Today on our show:

• Salesforce to acquire Informatica
• Social Commerce Panel Reveals Influencer Importance
• Lowes Launches Its Marketplace
• Tariff Feud Event with Passport Recap

- and finally, The Investor Minute which contains 5 items this week from the world of venture capital, acquisitions, and IPOs.

Today's episode is sponsored by Mirakl.

https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ecommerce-podcast-watsonweekly

In this special CEO spotlight edition of the Watson Weekly, host Rick Watson welcomes Scott Eckert, newly appointed CEO of Mirakl, for an inside look at how his leadership is poised to accelerate Mirakl’s role at the heart of modern commerce.

With a distinguished career spanning innovation leadership roles at Dell, Rethink Robotics, and Walmart’s Store No. 8, Scott brings deep experience navigating the intersection of scale, agility, and emerging technology. Now at Mirakl, he’s guiding a platform that is redefining how retailers, brands, and third-party sellers thrive in an increasingly ecosystem-driven world.

💡 Key Themes Include:

• Scott’s journey from enterprise innovation to platform leadership
• Why now is a pivotal moment for marketplaces and retail media
• Mirakl’s vision: enabling, not owning, the commerce ecosystem
• How AI and first-party data are reshaping competitive advantage
• Building a flywheel for retailers, sellers, and consumers alike

💬 Scott also shares:

• What drew him to Mirakl at this stage of his career
• His priorities for Mirakl in the next 12 months
• What U.S. retailers must get right when launching a marketplace
• Why platform thinking beats platform ownership in today’s landscape

https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ecommerce-podcast-watsonweekly

Today on our show:

• Rapid Fire Headline Update
• Shopify Releases Its Summer Editions

- and finally, The Investor Minute which contains 5 items this week from the world of venture capital, acquisitions, and IPOs.

Today's episode is sponsored by Mirakl.

https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ecommerce-podcast-watsonweekly

Today’s Watson Weekly is a special edition that is one of a series of three interviews recorded at Shopware’s Partner Day on April 24th, 2025. These were recorded in the basement of a German beer hall and restaurant, so I think those interested in the digital commerce complexity of serving manufacturers and distributors should find it a lot of fun.

In the final installment of our Shopware Partner Day series, Rick Watson chats with Ashley Laing of Pimcore to uncover how product information management is reshaping complex B2B ecosystems. From managing fitment data in industrial catalogs to orchestrating multi-channel content for sales, customer care, and ecommerce, Pimcore is tackling the data mess head-on. Ashley shares his global journey from consultant to VP, explains how AI is transforming catalog digitization, and offers strategic guidance for companies that are "too hard to do business with." Expect practical takeaways for building buyer-ready systems and future-proofing your product data stack.

📘 Curious how regulated complexity meets composable tech? Don’t miss Shopware’s whitepaper: Winning B2B in Regulated Industries

https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ecommerce-podcast-watsonweekly

Today on our show:

• Amazon Announces New AI Tool to Enhance Product Listings
• Venture Capital Dominated by AI Right Now
• FedEx and Amazon Strike Up a Partnership
• Klaviyo Reports Q1 2025 Earnings

- and finally, The Investor Minute which contains 5 items this week from the world of venture capital, acquisitions, and IPOs.

Today's episode is sponsored by Mirakl.

https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ecommerce-podcast-watsonweekly

Today’s Watson Weekly is a special edition that is one of a series of three interviews recorded at Shopware’s Partner Day on April 24th, 2025. These were recorded in the basement of a German beer hall and restaurant, so I think those interested in the digital commerce complexity of serving manufacturers and distributors should find it a lot of fun.

Rick Watson sits down with Aysnd’s leadership duo, Carrie Weidenbach and Chris Harrison, for a conversation that dives into purpose-driven digital transformation. Broadcasting from the Shopware Partner Day beer hall, the trio discusses Aysnd’s mission to help brands with complex commerce needs—particularly in regulated industries. From global eCommerce replatforming at AB InBev to real-time prioritization frameworks and the value of first-party data, this episode is packed with insights on how to move fast, test smart, and build agile systems without sacrificing long-term goals. If you're navigating transformation in uncertain times, this one's for you.

📘 For more on how commerce is evolving in regulated sectors, check out Shopware’s whitepaper: Winning B2B in Regulated Industries

https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ecommerce-podcast-watsonweekly

In this week’s Watson Weekly, we will discuss Fidji Simo is out at Instacart CEO to join OpenAI. This is a huge feather in Simo’s cap and leaves an opening at Instacart which I predict will be filled by their Chief Product Officer Daniel Danker. Not only did Danker and Simo overlap from their time at Facebook, but Danker was promoted by Simo into his current role as Chief Product Officer.

You’ll find this and other stories every Monday morning on the Watson Weekly, headed straight to your earhole wherever you get your favorite podcasts.

Today on our show:

• Shopify Needs Incentive Alignment to Win in Enterprise
• 3 Notables From BigCommerce earnings call
• Instacart CEO Departs for OpenAI
• Shopify Reports Solid Earnings Amid Global Uncertainty

- and finally, The Investor Minute which contains 5 items this week from the world of venture capital, acquisitions, and IPOs.

Today's episode is sponsored by Mirakl.

https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ecommerce-podcast-watsonweekly

Today’s Watson Weekly is a special edition that is one of a series of three interviews recorded at Shopware’s Partner Day on April 24th, 2025. These were recorded in the basement of a German beer hall and restaurant, so I think those interested in the digital commerce complexity of serving manufacturers and distributors should find it a lot of fun.

In this special edition of the Watson Weekly, Rick Watson heads to the basement of a German beer hall at Shopware's Partner Day to sit down with Rob Miller of Smith Commerce. Together, they explore the intricacies of modern B2B digital commerce—from account hierarchy challenges and dynamic pricing rules to the evolving role of CRM. Rob shares real-world insights from years of working with wholesale distributors and manufacturers, including the critical role of AI in orchestrating complex systems. Tune in for a grounded, behind-the-scenes take on the future of enterprise commerce and why embracing change is easier than ever before.

📘 Learn more about the structural shifts in B2B and private equity’s role in transformation with Shopware’s whitepaper: Winning B2B in the Age of Private Equity

https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ecommerce-podcast-watsonweekly