EC & AI Commerce News Digest (March 24, 2026)

Key Takeaways

Accenture × DaVinci Commerce: Agentic BrandStore™ with ChatGPT integration launches
Forbes analysis: Payment failures become a make-or-break factor for merchants in the AI agent era
Alibaba International targets the US market with B2B AI agent platform "Accio Work"

Agentic Commerce

Alibaba International Launches AI Agent Platform "Accio Work" — Targeting Tens of Millions of US Users

Alibaba eyes 'tens of millions' of US users for new AI agent - Nikkei Asia

PALO ALTO, California -- Alibaba International is rolling out a new AI agent platform targeting small and midsize enterprises in late March.

Alibaba International announced Accio Work, a B2B agentic AI platform. Designed for small and medium enterprises, AI agents automate supplier searches, quote comparisons, and order management.

According to Nikkei Asia, Alibaba aims to acquire "tens of millions" of users in the US market. Unlike the traditional Alibaba marketplace, the distinguishing feature is that AI agents handle the entire procurement process for businesses. This is positioned as part of a strategy to overcome e-commerce stagnation through AI transformation.

Full article: Alibaba International Launches B2B AI Agent "Accio Work," Targeting Tens of Millions of US Users

OpenAI Officially Abandons Instant Checkout Feature for ChatGPT

OpenAI Abandons Instant Checkout Feature in ChatGPT | ForkLog

OpenAI has reportedly abandoned the development of an instant checkout (payment completion) feature within ChatGPT. This follows last week's reported pivot to an in-app model.

While ChatGPT offers shopping recommendation features, the vision of completing payments end-to-end has been withdrawn. Instead, the company will focus on an affiliate model that directs users to existing e-commerce sites. This highlights the industry debate in agentic commerce: should "AI platforms complete commerce themselves, or drive traffic to existing e-commerce?"

Radial Survey: 58% of Consumers Open to AI Agents, but Only 6% Have Used Them

Radial: 58% Open to AI Agents, Only 6% Have Used Them

Radial, soon to be Paxon, reveals survey findings on consumer trust in agentic AI for commerce, showing a gap between interest and actual adoption.

A joint survey by Radial and Incisiv revealed the gap between consumer awareness and actual adoption of AI agents. While 58% of consumers said they are open to AI agent-assisted purchasing, only 6% have actually used one.

These results indicate that agentic commerce is still in its early stages, while also pointing to significant growth potential. Building trust and providing user-friendly UX will be key to widespread adoption.

AI Commerce Tools

Coveo Redefines Ecommerce Discovery with Search-Native Conversational AI

Coveo (TSX: CVO), the leader in AI-powered relevance for digital experiences, today announced the launch of Coveo Conversational Product Discovery.

Coveo announced its AI-powered "Conversational Product Discovery." This solution enables product exploration through conversational interfaces rather than traditional keyword searches.

Its key feature is native integration with existing search infrastructure, allowing deployment without major site modifications. The evolution of AI-powered product discovery experiences is also attracting attention as foundational technology for agentic commerce.

Emporix × ACR Deploy AI-Driven Commerce Automation

Emporix and ACR Deploy AI-Driven Commerce Automation

Emporix deploys AI-powered order automation with ACR, enhancing digital commerce for essential products in foodservice, healthcare, and other industries.

Emporix and ACR are deploying AI-driven order automation solutions for essential product sectors including foodservice and healthcare. Routine order automation in B2B commerce is gaining traction as a practical use case for agentic commerce.

Estée Lauder Partners with Rezolve AI to Deploy Agentic Commerce Across 70 EMEA Markets

The Estée Lauder Cos. Dives Deeper into Agentic Commerce in EMEA

The Estée Lauder Cos. is partnering with AI startup Rezolve Ai to power AI-driven search and discovery across 70 markets in EMEA.

Estée Lauder is partnering with AI startup Rezolve Ai to introduce AI-driven search and product discovery experiences across 70 markets in EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa). This is a notable case of a luxury brand making a full-scale entry into agentic commerce.

The aim is to enable consumers to explore and purchase premium cosmetics through AI, strengthening digital channels as an alternative to traditional counter-based customer service.

Global E-Commerce Trends

European E-Commerce M&A Heats Up — At the Intersection of Retail and Technology

Delivering deals: The rise of e-commerce M&A in Europe | White & Case LLP - JDSupra

E-commerce sits at the nexus of two huge and still-growing sectors: retail and technology.

According to a White & Case LLP report, e-commerce-related M&A activity is intensifying in Europe. The e-commerce sector, positioned at the intersection of retail and technology, is attracting investor interest due to its significant growth potential.

Acquisitions are particularly increasing in fulfillment, payment infrastructure, and AI-powered personalization, accelerating industry consolidation.

Shopee Records 19% Order Growth in 3.3 Sale, Driven by Household Essentials

Essentials driving Shopee's 19% order growth

Household essentials powered Shopee's 19-percent order growth during its 3.3 sale in the Philippines.

Shopee's 3.3 sale in the Philippines recorded a 19% year-over-year increase in orders. Growth was driven by household essentials categories including cookware and daily necessities.

The trend of everyday essential purchases shifting to e-commerce is accelerating in Southeast Asia, marking a structural shift from the previously fashion and electronics-centric e-commerce usage patterns.

Logistics & Fulfillment

Amazon × USPS Negotiations Stall — Impact on US E-Commerce Delivery

Amazon and USPS Negotiations Are Crumbling. Will This Hurt the eCommerce Giant's Stock? | The Motley Fool

Amazon could lose one of its most important logistics partners.

Reports indicate that contract negotiations between Amazon and USPS (United States Postal Service) are struggling. USPS is a key delivery partner for Amazon, particularly handling rural areas and last-mile delivery.

With UPS also reducing Amazon delivery volumes, Amazon's logistics strategy is at a turning point. The expansion of its own delivery network is likely to accelerate further.

Amazon Debuts 1-Hour, 3-Hour Delivery Options in Over 2,000 Cities

Amazon debuts 1-hour, 3-hour delivery options | Retail Customer Experience

Amazon has debuted faster delivery options, including a one-hour window and a three hour service which is now live in over 2,000 cities and towns.

Amazon has introduced new 1-hour and 3-hour delivery options, now available in over 2,000 US cities and towns. In contrast to the stalled USPS negotiations, the company is expanding ultra-fast delivery leveraging its own delivery network.

Demand for instant delivery is expanding primarily in food and daily necessities, representing Amazon's move to strengthen competitiveness in the quick commerce space.

CTT × DHL eCommerce Joint Venture Approved by EU

EU clears CTT–DHL eCommerce Joint Venture - Container News

The European Commission has approved the joint venture between CTT – Correios de Portugal and DHL eCommerce under EU merger rules.

The European Commission has approved the establishment of a joint venture between Portugal's postal service CTT and DHL eCommerce. Having cleared the EU competition law review, this strengthens cross-border e-commerce logistics infrastructure in Europe.

The expansion of cross-border e-commerce delivery networks across Southern Europe and the EU is expected, with Portugal as the starting point.

Payments & Fintech

Razorpay × Sarvam AI Advance Voice AI Conversational Commerce in India

Razorpay, Sarvam AI partner to bring voice-AI conversational commerce to India - The Economic Times

Voice-led conversational commerce allows users to search for products, place orders, and make payments using natural language.

Indian payment giant Razorpay and domestic AI company Sarvam AI have partnered to deploy voice AI-powered conversational commerce in the Indian market. The solution enables product search, ordering, and payment completion through natural language.

In India's multilingual market, voice interfaces offer higher accessibility than text input, making voice commerce a promising gateway for next-generation e-commerce.

Summary

Today's news clearly shows agentic commerce transitioning into the "implementation phase." The Accenture × DaVinci Commerce investment and product launch, along with Alibaba Accio Work's full-scale deployment, demonstrate that major players are seriously investing capital in this space.

Meanwhile, as the Forbes payment failure analysis and Radial consumer survey show, in a world where AI agents actually handle purchasing on behalf of consumers, "unglamorous but essential challenges" like payment infrastructure reliability and consumer trust-building are emerging. Including OpenAI's checkout abandonment, many hurdles remain on the path to "AI completing the shopping experience."

On the logistics front, the contrasting developments of Amazon × USPS negotiation difficulties and the expansion of 1-hour delivery suggest Amazon's shift toward its own delivery network will accelerate further.