As the countdown to one of the busiest retail periods of the year begins, Amazon has unveiled a new study designed to give sellers a head start using technology.
As the holiday season approaches, including Black Friday, the study reveals that for independent sellers selling on Amazon’s store, success depends on both having the right products and deploying the right ones tools. According to the study, those who adopt tools such as AI, data insights and investment in customer relationships are poised to capture a larger share of the sales pie.
Of the 5,000 small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) surveyed in the UK, France, Germany, Spain and Italy, 88% said the holiday sales period is crucial for their growth.
Whether leveraging data analytics or leveraging AI-driven strategies, successful SMBs no longer just react to trends, they predict them. They use cutting-edge tools such as Opportunity Explorer Tool to understand customer trends and AI tools to personalize interactions and secure sales in ways that traditional methods simply can’t match.
The new rules of success
The study revealed the top three strategies sellers are deploying to take full advantage of the upcoming holiday shopping season.
1. Data analysis: In the digital age, understanding data is essential. SMBs that track sales trends and consumer behavior make smarter decisions on inventory, pricing and promotions. Those who use data analytics and embrace real-time market trends have the potential to turn shoppers into buyers this holiday season. And by selling on the Amazon store, independent sellers have access to a wide range of tools that provide insight into customer actions, intentions and loyalty.(1). Breaking this down by country, sellers surveyed in the UK are most likely to use data-driven strategies to improve their visibility and drive sales (53%) to stand out in a highly competitive space, followed by Spain (52%), Italy (52%), France (44%) and Germany (42%).
2. AI Technology: The rise of AI is no longer the future, it is the present. AI is reshaping the way businesses interact with their customers and streamline all aspects of a businessfrom personalized product recommendations to real-time chatbots or enhanced data analysis (2). When asked a specific question on Amazon AI Listing Capabilities and specifically the new generative AI tool that easily creates high-quality product detail pages, 77% of SMEs surveyed in Europe cited it as a useful tool for their business. Overall, 40% of European SMEs believe that AI is the science of sales behavior most essential to business growth and success, second only to data analytics.
3. Customer relationship management (CRM): Building lasting customer relationships is also crucial to sales success. Robust CRM systems are indispensable tools for building customer loyalty, increasing sales and efficiently managing a high volume of interactions. UK sellers are pioneering this, with 45% recognizing the benefits of strong customer relationship management strategies to better monitor and maintain customer relationships. They are closely followed by Germany (42%), Spain (37%), France (37%) and Italy (37%).
While many small businesses are already taking advantage of this approach, unlocking the power of sales science can help small businesses that turn peak purchasing periods into pivotal moments for growth. By leveraging the tools that successful sellers rely on—data analytics for intelligent decision-making, AI for personalized customer engagement, and CRM for lasting customer loyalty—businesses can prepare for Black Friday and holidays with strategies that generate results.
Technology adoption, the ingredient for success
For SMEs, Black Friday and the holiday shopping peak are no longer just opportunities: they are a recipe for success, if businesses prepare properly, since nearly nine out of ten SMEs say that these periods are crucial for their business. growth. Businesses that embrace technology get a head start, optimizing every aspect of their operations to meet demand.
German SMBs lead the pack, with 91% saying Black Friday and peak holiday shopping are critical to their growth, followed closely by Spain (90%), France (89%). %), Italy (88%) and the United Kingdom (83%). %).
Consumers are waiting for Black Friday
The holiday peak isn’t just important for SMBs: it’s also the time when customers are eagerly looking to make their biggest purchases count. The study found that 84% of SMBs agree that consumers save their biggest purchases of the year for Black Friday and holiday sales. To meet this consumer demand, small businesses selling in the Amazon store across Europe have highlighted the usefulness of a number of tools and services. These include:
- Fulfillment by Amazon (Fulfilled by Amazon) (85%)
- Multi-channel execution (81%)
- Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) such as AI lists (81%)
- Central Seller Resources (80%)
- Opportunity Explorer Tool (79%)
Xavier Flamand, Vice President of Seller Services at Amazon Europe said, “At Amazon, we understand the critical role our retail partners play in keeping customers happy, especially during the busy holiday shopping season. That’s why we strive to provide sellers with the right tools, services and information to help them succeed. From inventory planning reports to marketing promotions and shipping solutions, our goal is to provide entrepreneurs with the best resources that make it easier for them to take advantage of peak demand periods. We are committed to being strategic partners, not just retail service providers, independent sellers across Europe. »
Is your business ready to thrive this holiday season?
Our research suggests that SMBs who want to truly thrive during Black Friday and the holiday season need to start planning and implementing the right tools in advance. .”
Businesses that embrace data analytics, AI, and CRM are the ones poised to benefit the most this holiday season, driving growth and securing more attention on their products.
When independent sellers choose to sell on the Amazon Store, they have access to powerful tools, services, and programs to drive the growth of their business. Another key benefit for sellers is the huge investment and progress Amazon has made to ensure customers can shop with confidence in our store – our experience and reputation with customers is part of why independent sellers choose Amazon.
To learn more about the tools and services Amazon offers independent sellers that enable sales science, visit: https://sell.amazon.com.
