New Ecommerce Tools: April 29, 2024

Every week we publish a rundown of new products from companies offering services to ecommerce and omnichannel merchants. This installment includes updates on drone deliveries, AI, social commerce, composable commerce, fulfillment, and cross-border payments.

Got an ecommerce product release? Email releases@practicalecommerce.com.

New Tools for Merchants: April 29

Amazon drone delivery is coming to Arizona. Amazon is expanding its Prime Air drone deliveries to the west valley of metro Phoenix, Arizona. Drones will deploy from facilities next to a same-day delivery site in Tolleson, a suburb. The smaller site is a hybrid: part fulfillment center, part delivery station. Amazon is working with the FAA and officials in Tolleson to conduct the deliveries. Amazon is also running flight tests for its new MK30 drone with advanced safety features, quieter mechanics, and enhanced distance.

HubSpot launches features and updates. At its Spotlight showcase, HubSpot announced Service Hub and Content Hub, Commerce Hub globally, and new AI features. Service Hub, powered by HubSpot AI, provides a help desk with real-time ticket updates, omnichannel conversations, routing tools, and more. Content Hub includes AI content creation, content remix, brand voice, and audio tooling. Commerce Hub includes local payment methods, QuickBooks integration, and enhanced tools for invoices, subscriptions, and payments.

FastSpring and Ebanx expand payments for digital products in Brazil. FastSpring, a merchant of record for global SaaS and software companies, and Ebanx, a global payment provider for rising markets, have partnered to enhance users’ payment experience within FastSpring’s product suite in Latin America. FastSpring’s platform will integrate with Ebanx’s Pix payment processing capabilities, enabling global SaaS, software, video game, and digital product companies to offer Pix payments to Brazil-based customers.

CedCommerce launches TikTok Shop connector for Shopify sellers. CedCommerce, a multichannel ecommerce enabler, has launched a TikTok Shop Connector for Shopify sellers. This connector syncs Shopify stores and TikTok Shop, providing sellers with a tool to synchronize product catalogs, manage inventory levels, and import orders directly into the Shopify store. Merchants can list products in bulk with a single click, maintain control over inventory levels, simplify order processing and fulfillment directly from the Shopify interface, and more.

FedEx partners with Zonos to tackle customs challenges for U.K. and E.U. retailers. FedEx Express has partnered with Zonos, a provider of cross-border technology, to enhance the global online shopping experience by creating transparency on customs processes and charges. Zonos’s automated solutions inform shoppers of the total cost of purchases, allowing them to pay all duties, taxes, and fees at checkout. Additionally, the collaboration offers solutions to automate compliance for cross-border tax scheme collection and remittance and the E.U.’s Import Control System 2 requirements.

WordPress VIP releases VIP API Mesh for composable experiences. WordPress VIP, a provider of enterprise WordPress and part of Automattic’s suite of brands, has announced VIP API Mesh, powered by TakeShape. API Mesh ties multiple backend systems with a composable frontend. According to WordPress VIP, API Mesh helps organizations build customer experiences faster, reduce costs, and increase performance — providing faster and more diverse system integrations, deep integration with the WordPress Block Editor, and built-in caching, indexing, retry logic, and troubleshooting.

Firework releases Instagram Uploader for social content and ecommerce integration. Firework, a video commerce and engagement platform for brands and retailers, has launched Instagram Uploader, a tool to transform social media content into shoppable video hosted on a brand’s own website. The Instagram Uploader integrates Instagram with the Firework portal, allowing brands to convert existing Instagram stories, posts, and reels into shoppable video experiences. The tool also gives retailers a new way to repurpose user-generated content on Instagram.

Brightwell launches cross-border payments platform Latitude. Global payments technology company Brightwell has launched Latitude, a platform that enables businesses to deliver cross-border payments to their customers tailored to their specific currency, location, and payment method. Customers receive a personalized URL link with multiple payout and currency options, giving them flexibility and transparency into the reimbursement process and choice of how they are paid. Brightwell states Latitude is a fully managed program with no code needed.

Faire introduces Open with Faire Academy for wholesale merchants. Faire, a marketplace platform to connect retailers with wholesalers, has released Open with Faire Academy, an online guide to opening a store. Open with Faire Academy was created with input from Faire retailers as a one-stop resource hub to help entrepreneurs with the fundamentals of opening a retail store. From creating a business plan to getting funding to finding a location, aspiring retailers can access on-demand resources from the Faire community.

TikTok launches Preowned Luxury category. TikTok has announced the launch of the Preowned Luxury category on TikTok Shop. The category will enable used fashion providers to reach a new audience, enabling followers to browse and purchase authentic luxury fashion without leaving TikTok. The Preowned Luxury category will launch in partnership with five brands: Luxe Collective, Sellier Knightsbridge, Sign of the Times, Hardley Ever Worn It, and Break Archive.

Stripe announces 50 new features and updates, including AI-powered payments. Stripe has announced over 50 new features at its annual user conference last week. Stripe’s Optimized Checkout Suite enables businesses such as OpenAI, Slack, and River Island to build a high-performing checkout flow, using AI to determine which payment methods to show for any given customer. Stripe has launched AI-powered features such as Radar Assistant to combat fraud and upgrades to Connect, now with 17 embedded components, including 10 for payments.