This article has been written by our Client Service Director and Operations Lead, Jasmine Myles.This year, Alain and I had the opportunity to attend the Online Retailer Conference at the ICC in Sydney. It was an incredible experience, offering us the chance to connect with industry leaders, catch up with our partners at DotDigital, and hear about the latest trends that are shaping the future of ecommerce. From customer loyalty programs to the impact of generative AI, there was a lot to take in.Rather than introducing entirely new concepts, this experience reaffirmed much of what we already knew and are actively working on - validating the direction we're taking as a business and the strategies we offer our clients. The conference provided a no-filters look into the current and predicted state of the market, and it's this kind of data that will allow us and our clients to stay on top of a rapidly changing landscape.Here are some key takeaways we thought you should know about. Ecommerce Growth & the Cost of Living CrisisIt's no secret that Australia and New Zealand both are experiencing a major cost of living crisis, which is having a ripple effect on the retail industry across the APAC region, and this was a prominent topic at the conference. James Stewart from KPMG compared the ecommerce boom we saw during the pandemic with today’s more cautious retail environment.One of the standout stats? Household savings have plummeted from an average of 28% during the height of the pandemic to just 0.9% today. As a result, customers are becoming far more selective and price-sensitive. Retailers are adapting to this shift by stretching their sales periods - think Black Friday morphing into "Cyber Month." It’s becoming more challenging for brands to stand out, especially as consumers hold off on purchases until the next sale rolls around.Even though ecommerce growth is slowing, it’s certainly not stopping. Online shopping is still on the rise, especially with the growth of ...