Latest news with #digitalretail
Globe and Mail
03-07-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Did Amazon Just Say "Checkmate" to The Trade Desk?
Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) made a name for itself by leading not just one industry, but two. The company, known for its smiley-faced delivery boxes, has long been the dominant force in e-commerce as the world's largest digital retailer. If that weren't enough, Amazon Web Services (AWS) is the undisputed leader of the cloud computing industry it pioneered. In recent years, Amazon has been focused on an area that has become the company's fastest-growing business: advertising. What began as a way for Amazon to capitalize on the digital real estate on its website is now getting an increasing amount of attention and resources. In fact, a couple of recent developments have put Amazon on a collision course with The Trade Desk (NASDAQ: TTD), one of the leading names in programmatic advertising. Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Continue » Did Amazon just say "checkmate" to The Trade Desk? Let's see what the evidence reveals. Poaching customers? The Trade Desk is the leading independent provider of programmatic advertising services via its demand-side platform (DSP). This self-serve platform helps advertisers and ad agencies purchase digital advertising space and provides a magnitude of data and analytics to track progress and help manage their ad campaigns. What sets The Trade Desk apart in the digital advertising space is its industry-leading technology and the long-term partnerships it has forged with the world's largest ad agencies. Furthermore, each of the "walled gardens" -- including Alphabet 's Google, Meta Platforms, and Amazon -- has a vested interest in directing ads to their own sites, creating a clear conflict of interest. The Trade Desk's independence has helped attract new business and fuel its impressive growth streak, as the stock has surged 2,350% since the company's IPO in late 2016. However, evidence suggests Amazon is doing its level best to poach The Trade Desk's customers. A recent report by Adweek suggested that marketers have been moving millions of dollars in ad spending from The Trade Desk to Amazon. Advertisers have been attracted by cut-rate pricing, the growing reach of Prime Video, and access to the company's exclusive live sports programming, according to the report. On its own, this normally wouldn't raise an eyebrow, but Amazon recently made another move that suggests the company is coming for The Trade Desk. An eye-opening partnership Last month, Amazon announced a strategic partnership with Roku (NASDAQ: ROKU) that will provide advertisers with access to "the largest authenticated connected TV (CTV) footprint in the U.S. exclusively through Amazon DSP," according to the press release. It goes on to note that the pair reaches an estimated 80 million CTV households, representing more than 80% of all CTV households in the country. The partnership includes many of the most popular streaming channels, including ad-supported offerings by most of the major players. Early results are impressive. Advertisers using this new integration reached 40% more unique viewers with the same budget. Perhaps more importantly, it reduced the number of times a person saw the same ad by almost 30%, solving a common problem in CTV advertising. Roku's reach in the U.S. is undeniable. The streaming pioneer closed out 2024 with roughly 90 million streaming households and more than 34 billion streaming hours -- which works out to more than four hours of viewing per household per day. Does this spell trouble for The Trade Desk? It's important to view these developments in the context of the overall trajectory of the industry. Total ad spending has doubled since 2016 and is expected to climb roughly 9% and surpass $1 trillion in 2025, according to eMarketer. Digital advertising is the fastest-growing segment of the industry, accounting for roughly $764 billion in ad spending this year. The growing market size represents a greater opportunity for all the major adtech players. Wall Street seems to have mixed feelings about these developments. Analysts at MoffettNathanson believe this shows that Amazon is "chipping away" at The Trade Desk's moat. On the other hand, analysts at Citi cite channel checks in concluding that The Trade Desk is "the clear market share leader" and best-performing DSP. Despite the growing competition, analysts at Evercore ISI posit that Google might actually have more to lose, since more of its business overlaps with that of Amazon. So, did Amazon just say "checkmate" to The Trade Desk? I would respond with a resounding "no." During the period in which Amazon was reportedly siphoning away "millions" from The Trade Desk, Amazon grew its advertising sales 18% year over year, while The Trade Desk's revenue grew 25%. This helps to illustrate that this isn't a zero-sum game, and there will no doubt be more than one winner. Furthermore, The Trade Desk recently released its cutting-edge Kokai platform, which integrates artificial intelligence (AI) throughout the ad buying process, providing greater transparency and better outcomes for users. Given The Trade Desk's industry-leading market share, state-of-the-art technology, and enduring relationships with ad agencies, I would argue that The Trade Desk remains ahead of the game. And, at 34 times next year's earnings, the stock is trading at a significant discount to its three-year average, representing a compelling opportunity at today's price. Don't miss this second chance at a potentially lucrative opportunity Ever feel like you missed the boat in buying the most successful stocks? Then you'll want to hear this. On rare occasions, our expert team of analysts issues a 'Double Down' stock recommendation for companies that they think are about to pop. If you're worried you've already missed your chance to invest, now is the best time to buy before it's too late. And the numbers speak for themselves: Nvidia: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2009, you'd have $397,573!* Apple: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2008, you'd have $39,453!* Netflix: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2004, you'd have $697,627!* Right now, we're issuing 'Double Down' alerts for three incredible companies, available when you join Stock Advisor, and there may not be another chance like this anytime soon. See the 3 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of June 30, 2025 John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Citigroup is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Randi Zuckerberg, a former director of market development and spokeswoman for Facebook and sister to Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Danny Vena has positions in Alphabet, Amazon, Meta Platforms, Roku, and The Trade Desk. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Amazon, Meta Platforms, Roku, and The Trade Desk. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Zawya
02-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
UAE leads world in mobile shopping: Visa Acceptance Solutions
Dubai, UAE: The UAE has emerged as the world's leading market for mobile shopping, according to the 2025 Global Digital Shopping Index, UAE edition, commissioned by Visa Acceptance Solutions and conducted by PYMNTS Intelligence. Drawing on insights from a survey of 1,679 consumers and 329 merchants in the UAE, the report examines the growing role that mobile devices play in consumer behavior, providing UAE retailers insights to deliver more convenient and secure shopping experiences for their customers. Key findings: 67% of UAE consumers used their phones as part of their latest retail purchase - marking a 23% increase since 2022. UAE has the highest rate of online shopping with mobile devices, at 37%, ahead of Singapore (34.8%), the U.K. (27.6%), and Brazil (24.4%). 32% of UAE consumers surveyed used biometric authentication (such as fingerprint or facial recognition) for their latest online retail transaction, far exceeding the global average of 17%. 53% of UAE consumers want to use cross-channel shopping (across physical and digital channels and different devices), the second-highest rate globally. UAE shoppers rank among the highest worldwide in preferring rewards programs (75%), free shipping (73%), and price matching (70%). 38% of UAE shoppers made their most recent retail purchase online through a mobile phone or computer for home delivery. These trends are supported by a robust business and regulatory environment, with UAE merchants and government working closely to deliver secure, seamless, and customer-centric digital payment experiences. 'The UAE's approach shows what is possible when all stakeholders work together to build the future of commerce. Visa is delighted to contribute to the UAE government's digital commerce agenda, and we remain committed to working with local businesses and banks to introduce innovations such as Visa's Click to Pay that can deliver the digital payment experiences that today's consumers demand," said Salima Gutieva, Visa's Vice President and Country Manager for UAE. Demographics Consistently high rates of mobile shopping across demographic segments underscore just how universal the mobile-first mindset has become in the UAE. Millennials lead in mobile shopping at 73%, while Generation Z trails Generation X slightly. Baby boomers and seniors dropping off sharply, with just 18% using a mobile phone for their latest purchase. What this means for UAE businesses Retailers in the UAE can drive sales by ensuring their customers have frictionless payment and checkout experiences. Offering a wide range of payment options is crucial, as 77% of UAE shoppers say this factor influences where they shop. Also, just over one in four UAE consumers surveyed used credentials stored with the merchant for their most recent transaction, compared to 45% for the study average. These findings suggest that retailers should look for ways to make their stored credential offerings more appealing, while also providing the one-click options and biometric authentication that many UAE consumers prefer at checkout. To accelerate the digital transformation of retail, Visa is working with local partners to roll out Visa Click to Pay, which streamlines online shopping by providing advanced checkout experiences, eliminating the need to manually enter card details. At participating eCommerce platforms, consumers can simply click the Click to Pay button to complete their purchase quickly and securely use their preferred Visa card and shipping address. Visa's Click to Pay relies on tokenization as well as biometric authentication to protect consumer data. Biometric authentication is performed on the consumer's device and does not require the transfer of any biometric information. About the Report Findings are based on the 2025 Global Digital Shopping Index, which surveyed 18,468 consumers and 3,464 merchants across eight countries (U.S., U.K., Brazil, Mexico, Singapore, Australia, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE) between October and December 2024. For the UAE edition, 1,679 consumers and 329 merchants were surveyed. About Visa Inc. Visa (NYSE: V) is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. We believe that economies that include everyone everywhere, uplift everyone everywhere and see access as foundational to the future of money movement. Learn more at About PYMNTS Intelligence PYMNTS Intelligence is a leading global data and analytics platform that uses proprietary data and methods to provide actionable insights on what's now and what's next in payments, commerce and the digital economy. Its team of data scientists include leading economists, econometricians, survey experts, financial analysts, and marketing scientists with deep experience in the application of data to the issues that define the future of the digital transformation of the global economy. This multi-lingual team has conducted original data collection and analysis in more than three dozen global markets for some of the world's leading publicly traded and privately held firms.
Zawya
27-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Riyadh-based BirdEye closes funding to promote retail digital transformation
Riyadh – Saudi Arabia-based BirdEye has raised SAR 2.2 million ($586,000) in a pre-seed round from a private tech-focused fund, according to a press release. Founded in November 2024 by Abdullah bin Omairah and Abdulrahman Al Hassan, BirdEye will use the investment to scale its digital retail platform across Saudi Arabia and expand its team with local talent. It will also back the startup's plans to launch new tech products for retailers and recruit local talent in software development, sales, marketing, and UX design. BirdEye offers a user-friendly, intelligent platform that enables retailers to manage their daily operations and compete in a retail technology ecosystem. In line with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 goals, the company aims to empower small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with efficient and accessible tech tools to drive digital transformation. All Rights Reserved - Mubasher Info © 2005 - 2022 Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Wamda
26-05-2025
- Business
- Wamda
BirdEye raises $586,000 to drive retail digital transformation in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia-based BirdEye has raised $586,000 in a pre-seed round from a private tech-focused fund. Launched in November 2024 by Abdullah Bin Omairah and Abdulrahman Al Hassan, BirdEye provides an easy-to-use platform for retailers to manage operations and stay competitive. Its solutions support small and medium-sized businesses undergoing digital transformation. The capital will help the startup scale its digital retail platform across Saudi Arabia and expand its team with local talent. Press release: BirdEye, a Saudi-based retail tech startup, has successfully closed a SAR 2.2 million ($586,000) pre-seed funding round. The investment was led by a private fund with a focus on local technology ventures, underscoring growing investor confidence in digital retail solutions tailored to Saudi Arabia's evolving market. Founded in November 2024 by Abdullah Bin Omairah and Abdulrahman Al Hassan, BirdEye provides a user-friendly, intelligent platform that helps retailers manage their daily operations and compete in an increasingly digital landscape. The company is aligned with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 goals, aiming to empower small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with efficient, accessible digital tools. The newly secured funding will fuel BirdEye's plans to expand across the Kingdom, roll out new tech products for retailers, and recruit local talent in software development, sales, marketing, and UX design. By supporting merchants through every stage of their digital transformation, BirdEye seeks to become a central player in Saudi Arabia's retail technology ecosystem.
