Amazon has acquired Bee, a San Francisco-based startup specializing in AI-powered wearable devices. This strategic move strengthens Amazon’s investments in artificial intelligence and wearable technology, aiming to usher in a new era for personal health monitoring and quality of life.

Bee’s AI-Powered Wristband for Health Monitoring

Bee’s AI-enabled wristband tracks users’ daily activities, sleep patterns, and stress levels in real time. The device listens to users’ conversations and converts them into text, creating personalized reminders, summaries, and to-do lists. It also integrates with emails, calendars, location data, and photos to provide more comprehensive analytics.

Bee’s CEO, Maria de Lourdes Zollo, stated that the acquisition will accelerate technology development and that Amazon’s robust infrastructure will further enhance the device’s privacy controls. The wristband will be sold at a price of $49.99, with a monthly subscription fee of $19.

With this acquisition, Amazon aims to go beyond voice assistants like Echo, integrating more deeply into users’ daily lives. This will expand the opportunities AI offers in personal health and productivity. The company plans to integrate Bee’s technology and expertise into its ecosystem to improve users’ quality of life.

This acquisition reinforces Amazon’s innovative approach in the health and technology sectors and is expected to intensify competition in the wearable technology market.

Economic data for Saudi Arabia’s first quarter of 2025 reveal that the country’s economy performed stronger than expected. While previously announced growth was 2.7%, the main contribution came from non-oil sectors, which grew by 4.9%. During the same period, contraction in the oil sector remained limited at around 0.5%. Government spending was also one of the important factors supporting growth.

Among the leading sectors, retail and hospitality grew by 8.4%, transportation and communication by 6%, and finance and business services by 5.5%. Domestic demand increased by 4.5%, while fixed capital investments rose by 8.5%.

Saudi Arabia is the Most Active Venture Capital Market in the MENA Region

According to MAGNiTT data, Saudi Arabia was the most active venture capital market in the MENA region during the first half of 2025, completing 114 investment deals and attracting investments exceeding 860 million dollars. These figures highlight the country’s economic diversification and growth targets in innovative sectors.

On the export side, there was a 9% increase in non-oil products, while imports decreased by 10%. These developments positively impacted the trade balance and helped net exports contribute positively to growth.

An increase in oil production limited the contraction of the sector. However, the budget GDP growth for the first half of the year was revised to 3.4%, reaching a level of 101 billion riyals.

This increase also led to a budget deficit being recorded. The Ministry of Finance announced that public expenditures will be reviewed.

Mega projects and infrastructure investments carried out under Vision 2030 are expected to accelerate economic growth throughout the year.

Record Surge in Saudi Arabia’s E-Commerce Sales

The Russia-based popular e-commerce platform Wildberries aims to make its logistics and delivery processes more efficient through the taxi service.

Wildberries’ taxi service is intended to shorten delivery times and increase customer satisfaction, especially during peak shopping periods. Additionally, this service is seen as a new step to improve the overall user experience on the platform.

Wildberries Aims for Reliable Delivery

Company officials plan to expand the taxi service to other cities if the pilot project proves successful. This development is considered an indication of the importance placed on innovative solutions in logistics and delivery within the e-commerce sector.

With this move, Wildberries aims to increase competition in online shopping while offering faster and more reliable delivery options to customers.

The data on Germany’s e-commerce ecosystem is promising! In the first six months of 2024, spending on purchasing products online reached €39.84 billion. This figure represents a 3.5% increase compared to the same period in 2023.

The e-commerce sector in Germany experienced a major boom after the pandemic. In the following two years, the market contracted by 8.8% and 11.8%, respectively. However, the latest data shows that this downward trend has ended. The sector is back on a growth path. In 2023, there was a slight recovery of 1.1%. Then 2024 stands out as a “clear year of growth.”

Both Product and Service Spending Increased

In Germany’s e-commerce market, in addition to product sales, online service expenditures also showed a significant rise. This segment, which reached €3.9 billion with a 4.4% increase, reveals the diversification in the digital economy. Although these figures are not adjusted for inflation, which is estimated to be around 2%, they are still viewed positively.

“Shopping Behavior in Germany is Returning to Old Patterns”

Martin Groß-Albenhausen, Deputy Managing Director of the German E-Commerce and Mail Order Association (bevh), stated that shopping behavior in the country is starting to return to previous patterns. Groß-Albenhausen said, “This recovery benefits the e-commerce platforms most influential in digital channels. Through social media, mobile apps, and AI-supported suggestions, online retail reaches consumers in the most direct and effective way.”

Marketplace Sales Grew by 5.9%

According to Germany’s e-commerce data, sales on marketplaces operating in the country grew by 5.9%. Platforms like Amazon are among the biggest beneficiaries of this increase. However, this is not the case for every seller. Groß-Albenhausen emphasizes that this growth is mostly concentrated around large-scale sellers and platforms, while small businesses are not showing the same performance.

Concerns Continue Among Small E-Commerce Sellers

The data published by bevh confirms the 4% e-commerce growth forecast by the German Retail Association (HDE) for 2024. However, a study by Uptain paints a different picture. Small and medium-sized online businesses across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland are not benefiting from the increased spending. In fact, many small sellers are experiencing a decline in revenue.

sahibinden.com made a breakthrough in Türkiye in 2000 by bringing listings and shopping processes into the digital environment. Its mission is to make life easier for its users and ensure they can find everything they are looking for with ease. Its vision is to always be a user-friendly and innovative platform that focuses on sustainability and technology. sahibinden.com continues to grow as a pioneer of the circular economy and digitalization in Türkiye for a quarter of a century.

sahibinden.com CMO: “There is a Future in Second-Hand!”

Nazım Erdoğan, Deputy General Manager Responsible for Marketing at sahibinden.com, explained how they position sahibinden.com while the global second-hand market makes significant progress: “sahibinden.com, which believes in the power of second-hand products and plays a leading role in this field, increases user awareness with the message ‘There is a Future in Second-Hand,’ focusing on sustainability. By developing services that allow our users to shop for second-hand items with confidence, we contribute to the circular economy and take responsibility in the fight against the climate crisis. In 2024, we established a sustainability committee that includes senior management. We continue to take concrete steps in the field of sustainability with our commitments and published reports.”

Legendary Listings: The Lucky House That Helped Win a Football Match

Touching on interesting listings related to second-hand sales, Nazım Erdoğan said, “In the past, many interesting listings we compiled under the title of ‘Legendary Listings’ attracted great attention from the public. However, one user’s ‘lucky house that helped win a football match’ remained in our memory as one of the legendary listings. Every listing is the first step of a dream; being a bridge in turning these dreams into reality is the most meaningful and satisfying part of our work.”

Erdoğan continued, “Over the years, we have witnessed many colorful listings such as a Star Wars-themed house worth 1.6 million TL, an unused Airbus A300 aircraft, a biscuit wrongly packaged due to a production error, and a mini Mercedes worth 12,000 euros. In addition, many interesting listings have been posted on our platform, ranging from antique collections to props used on movie sets, from scripts for sale to entire TV channels. We are always amazed by the creativity of our users!”

Approximately 550 Million Visits Per Month!

With an average of 64.4 million users per month, sahibinden.com sees 548.5 million visits and 15.4 billion page views. Ranking fourth in the world in the classifieds category and eighth among all internet platforms in Türkiye according to SimilarWeb rankings, sahibinden.com hosts more than 8 million listings in a wide range of categories such as vehicles, real estate, second-hand products, and refurbished electronic devices.

According to the statistical bulletin issued by the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) in May 2025, e-commerce sales across the country made using Mada cards reached around SAR 70 billion (approximately USD 18.5 billion) in the first quarter of the year.

This figure marks the highest level ever recorded for e-commerce sales in Saudi Arabia. The bulletin indicates an annual growth of 56 percent and an increase of approximately SAR 25 billion compared to SAR 44.4 billion recorded during the same period in 2024.

Number of E-Commerce Transactions in Saudi Arabia Exceeds 370 Million

According to the report, the number of e-commerce transactions carried out using Mada cards exceeded 370 million during the specified period. During the same period, sales grew by 26 percent on a quarterly basis, increasing by around SAR 14 billion compared to SAR 55 billion recorded in the fourth quarter of 2024.

On a monthly basis, e-commerce sales made via Mada in May amounted to approximately SAR 28 billion. This figure was SAR 23 billion in April, marking an 18 percent increase. The number of e-commerce transactions exceeded 147 million.
The data showed a cumulative growth of 31.3 percent for the January–May 2025 period, with an increase of approximately SAR 6.5 billion compared to SAR 20.9 billion in January.

These figures include payments and purchases made using Mada cards via e-commerce websites, applications, and digital wallets. Transactions made with other credit cards are not included in this data. Mada is the national payment network in the Kingdom and one of the payment systems owned by the Saudi Central Bank.

E-Commerce Sales via Mada Cards Rise by 57% in Saudi Arabia

TikTok Shop had already gone through several rounds of layoffs in 2025. The company announced that this restructuring aims to create more efficient long-term business models and was carried out following “rigorous analyses.” Accordingly, it was reported that preparations are being made for possible layoffs.

Pressure on TikTok Has Increased

TikTok’s e-commerce team in the U.S. failed to meet its 2024 performance targets. New challenges emerged in 2025, such as a decrease in order volume following tariffs imposed by Trump.

It was stated that uncertainty among employees has grown due to ongoing discussions with the U.S. government regarding a law that requires ByteDance to sell its U.S. assets and aims to prevent TikTok from being banned in the United States.

TikTok Shop Launched in Japan

The launch of TikTok Shop in Japan was announced in recent weeks. In this context, the service became available in Japan on Monday, June 30, 2025. TikTok has integrated shopping features directly into its video application in Japan. With TikTok Shop, Japanese users can purchase products listed in videos and live streams without leaving the app.

Japan Becomes the 17th Market for TikTok Shop

TikTokShop offers a wide range of products. The platform plans to introduce a dedicated “Shop” tab in the coming months, allowing users to explore and purchase items directly from brand pages. Following its launch in Indonesia, the UK, and other markets, Japan has become the 17th country where TikTok Shop is available.

It is reported that major Japanese retail brands are preparing to open stores on the platform. TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, stated that many businesses in Japan and around the world are joining the ecosystem. Shop ads and the dedicated “Shop” tab are expected to be expanded locally soon. TikTok currently has over 20 million users in Japan.

TikTok Shop to Launch E-Commerce Service in Japan

As Southeast Asia‘s largest economy, Indonesia is working on a new regulation aimed at increasing tax collection. The regulation also seeks to level the playing field between physical and online stores.

According to a report by Reuters, under the new regulation, e-commerce platforms will be required to withhold tax from sellers’ sales revenue. The regulation could be announced as early as next month.

0.5% Tax Deduction on E-Commerce Revenues of Indonesian SMEs

Under the new regulation, a 0.5% tax will be deducted from the sales revenue of sellers (SMEs) whose annual turnover ranges from 500 million rupiah to 4.8 billion rupiah. Platforms that delay reporting will face penalties. While SMEs already pay this tax rate directly, the new regulation will transfer this responsibility to the platforms.

Major E-Commerce Marketplaces to Be Affected

The regulation will directly impact e-commerce companies operating in Indonesia. While platforms oppose the proposal, arguing that it may increase administrative costs and drive sellers away, authorities remain firm.

The platforms expected to be most affected include TikTok Shop, Tokopedia, Shopee, Lazada, Blibli, and Bukalapak. The regulation is set to impact millions of e-commerce sellers.

Previous Attempt Withdrawn Amid Backlash

Indonesia previously attempted a similar regulation in 2018, requiring marketplace operators to share seller data and pay taxes on sales revenues. However, the regulation was withdrawn just three months after implementation due to industry backlash. So far, Indonesian public authorities and e-commerce associations have refrained from commenting on the new proposal.

Meanwhile, the country’s e-commerce ecosystem continues to grow steadily. According to a report by Bain & Co., Indonesia’s gross merchandise value (GMV) in e-commerce reached $65 billion in 2024. The market is projected to reach $150 billion by 2030.

Kazakhstan’s Minister of National Economy, Serik Zhumangarin, commented on the state of e-commerce in the country in response to a parliamentary question. Describing the future of e-commerce in Kazakhstan as “promising,” Zhumangarin stated that the e-commerce volume had reached 3.2 trillion tenge (approximately $6.2 billion).

This figure represents 14.1% of the country’s total trade volume. In 2020, e-commerce in Kazakhstan amounted to 476 billion tenge (around $918 million). These figures indicate a sevenfold increase in e-commerce volume over five years.

Deputy Zhaiymbetov noted that due to concerns over online fraud and a general lack of trust, most consumers still prefer physical stores. Despite the convenience and advantages of online shopping, this trend continues, he said.

Kazakhstan Hosts 104 Online Marketplaces

According to Zhumangarin, there are currently 104 online marketplaces operating in Kazakhstan. These include platforms such as Kaspi.kz, Wildberries, Ozon, and Halyk Market.

The minister also highlighted that the growing number of warehouse constructions is a sign of rising interest in e-commerce. Kazpost is building warehouses covering a total area of up to 85,000 square meters in the cities of Almaty and Aktobe, as well as in the Almaty and Turkistan regions.

Wildberries currently operates eight logistics centers with a total area of 44,000 square meters. Additionally, new logistics spaces covering 271,000 square meters are under construction in Almaty and Astana. Ozon, on the other hand, has two distribution centers totaling 42,000 square meters in Almaty and Astana and is building a third 20,000-square-meter facility in Almaty.