Packaging technology company Ranpak has announced a major multi-year partnership with retail giant Walmart, marking its second major e-commerce alliance of the year after Amazon. The move is part of Ranpak’s broader strategy to scale its automation technology across North America’s largest fulfillment networks (Packaging Dive, 2025).

The announcement was confirmed by Ranpak CEO Omar Asali in an interview with Packaging Dive, where he highlighted the importance of the new collaboration. Walmart has already deployed Ranpak’s AutoFill systems at a fulfillment center near Indianapolis. With the new agreement, the technology will be installed at four additional distribution centers located in Chicago, Dallas, Philadelphia, and Sacramento.

The AutoFill system is designed to automate the packing of e-commerce orders by accurately measuring and filling empty spaces in shipping boxes with eco-friendly paper filler. This not only protects products during transit but also reduces waste compared to traditional plastic fillers or air pillows. By automating the void fill and taping process, the system significantly reduces the need for manual labor, which is a critical advantage amid ongoing labor shortages in the logistics sector.

This Walmart partnership comes on the heels of Amazon’s $400 million equity investment in Ranpak earlier this year, which gave Amazon a 17% stake in the company (Packaging Dive, 2025). These collaborations with two of the largest retailers globally highlight Ranpak’s growing prominence in the automation and sustainable packaging space.

In his comments to Packaging Dive, CEO Omar Asali emphasized that while Ranpak continues to serve small and mid-sized businesses with its traditional paper-based packaging products, the company’s automation offerings are now seeing rapid adoption among large scale enterprises. This shift reflects broader industry trends where automation and sustainability are becoming priorities for e-commerce fulfillment.

A standout feature of Ranpak’s automation technology is its proprietary DecisionTower system, which integrates artificial intelligence and computer vision to optimize packing efficiency. DecisionTower scans the inside of each box, identifies the size and placement of items, and calculates the exact amount of paper filler needed to ensure safe shipping. It can even detect hard-to-see or transparent objects, ensuring comprehensive protection for diverse product types. The system then automatically fills and seals the box, while continuously collecting data to improve performance over time (Packaging Dive, 2025).

Maximizing system uptime is another key benefit of DecisionTower. The AI-enabled system can detect defective or improperly sized boxes before they enter the packing line, preventing jams and minimizing downtime. This capability is especially valuable in large fulfillment centers, where operational disruptions can result in costly delays and missed shipping deadlines.

Asali also addressed the current economic climate, noting that despite ongoing uncertainties, the largest e-commerce companies like Walmart and Amazon are expected to maintain or even increase their shipping volumes. Their scale, pricing power, and investments in automation provide them with a competitive advantage during fluctuating market conditions. Asali expressed confidence in a strong holiday season for Ranpak’s clients in the fourth quarter of 2025 (Packaging Dive, 2025).

To further improve operational efficiency, Ranpak implemented a 3% reduction in its workforce in April 2025 and followed this with a corporate reorganization in July. These strategic moves aim to streamline the company’s structure, reduce costs, and enhance service levels for its expanding enterprise customer base (Packaging Dive, 2025).

Sustainability remains at the core of Ranpak’s mission. The company is intensifying efforts to reduce its environmental impact by increasing the proportion of recycled and post-consumer fibers used in its packaging materials. Ranpak is also committed to sourcing 100% of its paper from Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) certified suppliers. Moreover, it is working to electrify its transportation fleet to lower carbon emissions across its supply chain, targeting reductions in Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions (Packaging Dive, 2025).

These combined strategies automation, efficiency, and sustainability position Ranpak to meet the growing demands of a market increasingly focused on fast, reliable, and environmentally responsible fulfillment solutions. The partnerships with Walmart and Amazon exemplify how the company is becoming a key player in the future of e-commerce packaging.

Brazilian entrepreneur Larissa Faria is gaining international attention for her pioneering role in democratizing access to Amazon’s massive e‑commerce infrastructure. Through her education platform Amazoneros de Elite, Faria is empowering entrepreneurs particularly from Latin America and other underrepresented regions to successfully build and scale businesses on Amazon.com, the world’s largest online retail platform.

Her mission is driven by a clear philosophy: that digital borders shouldn’t limit entrepreneurial potential. “My mission is to break down the barriers that keep entrepreneurs from entering the U.S. e‑commerce market,” Faria says. “If I can open that door for one person, I can open it for thousands.”Business Insider

Accessible Learning in a Complex Marketplace

Launched as a practical and scalable education initiative, Amazoneros de Elite has already reached more than 2,500 students across 15+ countries. The program’s core focus is to simplify the complexity of selling on Amazon U.S. by offering guided modules, live training, tools for product research, logistics management, and platform compliance.

What sets the program apart is its inclusivity Faria designed it for people with little or no prior experience in online retail. Many of her students come from small cities or emerging economies with limited access to formal training. The curriculum is bilingual and tailored for Latin American learners, but it has also gained traction with audiences in Europe, Africa, and Southeast Asia.

Track Record of Success

Numerous participants have used the training to generate over $100,000 in Amazon sales. Others have gone from zero to building sustainable income streams in a matter of months. These outcomes are possible due to the hands-on nature of Faria’s approach, which blends strategic theory with daily operational guidance everything from product listing optimization to managing customer reviews.

Faria brings deep expertise to her work. She holds 10 official Amazon certifications, covering areas such as seller performance, logistics, and marketplace analytics. In recognition of her impact, she has received eight awards from e‑commerce platforms like Hotmart, Kiwify, Digital Manager Guru, and Full Sales System. She was also honored with the Faixa Preta (Black Belt) award from Brazilian marketing icon Érico Rocha—a title reserved for entrepreneurs achieving over seven figures in revenue through digital education.Business Insider

Digital Presence and Community Reach

Over the past three years, Faria has organized 24 large-scale online summits and workshops, attracting over 100,000 registered participants. These events offer more than passive content they feature live strategy sessions, success stories, interactive Q&As, and networking opportunities among students. Her focus is not just on technical knowledge but on building a strong sense of community among aspiring entrepreneurs who often feel isolated in their business journeys.

Faria has built a significant digital presence, with more than 131,000 subscribers on YouTube and over 90,000 followers on Instagram. Her book and downloadable e‑books on Amazon selling have further contributed to her educational reach. Across platforms, she consistently shares free content to support those who cannot yet afford formal courses, staying true to her mission of accessibility.

Breaking the Perception Barrier

A critical part of Faria’s work involves challenging misconceptions that selling on Amazon is only feasible for those in the U.S. or with large startup capital. “Many of our students begin with less than $500,” she notes. “We show them how to find low-cost, high-demand products, how to handle cross-border logistics, and how to grow steadily through data-based decisions.”

By offering clear, achievable entry points, Amazoneros de Elite is not just a training program it’s a pathway to upward mobility for thousands of people. Her students often return as mentors in later cohorts, further expanding the movement and reinforcing a cycle of peer-driven success.

Future Vision and Strategic Growth

Faria is now preparing to expand Amazoneros de Elite into a multilingual platform, with plans for English, Spanish, and Portuguese tracks. She is also building partnerships with logistics providers, Amazon-certified tools, and payment gateways to give her students better operational infrastructure.

Additionally, in-person events and mentorship retreats are in the works for 2026, aiming to build deeper regional networks and raise the visibility of Amazon entrepreneurs from the Global South.

“We’re still just getting started,” Faria says. “There are millions of people who want to enter the world of e‑commerce but feel overwhelmed. My role is to clear the path and walk alongside them as they step into global markets.”

Conclusion

Larissa Faria is redefining what it means to be a global e‑commerce educator. Through her platform Amazoneros de Elite, she is not only teaching people how to sell online—she’s equipping them to build careers, overcome economic limitations, and participate in the digital economy on their own terms. Her growing movement reflects the evolving nature of global entrepreneurship: borderless, digital-first, and driven by knowledge.

Xtend, a prominent digital marketing technology provider, has introduced a new marketplace‑first e‑commerce solution tailored for Southeast Asia’s key platforms: Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok Shop. Designed to improve in‑platform visibility, engage shoppers with strong purchase intent, and drive measurable sales growth, this offering tackles the region’s most pressing challenges in e‑commerce and performance marketing (voiceofasean.com).

Scope and Supported Platforms

This solution is specifically crafted for the dominant marketplaces in Southeast Asian Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok Shop where a large share of online shopping occurs within the platforms themselves, rather than on traditional direct‑to‑consumer channels (voiceofasean.com). According to Statista, the e‑commerce market in Southeast Asia is forecast to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.79% between 2025 and 2029, reaching an estimated volume of USD 187.16 billion by 2029 (voiceofasean.com).

Key Features and Functional Highlights

A cornerstone of Xtend’s offering is the SHOPit Brand Discovery tool. It features curated product catalogs that direct qualified traffic to brand pages within marketplaces. The solution integrates dynamic listings, native ad placements, and branded showcases, all while offering programmative audience extension and commerce‑backed inventory to align brand messaging with shopper intent and platform behavior (voiceofasean.com).

Another strength is marketplace‑native measurement: brands can track the full journey from impression to return on ad spend (ROAS) without needing additional pixels or SDKs. The solution also leverages first‑party commerce signals to reveal shopper category intent, repeat purchase patterns, and conversion trends inside the platforms.

The performance‑based pricing model, particularly apt for major campaigns like 9.9 and 11.11, offers low‑risk activation. Brands can plug and play activating campaigns swiftly by leveraging existing Shopee seller setups without creating landing pages or uploading catalogs.

Official Market Launch and Platform Recognition

Xtend officially revealed this new solution at the Shopee Super Summit 2025 in Indonesia, where it appeared as Shopee’s preferred solution partner. The summit, one of the region’s largest e‑commerce gatherings, brought together sellers, creators, and partners to explore innovations driving in‑platform growth (voiceofasean.com).

Strategic Goals and Brand Implications

With rising advertising costs and fierce competition within mid‑funnel pathways, brands are seeking more efficient ways to attract and convert shoppers. Xtend’s marketplace‑first approach, built on real shopping behavior data, offers brands the ability to strengthen their influence within platform ecosystems—converting visibility into sustainable business growth (voiceofasean.com). Vignesh Muralidharan, Xtend’s Chief Commercial Officer, emphasized that the solution is grounded in real‑time shopping behavior, helping brands build and convert influence within marketplace environments (voiceofasean.com).

Broader Context and Regional Relevance

In Southeast Asia, marketplaces such as Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok Shop dominate the e‑commerce ecosystem. Given this competitive landscape and rising ad costs, brands are under intense pressure to achieve visibility and conversion especially in the mid‑funnel phase, where consumer decisions are still forming. Xtend’s integrated toolset offers brands improved positioning, targeting accuracy, and data‑driven insights to navigate this complexity. Tools like SHOPit Brand Discovery enable brands to stand out earlier in the shopping journey, improving both conversion metrics and long‑term brand equity.

Why It Matters for Brands in SEA

Marketplace‑first solutions align marketing strategy directly with platform mechanics where the majority of purchases happen. By embedding discovery, targeting, and attribution within the platforms themselves, brands can engage effectively with shoppers at the most decisive moments and make smarter budget decisions using real behavioral data. This approach supports higher ROI, better conversions, and sustainable brand growth.

Conclusion

Xtend’s launch of its marketplace‑first e‑commerce solution marks a significant advancement in Southeast Asia’s digital commerce landscape. Anchored by the SHOPit Brand Discovery tool, this solution empowers brands with enhanced visibility, precise targeting, and measurable performance all within the native environment of Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok Shop. The unveiling at the Shopee Super Summit underscores the platform readiness and industry recognition of Xtend’s approach. In a fiercely competitive market, Xtend’s native, data‑driven methodology provides a clear, strategic edge for brands aiming for measurable and sustainable growth in SEA’s booming e‑commerce space.

PDD Holdings, the Chinese parent company of e-commerce platforms Pinduoduo and Temu, reported quarterly revenue results that exceeded market expectations, reflecting strong consumer demand despite persistent competitive and economic challenges. For the second quarter of 2025, the company recorded revenue of 103.98 billion yuan, marking a 7 percent year-over-year increase. Analysts had expected revenue to come in at around 103.34 billion yuan. The results prompted a nearly 12 percent surge in the company’s U.S.-listed shares in pre-market trading.

However, while the top-line performance was strong, PDD reported a decline in quarterly profit. Net income fell to 32.71 billion yuan from 34.43 billion yuan in the same period last year. The dip was largely attributed to higher spending on marketing, logistics, and product development as the company continues to defend its market position in China and expand its footprint globally.

PDD’s American Depositary Shares delivered adjusted earnings of 22.07 yuan per share, well above the market forecast of 15.74 yuan. The stronger-than-expected earnings were credited to operational efficiencies and higher product volumes during the quarter. Still, investors and analysts remain cautious about whether the company can sustain these margins amid an intensely competitive e-commerce landscape.

According to a detailed report from Reuters, PDD has been locked in a price war with major Chinese rivals Alibaba and JD.com, all of whom are competing to retain budget-conscious consumers in a slowing domestic economy. These aggressive discounting campaigns, while effective at boosting short-term order volume, have eroded profit margins across the sector (Reuters, August 25, 2025).

Vice president of finance Liu Jun commented on the company’s spending strategy, stating that the current investments in international expansion, infrastructure, and technology are expected to generate long-term value. However, he acknowledged that these outlays could continue to pressure near-term earnings.

Temu, PDD’s fast-growing international platform, played a key role in driving sales growth this quarter. Benefiting from an easing in U.S.-China trade tariffs and improved shipping logistics, Temu saw continued traction in Western markets. Still, the platform is facing growing consumer scrutiny, particularly in the United States, where roughly 30 percent of users surveyed recently noted price increases. Analysts have interpreted this trend as an early sign of inflationary cost burdens being passed on to consumers.

To mitigate international cost pressures, PDD has implemented several operational changes. These include encouraging sellers to store inventory in U.S.-based warehouses and moving toward a fully managed logistics model for Temu, allowing the company to have greater control over pricing, shipping times, and product quality. While these steps are helping streamline costs, they require upfront investment and can weigh on profit margins in the short run.

Back in the domestic market, PDD has also benefited from government initiatives aimed at stimulating consumer spending. Amid broader economic challenges including a sluggish property market and weak manufacturing output Chinese authorities have turned to consumer-driven growth strategies, with increased support for platforms that offer affordable goods. Pinduoduo’s model of providing deeply discounted products and group-buying deals aligns well with these policy priorities.

Despite the favorable revenue results, industry experts remain concerned about PDD’s long-term profitability. As the e-commerce industry continues to mature, the company will be under pressure to improve margins without losing its competitive edge. There is also increasing scrutiny over labor practices, product sourcing transparency, and data privacy, especially as PDD’s international operations expand.

Market analysts are closely watching how PDD balances its aggressive expansion strategy with financial discipline. With its low-cost structure, broad product catalog, and efficient supply chain, PDD remains a formidable competitor. However, its long-term success will depend on how effectively it can turn scale into sustainable profits while adapting to shifting regulatory landscapes at home and abroad.

In summary, PDD Holdings has once again demonstrated its ability to drive strong revenue growth amid market uncertainty. Its latest results reflect both the opportunities and the risks facing global e-commerce players. The coming quarters will test the company’s ability to manage cost pressures, compete globally, and meet rising consumer and regulatory expectations without compromising profitability.

Ho Chi Minh City recently hosted the HCM City Fintech Summit 2025, a large-scale event that brought together fintech startups, government representatives, researchers, and international partners to explore opportunities in Vietnam’s rapidly evolving financial technology sector. The event was held at the Saigon Innovation Hub (SIHUB), a public–private partnership facility that spans 17,000 square meters and serves as a key venue for innovation in the region. The summit’s core theme focused on the intersections of regulation, innovation, and opportunity in financial technology.

Vietnam’s fintech sector has been experiencing remarkable growth, fueled by increasing digital adoption and a tech-savvy population. According to the report by Vietnam News, fintech is becoming one of the most transformative forces in Vietnam’s economy. It is reshaping how people access financial services, encouraging cashless transactions, and offering a broad range of digital solutions from lending and payments to wealth management and insurance (Vietnam News, August 25, 2025).

A key voice at the summit was Nguyen Ba Diep, co-founder and vice chairman of MoMo, one of Vietnam’s largest fintech companies. He shared insights into how MoMo has evolved from a mobile wallet into a multi-service digital platform. Diep emphasized that Vietnam’s retail sector remains fragmented, with limited infrastructure for digital payments in many parts of the country. MoMo’s goal, he stated, is to bridge this gap by building an ecosystem that integrates shopping, payments, investment, insurance, and credit access on one digital platform.

Other speakers and panelists echoed similar sentiments about the need to create a more connected financial environment. They discussed how fintech can help reduce the cost of service delivery, increase transparency, and promote financial inclusion. However, they also acknowledged challenges, such as limited regulatory clarity, fragmented data systems, and cybersecurity risks that must be addressed to ensure sustainable growth.

The summit was organized in partnership with the University of Economics and Law, the International Data Group Vietnam (IDG Vietnam), and the Ho Chi Minh City Institute for Development Studies (HIDS). It forms part of a broader initiative titled Fintech Road 2025, which includes educational workshops, student competitions, research projects, and ongoing public–private policy dialogues. These efforts aim to support Vietnam’s national digital transformation strategy and position Ho Chi Minh City as a key fintech innovation hub in Southeast Asia.

Ho Chi Minh City currently accounts for nearly half of all fintech firms operating in Vietnam. The city’s strong academic institutions, expanding startup ecosystem, and growing investor interest make it a natural center for financial technology development. Plans are also underway to establish an international financial center in the city by 2030, with fintech being one of the primary pillars of this vision. This broader financial strategy is supported by policies encouraging digital payments, regulatory reform, and enhanced support for innovation startups.

Throughout the summit, regulators and experts called for the development of tailored policy frameworks, such as regulatory sandboxes that allow fintech firms to test new products under controlled conditions. These sandboxes would support innovation in areas like blockchain, AI-based credit scoring, peer-to-peer lending, and cross-border payments. They also highlighted the importance of creating standardized data governance models to ensure security and promote interoperability across platforms.

One recurring theme at the summit was the importance of inclusive growth. Several speakers pointed out that while urban areas are benefiting from fintech innovation, rural and underserved regions continue to face barriers in accessing digital financial services. Expanding mobile connectivity, improving digital literacy, and creating localized financial tools were all cited as essential to extending the benefits of fintech beyond major cities.

International speakers contributed perspectives on how Vietnam can learn from global best practices in digital regulation and public–private collaboration. Many praised Vietnam’s openness to innovation and highlighted the country’s potential to lead regional fintech development, especially in the ASEAN context.

In conclusion, the HCM City Fintech Summit 2025 underscored Vietnam’s ambition to modernize its financial sector through technology and innovation. As stakeholders push for greater collaboration, smarter regulations, and deeper market integration, Ho Chi Minh City is positioned to play a central role in shaping the future of fintech in Vietnam and beyond. With coordinated efforts through initiatives like Fintech Road 2025 and the international financial center project, the city is steadily emerging as a regional hub for digital finance.

India’s government is undertaking a major overhaul of how it calculates consumer inflation, with plans to directly source real-time data from top e-commerce platforms such as Amazon and Flipkart. This initiative reflects a broader shift in consumer behavior and aims to better capture the digital economy’s impact on household spending patterns (Reuters).

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation has already started collecting online price data from 12 of India’s largest cities—each with populations over 2.5 million. These urban hubs represent key markets for online retail, and collecting accurate pricing data from them is expected to improve the Consumer Price Index (CPI)’s ability to reflect real-world inflation trends.

Officials are also in advanced talks with Amazon and Flipkart to receive weekly average product pricing data. This would mark a significant shift from India’s traditional CPI methodology, which relies heavily on manual price collection from physical stores. By incorporating online prices into the index, the government hopes to modernize a system that critics say underrepresents how people actually shop today.

The reform comes as digital shopping habits continue to rise. India recorded approximately 270 million online shoppers in 2024, and this number is expected to grow at a compound annual rate of 22% over the next several years. Much of this growth is attributed to rising smartphone usage, faster internet access, and the expansion of e-commerce platforms into smaller cities and rural regions.

As more Indian households shift their spending online—not just for electronics or fashion, but also for groceries, personal care, and services like travel bookings—the existing CPI structure, which was last updated in 2012, has become outdated. Categories such as streaming subscriptions, diagnostics, and digital payments have grown significantly but remain underrepresented in current inflation tracking.

In response, the government plans to introduce a revised CPI basket early next year. This version will feature adjusted weightings that account for digital consumption patterns and may also include services that were previously excluded. At the same time, India is preparing to roll out a new GDP series with a 2022–23 base year. The update will also include a doubling of the sample size for monthly labor force surveys, offering more precise employment data (Reuters).

Another major addition is the introduction of a quarterly Index of Services Production (ISP), expected to launch by mid-2026. This would give policymakers better visibility into the services sector, which contributes over 50% of India’s GDP. Currently, the lack of a dedicated services index creates challenges in accurately assessing the economy’s performance.

There is also ongoing discussion about creating a dedicated e-commerce inflation index. This would separately track price trends in online marketplaces and allow for more granular insight into how digital platforms influence inflation dynamics. According to a report by the Financial Express, this new index could be launched alongside the CPI update, although it would depend on establishing consistent data-sharing frameworks with online retailers.

While the incorporation of e-commerce data has been welcomed by economists, there are concerns around accuracy, data privacy, and methodology. Officials say they will validate platform-provided data with independent checks and ensure that data collection meets transparency and reliability standards.

The broader goal is to align India’s statistical reporting with global best practices. Countries like the United States and South Korea have already incorporated online and scanner-based pricing into their inflation measurements. These changes enable governments to react more swiftly to price shocks, improve fiscal planning, and better protect consumer purchasing power.

By modernizing the CPI and other key indicators, India aims to provide a clearer, more timely picture of economic conditions. This is increasingly important at a time when inflation, employment, and digital consumption are all evolving rapidly.

In summary, the inclusion of Amazon and Flipkart data in India’s inflation tracking system represents a critical step in aligning policy with real-world consumption trends. With additional reforms like a new GDP base year, expanded labor data, and an upcoming services index, the country is positioning itself for more responsive, data-driven governance in a digital economy.

Amazon has announced a major expansion of its grocery delivery services, planning to offer same-day delivery of perishable items in over 2,300 U.S. cities and towns by the end of 2025. This strategic move positions Amazon as a formidable competitor to traditional grocery giants such as Walmart and digital platforms like Instacart, signaling a significant shift in the online grocery market (Investors.com).

Expansion Strategy and Service Details

Under the new program, Amazon Prime members will be able to access free same-day delivery for grocery orders exceeding $25. Non-Prime customers will be charged a $12.99 delivery fee. Amazon is integrating this service into its existing logistics and fulfillment network, which already supports its retail and e-commerce operations nationwide (The Sun).

The expansion reflects Amazon’s long-term goal of turning its grocery platform into a core component of daily consumer shopping. By combining groceries with other retail items, Amazon aims to provide a seamless, one-stop shopping experience, increasing convenience for millions of households and strengthening customer loyalty. This approach also enables Amazon to gather more consumer data, optimize inventory management, and refine predictive analytics for future demand (Business Wire).

Market Reactions and Stock Impact

The announcement had an immediate impact on financial markets. Amazon’s stock price rose by approximately 2.9 percent, reaching $230.98, reflecting investor optimism about the company’s expansion into the online grocery sector. In contrast, shares of competitors such as Instacart’s parent company Maplebear, DoorDash, Uber Technologies, and Walmart experienced declines, with Instacart falling more than 13 percent (Investors.com).

The market response demonstrates investor confidence in Amazon’s ability to leverage its massive distribution infrastructure and advanced data analytics to disrupt the grocery industry, which has long been dominated by established retail chains. Many analysts believe this aggressive push could potentially reshape the competitive landscape, prompting traditional grocers to accelerate their own digital transformation strategies.

Analysts’ Perspectives

Industry analysts emphasize that the U.S. grocery market remains the largest segment of offline consumer spending, estimated at $1.5 trillion annually. Morgan Stanley analyst Brian Nowak noted that Amazon’s logistics capabilities and data-driven operational model give it a significant advantage over competitors, enabling the company to capture market share more effectively (Investors.com).

Analysts also highlight that integrating groceries with Amazon’s existing retail ecosystem can drive more frequent shopping trips, rein force prime membership value, and position the company as the leading digital-first grocery provider. With features such as personalized recommendations, smart delivery scheduling, and integration with Alexa-enabled devices, Amazon is leveraging technology to enhance customer engagement and retention (The Week).

Operational Challenges

Despite the promising outlook, Amazon faces operational challenges in expanding grocery services. Delivering perishable goods requires maintaining quality and freshness during transit, as well as precise inventory management. Cold-chain logistics, timely delivery, and real-time tracking are essential for ensuring customer satisfaction. Amazon’s limited physical store presence compared to Walmart could pose a barrier to scaling operations efficiently across all regions (CBS News).

Additionally, regulatory compliance and regional market variations may affect the rollout speed. Analysts caution that while Amazon’s expansion is ambitious, execution will determine whether the initiative can achieve long-term sustainability and profitability.

Consumer Trends and Strategic Implications

Consumer behavior is shifting toward convenience driven grocery shopping, particularly among younger generations who prioritize speed, reliability, and digital accessibility. Amazon’s same-day delivery initiative addresses these trends directly, making it easier for busy households to order fresh produce, dairy, and other perishables without visiting physical stores.

The move also strengthens Amazon’s ecosystem by driving Prime memberships, encouraging repeat purchases, and creating opportunities for cross-selling other Amazon services, such as streaming or household products. Industry experts suggest that successful execution of this program could pressure competitors like Walmart, Kroger, and Instacart to enhance their own delivery networks, fueling a wave of innovation in the grocery sector (Business Wire).

Future Outlook

Amazon’s move underscores the intensifying competition in the online grocery market. Convenience, speed, and reliability are becoming key differentiators, and Amazon is positioning itself as a major player in this evolving landscape. By integrating same-day delivery, AI-powered logistics, and a wide variety of product offerings, the company aims to reshape consumer expectations for online grocery shopping.

The coming months will be critical in determining whether Amazon can successfully scale this service, challenge the dominance of competitors like Walmart and Instacart, and redefine grocery shopping in the United States. If successful, Amazon’s same-day grocery expansion could become a benchmark for digital-first retail innovation, influencing strategies of other e-commerce giants in the food sector (Investors.com).

Saudi Arabia’s leading vacation rental startup and alternative hospitality platform Gathern has announced the successful closure of a $72 million Series B funding round, marking one of the largest funding deals in the Kingdom’s fast-growing proptech and travel-tech industries. The round was led by Sanabil Investments, a subsidiary of the sovereign wealth giant Public Investment Fund (PIF), with additional participation from STV, Pinnacle Capital, Nuwa Capital, and Endeavor Catalyst
(Sources: wamda.com, lucidityinsights.com).

Strong Valuation and Strategic Goals

The fresh capital has boosted Gathern’s valuation to an estimated $266 million, placing it among the most valuable Saudi startups in the tourism and hospitality space. (lucidityinsights.com). According to the company, the funds will serve multiple purposes. The most immediate priority is preparing for a potential initial public offering (IPO) on Tadawul, the Saudi Stock Exchange.

Beyond the IPO, Gathern aims to accelerate growth across the Kingdom and in neighboring Gulf markets, attract more international visitors, and expand its portfolio to meet the rising demand for long-term vacation rentals. The company will also enhance its technological backbone with artificial intelligence (AI) to improve booking personalization, dynamic pricing, and customer experience. (WiT)

Founding Journey and Market Leadership

Founded in 2016–2017 by female entrepreneur Latifah Altamimi, Gathern began as a modest vacation rental booking platform. Over time, it has transformed into Saudi Arabia’s largest alternative hospitality marketplace, offering a wide range of stays including villas, apartments, chalets, yachts, farms, and desert camps.

Today, Gathern lists more than 72,000 properties, which represents about 15% of Saudi Arabia’s total accommodation supply. The company currently commands a 44% national market share in the alternative hospitality sector, with an even higher 53% share in Riyadh, positioning it as the undisputed market leader (wamda.com, lucidityinsights.com).

Impact on Users and Hosts

The platform has served over 5 million users from 150+ nationalities, highlighting its growing international appeal. On the supply side, around 33,000 local hosts have collectively earned over $533 million, making Gathern a vital income source for many Saudi families and entrepreneurs.

This achievement not only strengthens the country’s tourism ecosystem but also places Gathern among the highest-valued women-led startups in the Middle East, underscoring the role of female founders in Saudi Arabia’s startup ecosystem
(wamda.com).

Expansion Strategy and Tech Investments

The Series B funds will be used to drive several strategic initiatives:

• Tadawul IPO Preparations: Strengthening governance and meeting regulatory standards ahead of its public listing.

• Saudi and Regional Expansion: Growing its presence in Saudi Arabia while exploring opportunities across the GCC and wider MENA region.

• AI-Powered Enhancements: Deploying artificial intelligence to improve property recommendations, optimize search results, and streamline host management.

• Long-Term Stay Solutions: Expanding into monthly and yearly rentals to attract expatriates, business travelers, and families seeking extended stays
  (wamda.com, WiT).

Role in Saudi Vision 2030

Gathern’s rise is closely tied to Saudi Vision 2030, the Kingdom’s blueprint for economic diversification. As Saudi Arabia works to attract 100 million tourists annually by 2030, platforms like Gathern are key to delivering the variety and quality of accommodation needed.

By providing authentic vacation rental experiences—from luxury villas to cultural farm stays Gathern is helping modernize Saudi Arabia’s tourism infrastructure while supporting sustainable economic diversification. Alternative hospitality has become a vital pillar of the country’s efforts to position itself as a leading global tourism destination
(WiT).

Future Outlook

Industry analysts view Gathern’s $72 million Series B funding as both a financial boost and a strategic turning point. With IPO ambitions, strong market leadership, and cutting-edge AI integration, the platform is well-positioned to shape the future of vacation rentals in Saudi Arabia.

If its planned Tadawul IPO proves successful, Gathern could pave the way for more Saudi startups particularly in proptech, travel-tech, and the wider Middle East startup ecosystem to follow suit and tap public markets. For now, Gathern’s trajectory reflects both the strength of Saudi entrepreneurship and the rapid evolution of the region’s hospitality industry.

MENA e-commerce reached US$34.5bn in 2024 and is projected to US$57.8bn by 2029.

Unlike the early years of e-commerce in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), when the focus was mainly on moving consumers from physical stores to online platforms, 2025 is about efficiency, monetisation, and reliability. The new drivers of growth are not simply about more people shopping online, but about checkout economics (faster, cheaper, and more secure payments), audience monetisation through retail media networks, and reliable cross-border delivery systems that connect the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and wider MENA markets.

This evolution reflects a maturing digital economy where payment innovations, data-driven advertising, logistics optimisation, social commerce, and recommerce are redefining the competitive landscape. The Middle East’s e-commerce ecosystem is now among the fastest-growing globally, supported by tech adoption, high smartphone penetration, and government-led digital transformation strategies in countries such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

Below, we provide a newsroom-style brief that highlights the five biggest trends shaping MENA e-commerce in 2025, supported by verified statistics, official reports, and reliable industry sources.

MENA e-commerce reached US$34.5bn in 2024 (≈+13% YoY) and is projected to US$57.8bn by 2029. In the UAE specifically, online retail totaled AED 32.3bn (US$8.8bn) in 2024, with a forecast of AED 50.6bn (US$13.8bn) by 2029. Figures come from EZDubai’s fifth annual report with Euromonitor.

1) Real-time bank payments squeeze cards and COD in MENA e-commerce Ecosystem

The UAE’s instant payments platform Aani had ~1.5 million enrolled users by Feb 27, 2025; over the preceding year, transaction volumes grew ~27% month-on-month on average, per Al Etihad Payments and The National. India’s UPI–AANI linkage went live in July 2025, enabling real-time cross-border consumer payments. In Saudi Arabia, Mada e-commerce spend hit SAR 27.55bn (US$7.34bn) in March 2025, +73.4% YoY, underscoring rapid migration to cashless online checkout. (The Times of India)

Editorial read: Merchants should prioritise pay-by-bank alongside cards/BNPL to reduce fees and COD leakage, especially on mobile and subscriptions.

2) MENA e-commerce: Retail Media Networks become the performance engine

Majid Al Futtaim’s “Precision Media” rolled out AI-measured in-store inventory across Carrefour on May 13, 2025, building closed-loop retail media in the UAE. Noon began selling mobile DOOH ads on its last-mile fleet in June 2025, productising first-party surfaces. At a macro level, retail media ad investment is still rising globally (WARC forecasts double-digit growth into 2025), and UAE RMN revenues are estimated at US$951m (2024), projected to US$1.66bn by 2030 (Grand View Research)
Editorial read: Treat RMN ROAS cautiously; insist on incrementality (clean rooms/MMM) rather than dashboard claims.

3) Cross-border gets faster—and more reliable

Cainiao launched a GCC express network (June 23–24, 2025) promising delivery across all six GCC markets in as little as three days, targeting both cross-border and intra-GCC e-commerce. In parallel, Saudi Post (SPL) reports automation that cut domestic delivery times by 1–2 days (UPU)

Editorial read: The defensible promise is 48–72h with painless returns; “same-day everywhere” remains fragile and costly.

4) Social-led commerce accelerates—even without full in-app checkout

UAE usage remains near-universal: 11.3m social media user identities (~100% of population) in Jan 2025. In Saudi Arabia, the social-commerce market is expected to reach US$1.37bn in 2025 (+10% YoY), per Research & Markets’ 2025 country databook. (globenewswire.com)

Editorial read: Treat TikTok/Instagram as demand capture with shoppable video deep-linking to PDPs; run WhatsApp Business for service and COD-to-prepaid nudges.

5) Value & circularity go mainstream: recommerce as a P&L line

The Middle East recommerce market is projected at US$7.21bn in 2025 (~15.8% annual growth), with UAE recommerce ~US$2.01bn in 2025. Electronics and fashion lead the mix. (researchandmarkets.com)

Editorial read: Launch certified refurbished/trade-in with clear grading and 6–12-month warranties; use outlet SKUs to acquire value-seeking cohorts at lower CAC.

Why does this matter now?

• Margin: Account-to-account payments cut fees, while retail media adds revenue.
• Reliability: Three-day GCC lanes make regional delivery more dependable.
• Demand capture: Universal UAE social reach and Saudi social-commerce growth justify shoppable video and messaging pipelines.

Practical tips for MENA e-commerce sellers!

• Payments: Offer bank-to-bank checkout and reduce cash-on-delivery exposure by incentivising prepaid.
• Media: Shift at least 20% of digital ad spend into retail media networks—but demand independent measurement.
• Logistics: Promise 48–72-hour delivery across GCC markets and highlight return policies.
• Social: Use TikTok and Instagram for shoppable video linked directly to product pages; run WhatsApp Business for customer support.
• Recommerce: Launch certified refurbished/trade-in programmes with 6–12-month warranties to attract value-driven customers.