The Echidna Blog

Quoting is not the reason your products cannot be sold online. Unexamined quoting workflows are. Sort your order volume honestly, move the standard majority to self-service, give the negotiated remainder a visible digital workflow, and measure quote abandonment the way you measure cart abandonment.

B2B site search fails when it speaks catalog language instead of buyer language. The evidence is sitting in your search logs right now, and most of the fixes are content and configuration work, not a replatform.

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We rank nine real use cases by whether they are delivering ROI in production today, whether they are conditionally working depending on the substrate underneath, or whether they remain experimental for most enterprise teams. The framing matters. Investing in a use case in the wrong bucket is how AI budgets quietly disappear in year two.

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After working with enterprise B2B commerce teams for seventeen years, including most of the past three years deep in AI implementation work, a pattern is clear. The companies pulling ahead are not the ones investing the most in AI. They are the ones operating with the clearest framework for what AI is actually changing in commerce, and what it is not.

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AI commerce features rarely succeed or fail cleanly. They tend to deliver real value in narrow places and underperform in others, with the net result obscured by attribution challenges, attribution overlap with other initiatives, and metrics that were not set up at the start of the project to answer the question that finance is now asking.

The teams that hold up well in their year-two budget conversations are not the ones with the biggest results. They are the ones with the clearest measurement. Six metrics, in our experience working with enterprise B2B commerce organizations, cover the picture honestly. Together they tell finance whether the AI investment is paying back, where it is leaking, and what to fund next.

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A failed or underperforming integration does not just delay your go-live. It creates ongoing operational drag that undermines the business case for the entire commerce investment — for years. This guide gives enterprise teams a practical framework for evaluating integration partners: what to look for, what to ask, and what answers should give you pause.

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Enterprise eCommerce integration projects have a failure rate that the industry does not talk about enough. Failure as in the integration was built, went live, and then proceeded to quietly undermine the commerce experience it was supposed to power. These are not edge cases. They are the normal outcome of integrations that were designed without enough rigor, implemented without enough governance, or handed off to teams who lacked the context to maintain them.

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B2B eCommerce integration is not a technical afterthought. It is the connective tissue that determines whether your commerce platform works as a real business capability or as an expensive storefront with a broken backend.

The organizations that treat integration as a strategic investment — architecting it deliberately, governing it continuously, and partnering with specialists who understand the complexity — are the ones whose commerce channels actually deliver the ROI they were promised.

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Most B2B eCommerce projects launch. Few scale. The difference is strategy—defined before the platform is chosen and executed long after go-live.

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Most B2B eCommerce sites look fine and perform poorly. Here's what enterprise buyers need from a digital commerce experience—and where most designs fail.

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Boomi is how Echidna builds that foundation. Not as a simple data pipe — but as the central nervous system of the enterprise, transforming and cleaning data in transit, enabling parallel workstreams, and making it possible to modernize legacy systems without replacing them.

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Choosing the wrong platform costs millions and years. This guide walks through the evaluation criteria that actually matter for enterprise B2B organizations.

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Enterprise eCommerce integration projects have a failure rate that the industry does not talk about enough. Failure as in the integration was built, went live, and then proceeded to quietly undermine the commerce experience it was supposed to power. These are not edge cases. They are the normal outcome of integrations that were designed without enough rigor, implemented without enough governance, or handed off to teams who lacked the context to maintain them.

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Boomi is how Echidna builds that foundation. Not as a simple data pipe — but as the central nervous system of the enterprise, transforming and cleaning data in transit, enabling parallel workstreams, and making it possible to modernize legacy systems without replacing them.

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Let’s debunk a popular myth before we start: Continuous innovation is not a one-off event or just a buzzword. It’s not about having that one groundbreaking idea that skyrockets your business to success. True innovation is a continuous process. It’s about applying strategic, tactical, and operational strengths consistently to prepare for future shifts. In a world where technology evolves at breakneck speed, staying relevant requires more than a flash of brilliance. It demands a relentless, ongoing commitment to change.

In recent years, voice search technology has transformed the way people interact with their devices and access information. This innovation allows users to search the internet, control smart home devices, and perform various tasks simply by speaking commands. Voice assistants like Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant have become integral parts of our daily lives, making voice search an essential aspect of modern SEO strategies.

Throughout 2022 and early 2023, there was an explosion of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology that captivated business leaders, investors, and society as a whole with its impressive ability to create new and seemingly human-made text and images.

You know that providing a seamless, personalized experience to your customers is the key to success. With online purchases on the rise and the growing popularity of omnichannel retail, chatbots have become the go-to tool for businesses looking to improve customer service and increase sales.

Construction Specialties has been at the forefront of providing specialty building products worldwide for more than seventy years. With a presence in twenty countries, they have obtained more than 40 registered product patents and produced ten distinct product lines. Their products can be found in or on some of the world's most famous buildings.

With eCommerce sales doubling in the past five years and markets expected to almost double again by 2026, companies are making sizable investments in their eCommerce capabilities.

In a time when every company is digital to some degree, your strategy is the differentiator. The stronger your strategy the easier it is to not only navigate rapid change and innovation, but as a result those companies also see higher conversion rates.

The automotive industry is at a crossroads. One way maintains the current status quo with little room for competitive edges and scalability, while the other path leads to reimagining its core operations and focusing on digital channels. While the latter path might seem intimidating at the moment, it is important to understand that the industry is moving towards digital selling as a business model for both B2B and B2C markets. Choosing to ignore buyer demands can hurt automotive brands in the long term.

We’re living in an accelerated world of eCommerce.

10 years growth in 3 months according to a recent study by Bank of America and Forrester Analytics. While it can be debated how this measured, we can all agree things have changed rapidly in digital.

We knew this year would require brands to work on the ongoing challenge of optimizing the customer experience. However, being able to embrace a customer-first approach through digital operations has turned instrumental for brands in 2020. As merchants work towards the post-coronavirus future, what does that look like?

Quoting is not the reason your products cannot be sold online. Unexamined quoting workflows are. Sort your order volume honestly, move the standard majority to self-service, give the negotiated remainder a visible digital workflow, and measure quote abandonment the way you measure cart abandonment.

B2B site search fails when it speaks catalog language instead of buyer language. The evidence is sitting in your search logs right now, and most of the fixes are content and configuration work, not a replatform.

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When a B2B buyer gets stuck on your site, they do not generally abandon the relationship. The site's conversion rate is technically unaffected, because the buyer never entered the funnel at all. Meanwhile a sales engineer spent part of their afternoon reading a spec sheet aloud. Your support volume is the usability report your analytics cannot produce. Here is how to read it.

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Most B2B eCommerce sites look fine and perform poorly. Here's what enterprise buyers need from a digital commerce experience—and where most designs fail.

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You don’t need another pep talk about “putting the customer first.” You need levers. The good news: modern UX testing tools are exactly that—levers that move revenue, reduce cost-to-serve, and de-risk big bets.

In today’s competitive online market, cutting the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) of your eCommerce platform is critical for long-term profitability. Believe it or not, one of the most effective ways to do that isn’t about the technology—it's about user experience (UX). Here’s how enhancing UX can help you slash costs, boost conversions, and reduce hidden operational drag.

In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, mobile users demand seamless, intuitive experiences. A mobile UX audit is the key to uncovering friction points, optimizing usability, and boosting engagement. Whether you’re launching a new mobile app or optimizing an existing one, following best practices ensures your mobile experience meets user expectations and drives conversions.

Seamless system integration has become foundational for success in B2C and B2B eCommerce. As companies shift to digital-first strategies to remain competitive and responsive to client demands, integrating systems like ERP, CRM, and inventory management is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity.

Once upon a time, the most advanced digital assistant many of us knew was Clippy—the quirky, ever-helpful paperclip in Microsoft Office. For all his flaws, Clippy was groundbreaking: the first mainstream, interactive UX assistant that tried to understand what users were doing and offered guidance (even if often unrequested). Though Clippy fell short in many ways, he introduced the idea of proactive assistance in a digital workspace—a concept that has since evolved dramatically.

The holiday shopping season is already in full swing—don’t panic! There’s still time to make quick, impactful adjustments to your eCommerce site that can help you handle the holiday rush like a pro. 🎁 With these last-minute tips, you can boost site speed, optimize your checkout process, and leverage social media to drive more traffic and sales. Let’s dive into the tweaks you can implement right away to get your site holiday-ready.

The industrial goods sector has seen a significant shift toward eCommerce in recent years, with businesses increasingly turning to online platforms to purchase tools, machinery, and raw materials. However, selling industrial goods online comes with unique challenges—ranging from large and complex product catalogs to diverse customer needs, such as procurement managers, engineers, and technicians seeking highly specific items. In this evolving landscape, AI personalization in industrial goods eCommerce is becoming a key driver for success, as buyers now expect tailored product recommendations, custom pricing, and seamless navigation through large inventories.

In the rapidly evolving world of automotive eCommerce, data-driven decision-making is no longer just an advantage—it's a necessity. With the rise of online vehicle shopping, managing customer expectations, inventory, and competitive pricing has become increasingly complex. Automotive eCommerce managers need more than just intuition to succeed in this environment; they require the power of data to make informed decisions that drive growth and enhance customer experiences.

Echidna Inc. is pleased to announce it has entered into a partnership with VTEX, the world’s first and only fully integrated commerce platform ready for the next age of digital innovation.

There are many reasons manufacturers come to Echidna looking to add or update their eCommerce capability. From limiting technology, product complexities, improving customer experience, or freeing up internal resources - the list can go on. No matter what the reason your organization is looking to implement eCommerce technology, choosing a platform built for the complexity and challenges unique to manufacturers is imperative for the ability to scale and find new opportunities.

eCommerce sales skyrocketed in 2020. In fact, the pandemic accelerated the shift toward eCommerce close to five years, according to a recent study by IBM.

Both B2B and B2C companies shifted gears to cater to COVID-19. Many were forced to find new ways to reach and serve their customers. This meant being flexible and rethinking on how to use technology to help the business deliver.

It is complex and ever-moving, but if you put the pieces together correctly your brand can reap the rewards. By starting with the idea of supporting their customers and internal business units, Construction Specialties is doing just that - and doubling product revenue - with the help of Oracle Commerce Cloud for B2B and Echidna.

Google has officially switched to mobile-first indexing for all websites. This means Google is first looking at your mobile site and using that to based on how it will rank your desktop site according to the information given.

While online shopping is trending up, that also means (unfortunately) cybercriminal activity is too. The multiple criminal groups referred to as Magecart has evolved and grown and hackers are becoming more sophisticated.

It happened. Magento 1’s end of life came and went. No, those who are still utilizing M1 didn’t crash and burn, but they are missing on a lot of goodies, security, and more provided by its sibling, Magento 2. Neither here nor there, if you decided to stay on Magento 1 for whatever reason you might be wondering your options going forward into 2020, and if Magento 1 support end of life is feasible.

With COVID-19, eCommerce has gone from gradually increasing to a runaway train shooting upwards. Lifestyles and purchasing patterns are rapidly changing and merchants are looking to align with their buyers just as fast. We continue with our commitment to helping all merchants during this time by providing content that you can actually use to be more productive and power up your online business. With an increase of merchants sitting on Magento 1  looking for guidance on how to quickly migrate from Magento 1.9 to 2.3, we are offering insight on how to migrate Magento 1.9 to the Magento 2 platform part of the Adobe Commerce Cloud.

Throughout the past several years we’ve written a lot of content for those of you researching Magento 2 migration. With Magento 1.9 officially ending support in June a lot of folks have been reaching out to Echidna with questions. First off, yes your site will still be up and running come June even if you have not migrated to Magento 2. But also yes, we highly recommend making the move (whether that be internally or with a certified Magento 2 partner) because the growth of your eCommerce operations largely depends on it. I know that the last statement might not be what you want to hear and to some, it might be up for debate. That’s what prompted us to update our Magento 2 Migration Guide and lay it all out there in terms of future growth, Magento 2 costs, timeline, and what happens next. So here we go.

Magento 2 migration is on the minds of many current Magento 1 companies, with questions swirling around timelines, costs, and all the what to expect and what if’s one can imagine. At Echidna, we have been working with our Magento 1 clients to navigate the waters of their own Magento 2 migrations with ease. The first thing to understand is it is a migration- not a point and click upgrade. Migrating from Magento 1 to Magento 2 involves changing database structures, themes and working with a new API. You will want to have the migration expertly managed to avoid data loss and downtime.

There has been no slowing down since Adobe announced its acquisition of Magento Commerce back in 2018. With Magento Commerce joining the Adobe Experience Cloud, they are now bringing the Imagine Conference community to join forces with the Adobe Summit at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas from March 29 through April 2. This co-location will allow Magento Commerce experts and pioneers the ability to expand their learning and networking opportunities, along with giving access to all Adobe Summit keynotes, events, and well over 400 sessions and labs. So what’s in store for those attending Magento Imagine 2020 @ Adobe Summit, and where can you find Echidna? Read on to find out.

The digital marketing world is undergoing a seismic shift with the gradual disappearance of third-party cookies. For over three decades, cookies have been the cornerstone of targeted advertising, enabling marketers to track and analyze consumer behavior online. However, with growing privacy concerns and regulatory changes, the era of third-party cookies is coming to an end. This transition poses challenges but also opens up opportunities to embrace a more secure and reliable source of data: first-party data.

In the fast-paced world of digital commerce, a robust and scalable e-commerce platform is crucial. Magento, known for its flexibility and extensive features, stands out as a leader in the arena.

In the ever-evolving landscape of digital marketing, the role of eCommerce PPC (Pay-Per-Click) has become increasingly pivotal. Recent trends suggest that PPC can significantly enhance online visibility, with studies indicating that PPC visitors are 50% more likely to make a purchase than organic visitors. This shift underscores the growing importance of selecting the right eCommerce PPC agency.

When it comes to eCommerce, getting visitors to your site is just the first hurdle. According to a study by the Baymard Institute, the average online shopping cart abandonment rate is nearly 70%. This means that 7 out of 10 visitors who add an item to their cart will leave without completing a purchase.

In today's digital age, a strong social media strategy for eCommerce is essential for success. With billions of users across various platforms, social media offers an unparalleled opportunity to connect with customers and drive sales.

The Ultimate Guide to a Comprehensive eCommerce SEO Audit

In today's digital landscape, businesses place a strong emphasis on two fundamental facets of marketing: getting people to know your brand and making them trust it. These elements play pivotal roles in shaping a company's identity, market positioning, and overall success in a hyper-competitive environment. An SEO audit can be a valuable tool in this context, helping to optimize your online presence for both visibility and credibility.

In the fiercely competitive world of eCommerce, where over 93% of online experiences begin with a search engine, success hinges on visibility and choosing the best Magento development company. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) isn't just a marketing buzzword; it's the strategic key that unlocks higher rankings, drives organic traffic, and builds brand credibility.

In the fast-paced world of B2B digital marketing services, the landscape has witnessed a transformative shift with the advent of social media. No longer just for reaching consumers, data is increasingly showing that buyers are heading to social to research and engage with vendors. In fact, 75% of B2B buyers use social media to support their purchase decision, according to recent data.

Google Universal Analytics (UA) is set to stop collecting data on July 1st, 2023, which means that companies need to start planning for the move to GA4 (Google Analytics 4) now. While UA will still be available for six months after that date, historical data won't be available. This means that it's crucial for companies to start planning for the migration to GA4 now to ensure that they don't lose any valuable data.

Remember just ten years ago when on any given Saturday people filled malls to socialize and shop all day? Shoppers of today have shifted gears in how they like to socialize and shop, and it’s no shock to learn that social media is the preferred outlet. And while the effects of Covid might have jump-started this process, it will have a lasting effect on future consumer shopping habits.

Pay-per-click (PPC) is a moving target and one that can no longer be ignored by merchants. Without having a PPC budget you are leaving growth opportunities and a competitive advantage on the table, something that can’t afford to be done this year. On the flip side, with an effective and optimized PPC strategy, your brand will reap the benefits of improving your larger ongoing strategy which can lead to increased sales, brand recognition, and improved customer loyalty.

Echidna will be at Boomi World 2026 in Chicago. As a Boomi partner with 16+ years of integration experience, we work with B2B commerce organizations to design and implement the integrations that keep operations moving — from ERP and EDI to CRM, PIM, OMS, and modern commerce platforms.

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March 2025: Your Monthly Digest of Top Digital Commerce Insights

February 2025: Your Monthly Digest of Top Digital Commerce Insights

January 2025: Your Monthly Digest of Top Digital Commerce Insights

The NRF 2025 Big Show is packed with innovation, inspiration, and strategies to shape the future of retail. With so many sessions to choose from, it can be tough to decide where to focus your attention. That’s why we’ve rounded up three of the most exciting, game-changing sessions you simply can’t miss. These discussions bring together retail leaders, digital visionaries, and industry disruptors who are reshaping the way we do business.

December 2024: Your Monthly Digest of Top Digital Commerce Insights

November 2024: Your Monthly Digest of Top Digital Commerce Insights

October 2024: Your Monthly Digest of Top Digital Commerce Insights

September 2024: Your Monthly Digest of Top Digital Commerce Insights

August 2024: Your Monthly Digest of Top Digital Commerce Insights

July 2024: Your Monthly Digest of Top Digital Commerce Insights

The automotive industry is undergoing a major shift, driven by rapid advancements in digital technology. This transformation is reshaping how vehicles are manufactured, marketed, sold, and serviced. From AI-driven manufacturing processes to sophisticated online sales platforms, automotive eCommerce is becoming the backbone of modern automotive operations. This shift is not just a trend but a necessity for survival and growth in an increasingly competitive market.