In this episode of BRAVE COMMERCE, Ajay Sharma, Vice President of eCommerce and Omnichannel at Bayer Consumer Health North America, joins hosts Rachel Tipograph and Sarah Hofstetter to offer a comprehensive overview of the evolving eCommerce landscape, emphasizing the importance of agility, innovation, and strategic partnerships in driving success in the digital marketplace.
Ajay begins by highlighting the importance of prioritization and focus in navigating the complexities of commerce, drawing from his diverse background, ranging from solo roles with limited resources to leading one of Bayer's largest markets. He stresses on the significance of organizing around priorities and fostering team development, noting the rapid progression of his own team as a source of inspiration.
The discussion then shifts towards the evolving nature of roles within the eCommerce landscape, emphasizing the need for multidisciplinary skills similar to a microcosm of a GM. Ajay discusses Bayer's adoption of a dynamic shared ownership model to streamline decision-making processes, enabling faster innovation and adaptation to market changes.
One notable achievement Ajay highlights is the acceleration of product innovation and launch timelines through strategic partnerships with eCommerce platforms like Amazon. He illustrates how Bayer leverages its internal talent pool alongside external partnerships to drive innovation and meet evolving consumer needs efficiently. He also emphasizes the importance of tailoring strategies to specific categories and understanding evolving consumer behaviors to ensure a seamless and frictionless customer journey.
Talking about emerging technologies, Ajay discusses the fundamental role of technology in underpinning eCommerce operations, from basic infrastructure to advanced data analytics and AI integration. He envisions a future where technology seamlessly integrates into everyday experiences, citing examples such as AI-powered refrigerators recommending recipes based on food items and integrated medicine cabinets facilitating healthcare management.
Key Takeaways:
● Invest in skill development and foster a culture of continuous learning
● Encourage teams to develop multidisciplinary expertise to navigate eCommerce complexities
● Utilize AI and data analytics for innovation and efficiency
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Improving fulfillment and inventory management in eComm with Flexe's David Glick
Mondelez's Jonathan Halvorson on the upcoming trends to watch in CPG
Building and growing a small business during a global pandemic with Sara Polon from SouperGirl
Beam Suntory's Jessica Spence on crafting fantastic consumer experiences
Maneuvering Hawaiian mountains and channel disruption with P&G's Katy Moeggenberg
Scale, speed and singularity with Sabra CMO Jason Levine
Nespresso's Justin DeGeorge on sustainability, eComm and good coffee
Pre-Thanksgiving Special: Predictions for the Turkey 5
Virtual drinks around the world with Pernod Ricard's Stuart Heffernan
Moving from beauty to QSR to home improvement with Lowe's Marisa Thalberg
The art of storytelling and margarita making with Patrón's Adrian Parker
Campbell's VP of eCommerce Diana Haussling on taking up space and bringing bold ideas to the table
Kimberly-Clark's Alison Lewis shares a taste of the secret sauce every modern CPG should add to their strategy
What the e.l.f. does Chipotle and Alicia Keys have to do with cosmetics? with e.l.f.’s Kory Marchisotto
Constellation Brand's Wayne Duan on the challenges of selling booze online and why D2C should be viewed as a relationship channel
Hershey's Chief Digital Officer Doug Straton on playing offense to win in eCommerce for Halloween 2020
J&J's Surabhi Pokhriyal on why curiosity is essential for eCommerce and how to avoid 'SUMO'
Amazon Prime Day Special: How brands can win on one of the biggest shopping days of the year
Boxed CEO Chieh Huang on customer loyalty and the future of delivery
Kraft-Heinz's Elizabeth Bennett on creating solutions for consumers rather than products
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The emPOWERed Half Hour
Right About Now with Ryan Alford
The Marketing Secrets Show
The Agile Brand™ with Greg Kihlstrom
B2B Agility™ with Greg Kihlström
MarTech Podcast ™ // Marketing + Technology = Business Growth