Weekly E‑commerce Roundup – Week 2 (June 2025)

Welcome to the first edition of Backsy’s Weekly E‑commerce News! Each Friday, we deliver 3–4 concise industry highlights, covering platforms like Shopify, logistics breakthroughs, and customer‑experience trends. Here’s the top news from Week 2 of June 2025:

1. FedEx pilots autonomous drone cargo for middle‑mile logistics

What’s new?
FedEx Express has begun testing the “Chaparral” autonomous VTOL drone, developed with Elroy Air, capable of carrying 300–500 lb of cargo over 300 mile distances without needing runways (Source: Retaildive).

Why it matters:
This pilot could significantly reduce middle‑mile transport costs and speed up delivery, enabling merchants to reposition trucks for faster last‑mile service.

Source: Retail Dive, Elroy Air press release

2. E‑commerce return rates hitting record highs (~20%)

What’s new?
Studies indicate return rates in e‑commerce have surged to 20.4% in 2024, up from 17.6% in 2023—far exceeding in‑store returns (~9%) (Source: Stampedwithlovexoxo).

Why it matters:
A 1‑in‑5 return rate is now the norm—eating into profit margins via return shipping and restocking costs, making policy optimization essential.

Source: StampedWithLoveXOXO, Optoro, CapitalOneShopping

3. Shopify integrates with Braze for real‑time engagement

What’s new?
Braze and Shopify have launched a native integration, enabling merchants to create personalized email, push, and abandoned‑cart campaigns directly within Shopify using Braze’s platform (Source: Braze).

Why it matters:
This deep integration empowers merchants to boost conversion and loyalty through automated, behavior‑based customer journeys.

Source: Braze press release

4. Shopify ties up with Roblox for metaverse commerce

What’s new?
As of May 15, Shopify now enables select merchants to sell physical products inside Roblox—unlocking checkout in‑game via Shopify’s platform to reach 97+ million daily users (Source: Shopify).

Why it matters:
This marks a major step toward “commerce everywhere,” giving brands access to Gen Z shoppers in virtual worlds and blending digital & physical product experiences.

Source: Shopify News, Vogue Business, The Verge

5. Bonus: Shopify acquires generative‑AI search startup Vantage Discovery

What’s new?
In March 2025, Shopify acquired Vantage Discovery—an AI search company founded by former Pinterest engineers—to enhance on‑site search with generative AI capabilities (Source: Businessinsider).

Why it matters:
AI‑powered search boosts product discovery, reduces bounce rates, and improves conversions—especially critical for merchants with large catalogs.

Source: Business Insider, eMarketer, Betakit

Backsy’s Corner – Weekly Action Tips

From this week’s stories, here’s one small but impactful action every merchant can take:

Audit & optimize your shipping, returns, customer engagement, and search

• Shipping/Logistics:
  Check with your carrier about middle‑mile drone/pilotless transport options—might justify marketing faster delivery promises.
• Return Policies:
  Analyze return data by category. Add size charts, video demos, or richer descriptions to reduce unnecessary returns.
• Customer Campaigns:
  Use Shopify’s built‑in automations to create simple abandoned‑cart workflows—or pilot Braze if available.
• Metaverse Exploration:
  Even if Roblox isn’t for you yet, experiment with AR previews or “digital twins” of products to engage shoppers.
• Search Experience:
  Evaluate your current site search—consider AI enhancements like faceted search, autocomplete, or visual search tools.

Why Now?

Trend	Why It Matters
Faster Fulfillment	Drone logistics can free up routing capacity and reduce costs.
Return Pressure	With ~20% return rates, improving clarity and fit tools drives margin savings.
Customer Engagement	Real-time automation equals more conversions & customer loyalty.
Immersive Commerce	Reaching Gen Z in their own environments builds future relevance.
Superior Search	Optimized search shortens path to purchase—boosting sales directly.

Final Tip from Backsy

Pick one action and do it this week.
Whether it’s setting up an AR preview, experimenting with a Shopify automation, or revising return guidelines—micro‑improvements compound into serious growth.

Stay tuned for next week’s roundup—and keep pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.

— Backsy, your friendly e‑commerce advisor