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Horizon Media Study Finds That Social Shopping is Quickly Replacing Ecommerce

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Millennials and Gen X Growing Group Who Scroll to Shop; Live and Virtual Shopping Driving More Brand Purchases

NEW YORK, Sept. 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — As Gen Z and Millennials increasingly research and purchase products through social media as well through live and virtual shopping, gaming, and automated reality platforms, social shopping is set to outpace e-commerce, putting pressure on brands that face a collapsing consumer purchasing journey. How consumers are behaving and the implications for brands, social media platforms, and retail media outlets are the subject of The Rise of Social Shopping, released by Horizon Media today.

The findings from the WHY Group, Horizon Media’s intelligence center of excellence, and Night Market, Horizon’s commerce affiliate, demonstrate that social shopping is quickly replacing ecommerce. The results show that one in four people today are scrolling to shop.  Among social shoppers, 80% say they make a purchase twice a month and 73% expect to purchase at least once a month in the upcoming year, with Millennials most likely to be frequent shoppers. Those not currently shopping on social are open and ready: 75% of Gen Z, 76% of Millennials and 61% of Gen X feel comfortable purchasing on social media. Marketers need to tap into these platforms to connect with customers where they are to drive additional revenue.

Beyond the Gen Z adopters, Millennials and Gen X are also quickly shifting online buying habits to social platforms including TikTok, Pinterest, Snapchat, Facebook, and Instagram. In addition to live shopping, gaming platforms such as Twitch and Roblox now connect brands to buyers.

More than half of products purchased through these platforms are brand name and purchases span categories – more than 40% include Apparel, Beauty, Electronics, and Personal Care. Impulse buys are big, including trending and seasonal products.

The market opportunity is large:  Social commerce revenue is projected to reach $6.2 trillion globally by 2030 (Statista). Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Tik Tok have already integrated shopping into their user experience and more brands are jumping in to generate revenue.  More than 72% of social shoppers say they could replace at least some of their online shopping with social shopping.

However, the biggest hurdle to more widespread acceptance is scammers and the trustworthiness of online shopping. Brand verification is key and a large opportunity to generate sales. Marketers need to invest and promote safety in their brands.  Once this happens, they will capture more market share.

“We are witnessing one of the most radical shifts in behavior we’ve seen since the adoption of ecommerce,” said George Musli, Chief Business Officer, Night Market. “Social shopping promises a dynamic, personalized experience that can shorten the marketing funnel and blur the boundaries between online and offline retail.  Marketers need to capitalize on the platforms poised for growth. Today gaming experiences are already making an impact, especially among Millennials. Brands that jump in will be in a prime position to grow when uptake expands.”

The Rise of Social Shopping report includes the following key findings:

Social Shopping in Tik Tok, and Beyond

Despite reports that the introduction of Tik Tok Shop would spell the app’s demise, people disagree

Just 12% of social shoppers agree that social shopping on places like Tik Tok is making social media less fun, a figure matched by 13% of non-social shoppers

Beyond Tik Tok, there is significant opportunity across Meta properties and YouTube, especially with older cohorts

Facebook is not only one of the most used platforms but also the most trusted for social and non-social shoppers alike

Marketers can take advantage of introducing new products and promotions by targeting the more than 4 in 10 non-social shoppers that already see social media as a place to gather inspiration or research

Live streaming and virtual shopping are new commerce channels

Live shopping and virtual shopping are gaining traction, adding new dimensions to the experience

This shift in shopping behavior goes beyond Gen Z, with Millennials and even Gen X embracing new ways to purchase through social media, gaming experiences, AR, and VR

Among social shoppers 58% of Millennials have purchase form a livestream and would again, 56% of Gen X are open to trying. This extends to virtual shopping with 48% of Millennials planning to do this again, and 40% of Gen X open. These new avenues can bring incremental sales for marketers promoting their brands in new ways

Social Shopping Excels with Relational Buyers

Shoppers see social commerce as a way to support small businesses, foster community, and promote social good, while social shoppers further associate it with endorsements and personalized recommendations

Social shopping excels in creating connections in a way that traditional online shopping does not

Users are looking for inspiration (55% of the population, 60% of Gen Z). Marketers can help them discover a brand or product they didn’t even know they needed

Timing is Key for Purchases

Impulse buys are big including trending and seasonal products

Brands can encourage immediate buying with reminders to purchase and exclusive offers

Influencer partnerships, trending hashtags and seasonal products can also be instrumental in generating hype for products and services

Marketers can evaluate the content users are browsing and what products they are considering to purchase, and serve an ad that leads to a verified brand page (and contains some other enticements like free shipping) to drive sales

“Social shopping is now officially a part of the online ecosystem, tapping into community in a way that online does not,” Pam Wake, VP, Why Group. “Social offers a rich environment for brands to foster connections, build loyalty and consequently create unique shopping experiences that blur the boundaries between commerce and community.  Marketers can tap into existing fandoms, subcultures and niche communities that are drawn together by shared values, norms, behaviors and identity makers.”

For more findings, as well as recommendations for how brands can translate these insights into action and engagement, access the full report at The Rise of Social Shopping.

Methodology:

We surveyed 1,008 adults 18-59 who use social media and shop online, including n=499 that are current social shoppers (purchasing via social commerce avenues including social media, gaming or AR/VR) and n=509 who are not.

The sample was balanced to the US general population by age, gender, region and income. Surveys were fielded between 4/30/2024 and 5/7/2024.

About Night Market

Night Market, which is part of Horizon, is a multi-service retail and commerce agency that helps clients maximize business performance, growth, and outcomes. We offer a comprehensive range of retail and commerce solutions designed to help ignite and accelerate growth across marketplaces, retail, DTC, and omnichannel.  From media to creative, customer experience (CX), and digital transformation (DX), we combine the right mix of human and technical capabilities to design and deliver experiences across owned, leased, contextual, and experiential platforms that influence consumer perceptions and behavior and drive transactions. Founded in 2020 with a focus on being a business partner and a business driver as much, if not more, than an agency.

About Horizon Media

Horizon Media, the largest U.S. media agency delivers data-driven business outcomes for some of the most innovative and ambitious brands. Founded in 1989, headquartered in New York, and with offices in Los Angeles and Toronto, the company employs 2,400 people and has media investments of more than $8.5 billion.  Horizon Media’s fundamental belief is that business is personal, which drives its approach to connecting brands with their customers and engaging with its own employees resulting in industry-leading workplace satisfaction levels (Glassdoor).  The company is consistently recognized by independent media outlets for its client excellence and has earned several “Best Workplaces” awards reflecting its commitment to DEI and the life and well-being of everyone at Horizon Media.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/horizon-media-study-finds-that-social-shopping-is-quickly-replacing-ecommerce-302257014.html

SOURCE Horizon Media

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Nanalysis Announces Board Transition and Appointment of Three New Directors

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CALGARY, AB, May 1, 2026 /CNW/ – Nanalysis Scientific Corp. (the “Company”, TSXV: NSCI, FRA: 1N1), a leader in portable NMR spectrometers and MRI technology for industrial and research applications, is pleased to announce the appointment of Jonathan Ladd, Werner Maas, and Steve Feick to its Board of Directors effective May 1, 2026.

Mr. Ladd is an experienced technology executive and former Chief Executive Officer of NovAtel Inc., a Nasdaq-listed GPS technology company acquired by Hexagon AB. He has a track record of scaling global technology businesses and brings extensive experience in capital markets, corporate governance, and strategic execution within advanced technology companies. He currently serves on the following boards: Takemetoit Inc., AgriRobot, Litus Inc., and is an advisor at Tall Grass Ventures. Mr. Ladd earned a bachelor’s degree with distinction in engineering and is a member of Tau Beta Pi National Engineering Honor Society.

Dr. Maas is a senior executive in the analytical instrumentation sector, having previously served as President of Bruker BioSpin Corporation and currently serving as Chief Executive Officer of Hudson Lab Automation. He brings deep expertise in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technologies, as well as global sales, marketing, and commercialization of scientific instrumentation. Dr. Maas holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from Radboud University in The Netherlands, as well as several executive management designations from the MIT Sloan School of Management.

Mr. Feick is President of Manvest Inc., part of the Mancal Group. He has a track record of developing and growing a portfolio of investments in agriculture, finance, supply chain, infrastructure technology, energy efficiency, and data analytics. As a former entrepreneur, he ensures that his operational and investor experience elevates the growth of the portfolio. He is an experienced investor and brings expertise in capital allocation, governance, and long-term strategic planning across private and public market investments. Mr. Feick holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from Queen’s University.

In connection with these appointments, Martin Burian and Jennifer Stubbs will be stepping down from the Board of Directors, effective May 1, 2026. The Company thanks Mr. Burian and Ms. Stubbs for their contributions and service and wishes them continued success in their future endeavours.

“On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Martin and Jennifer for their contributions to Nanalysis and dedicated service to the Company and wish them continued success in their future endeavours.” said Sean Krakiwsky, Chief Executive Officer. “We are pleased to welcome Jonathan, Werner, and Steve. Their collective experience across instrumentation, global commercialization, and capital allocation will support the Company as we focus on scaling our core NMR platform and executing on our services growth strategy.”

About Nanalysis Scientific Corp. (TSXV: NSCI, OTCQX: NSCIF, FRA: 1N1)

Nanalysis Scientific Corp. develops and manufactures portable Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectrometers used worldwide in pharma, biotech, energy, food, materials, and security industries, as well as in academic and government labs. The Company also operates a growing services division that maintains both its own products and third-party imaging equipment, anchored by a $160 million long-term contract with the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) to maintain security scanners at more than 80 Canadian airports.

Notice regarding Forward Looking Statements and Legal Disclaimer

This news release contains certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of such statements under applicable securities law. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as “anticipates”, “plan”, “continue”, “expect”, “project”, “intend”, “believe”, “anticipate”, “estimate”, “may”, “will”, “potential”, “proposed”, “positioned” and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions “may” or “will” occur. These statements are only predictions. Various assumptions were used in drawing the conclusions or making the projections contained in the forward-looking statements throughout this news release. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. The Company is under no obligation, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable law.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nanalysis-announces-board-transition-and-appointment-of-three-new-directors-302759750.html

SOURCE Nanalysis Scientific Corp.

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PCIS Emerges as Leading Risk and Claims Provider in Mid-Atlantic with Three Major Wins

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SEPTA, City of Baltimore, and Maryland Department of Transportation MTA adopt ClaimsVISION to modernize risk and claims operations

NEW YORK, May 1, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — PCIS, a leading provider of Risk & Claims Management Information System (RMIS), today announced a series of new and expanded client engagements across the Mid-Atlantic region, further solidifying its position as a trusted partner for transit agencies and public sector organizations.

“The biggest barrier to innovation in the public sector isn’t a lack of tools—it’s the weight of legacy data environments that were never built for real-time intelligence. You can’t layer AI on top of fragmented, batch-driven systems and expect results.

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) has selected PCIS ClaimsVISION RMIS to enhance its risk management capabilities and support more efficient claims oversight. The City of Baltimore has chosen ClaimsVISION Claims and RMIS to modernize its claims administration and enterprise risk management operations. In addition, the Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration (MDOT MTA) has entered into a new five-year agreement with PCIS, extending a long-standing partnership and continuing its use of the ClaimsVISION platform.

These engagements reflect a broader trend among public entities seeking modern, configurable platforms to improve visibility, streamline workflows, and strengthen compliance across increasingly complex risk environments.

“The biggest barrier to innovation in the public sector isn’t a lack of tools—it’s the weight of legacy data environments that were never built for real-time intelligence. You can’t layer AI on top of fragmented, batch-driven systems and expect results. Organizations like SEPTA and Baltimore are rethinking the foundation—moving toward continuous, streaming data models that actually enable AI to deliver value”, said Michael Loizou, CSO of PCIS.

Across these implementations, PCIS will deliver a unified platform designed to:

Centralize claims and risk data for improved decision-makingEnhance BI and intelligent analytics capabilitiesStreamline workflows and reduce manual processesSupport regulatory compliance and audit readinessEnable scalable, configurable solutions tailored to public sector needs

The continued expansion of PCIS within the Mid-Atlantic region underscores the company’s growing presence among transit agencies and public entities seeking proven, purpose-built risk and claims management solutions.

Media Contact

Helene Quinn, PCIS, 1 2124051625, hquinn@pcisvision.com, www.pcisvision.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prweb.com/releases/pcis-emerges-as-leading-risk-and-claims-provider-in-mid-atlantic-with-three-major-wins-302759785.html

SOURCE PCIS

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Private Equity’s AI Moment: The Greatest Value Lever in Decades — and the Hardest to Pull

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The following article is authored by Neil Dhar, Senior Vice President, IBM Consulting Americas

ARMONK, N.Y., May 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Next week at Think 2026, we’ll outline the forces shaping the Enterprise AI Race, forces that apply with particular urgency to private equity. The organizations gaining ground today are not the ones betting on a single model. They are the ones redesigning how their businesses operate, building hybrid architectures that give them control, and deploying AI in ways that orchestrate value that compounds over time. 

The private equity industry understands this better than most. The days of pilots and promises are over, and the demand for hard proof (a.k.a. ROI) has begun. Is your revenue accelerating? Can you drive efficiency and profitability at the same time? What does long-term growth look like? These are the questions sitting across the table at every board meeting and investment committee, and the pressure is only intensifying.  

This pressure has forced major PE firms to move aggressively to formalize their AI strategies, including exploring joint ventures with leading LLM companies. They’re making a calculated bet on AI as the most powerful value‑creation lever the industry has seen in its history, and they recognize that the window to move is now. 

The logic is unmistakable. PE firms don’t run single businesses, they run portfolios. Which means AI playbooks that work don’t just transform one company; they compound across ten, twenty, fifty, hundreds. A workflow reinvented once becomes a repeatable asset. A governance framework built once becomes portfolio infrastructure. That multiplier effect is native to how PE creates value, and it’s what makes the intersection of private equity and enterprise AI one of the most consequential arenas in business right now. 

The bet is a no-brainer. Execution is where it gets hard.  

Here’s what we know to be true: competitive advantage won’t come from betting on a single LLM. It will come from building AI tailored to your business, shifting to a hybrid strategy that combines custom models, foundation models, and smaller specialized models, all grounded in an architecture that connects your data, your workflows, and your intelligence. In private equity, where the same playbook has to work across an entire portfolio, that distinction isn’t academic. It’s the difference between value that compounds and value that stalls. 

We know this because we lived it. We turned our own operations into the proving ground, analyzing nearly 400 operational workflows and deploying AI solutions across more than 100 so far, coupled with AI governance and enablement.

The result was $4.5B in productivity gains from AI, hybrid cloud, automation and consulting expertise, and proof of what works.

We then took that proof and productized those validated workflows into IBM Enterprise Advantage, a first-of-its-kind asset-based consulting service that enables clients to build and operate their own tailored internal AI platform at scale.

With digital workers, prebuilt tools, and native governance, clients have a headstart rather than a blank slate. And because it’s multi-model, they retain the freedom to shift as technology evolves. For private equity, that flexibility determines whether a company is an asset or a liability at exit. 

We’re bringing this same approach to private equity-backed companies, where the defining question is what changed and can you prove it.

A major U.S. telecommunications provider is deploying digital workers and prebuilt AI tools from Enterprise Advantage to accelerate the migration of more than 150 critical applications, delivering measurable savings within two quarters.Working with a leading insurance administrator, IBM is using agentic AI to overhaul end-to-end claims processing, a function where a single claim can involve dozens of tightly regulated steps across multiple systems. AI agents now read and structure claim documents, perform compliance checks, assess eligibility, and route cases automatically, resulting in faster cycle times, fewer bottlenecks, and an operating model built to scale. 

What private equity does here will ripple far beyond its own portfolios. When PE-backed companies deploy production-ready AI across the business, they reset competitive expectations for entire industries, forcing every competitor to respond. That is the Enterprise AI Race playing out in real time.

The choices made today will define portfolio performance for the next decade. Move too slowly and you’re handing the advantage to every competitor who didn’t. Move without discipline and you’re betting the portfolio on a foundation that hasn’t been proven. The firms that win will be the ones who understood that distinction early enough to do something about it.

About IBM 

IBM is a leading provider of global hybrid cloud and AI, and consulting expertise. We help clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs and gain the competitive edge in their industries. Thousands of governments and corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas such as financial services, telecommunications and healthcare rely on IBM’s hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift to affect their digital transformations quickly, efficiently and securely. IBM’s breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and consulting deliver open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM’s long-standing commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity and service. Visit www.ibm.com for more information.

Media contact: 

IBM
Lily O’Brien
lilyobrien@ibm.com

SOURCE IBM

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