. Its integration options can support more specific requirements.
3. Funnels: from first contact to purchase
A funnel describes the journey from an interested prospect to a paying customer. It can begin well before someone reaches your store.
- Awareness: people discover your offer through social posts, advertising or other channels.
- Interest: they explore a product, read an article or follow your business.
- Decision: they assess whether to buy. Product information, reviews, testimonials and relevant offers can help.
Read more about funnels (German)
Tools that can support the process
- Apollo.io combines prospecting and sales workflow tools, with AI-assisted features to help teams organise their approach.
- Expandi.io offers tools for LinkedIn outreach workflows. Any use should respect platform rules, privacy requirements and the recipient’s experience.
- ManyChat supports automated conversations on channels such as Instagram, for example to answer questions or guide interested customers to relevant information.
Start with a concept
AI can help create visuals, improve product presentation and support customer journeys. But a collection of tools is not a strategy. Test a few relevant ideas, assess the results and decide what improves the experience for your customers. Too much automation can have the opposite effect.
We help turn useful ideas into a workable concept. Which tools have you tried, and what has worked for you? We would be interested to hear about your experience.
