IBM Technology for SHOP.CA Online Marketplace

RMN Digital | July 11, 2012 | Americas, Backend, Enterprise, Lifestyle, Masses, Regions | No Comments

SHOP.CA, an online eCommerce marketplace in Canada, is using analytics software from IBM’s (NYSE: IBM) Smarter Commerce initiative to help engage online consumers and build loyalty and a sense of community, says IBM.

SHOP.CA’s online marketplace features products across 26 categories and in multi-merchant inventory. Its site offers Canadians one-stop access to national and international brands, free shipping, free returns and no cross-border fees.

Also hosting a loyalty program, SHOP.CA Rewards dollars are offered for both purchases and online activities that generate a purchase, such as sharing a link to a favorite product with a friend, or posting written or video reviews to social media sites like Facebook and Twitter.

SHOP.CA selected IBM’s technology as the eCommerce engine to power its consumer storefront, multi-merchant product catalog and SHOP.CA Rewards program. IBM will also provide analytics on how site visitors behave and interact, as well as track their searching and buying histories.

This data will give SHOP.CA insight on how, when and where to reach shoppers with content and offers personalized to their tastes and preferences via mobile or social vehicles.

“We want to push the envelope of what’s possible online and through a mobile device, and significantly advance the state of smarter commerce,” says Trevor Newell, SHOP.CA president and founder.

“In the era of mobile and social networks, consumers are becoming more connected, and more demanding in their expectations of how they interact with retailers,” says Jamie Spiller, IBM’s smarter commerce lead. “By applying the principles of Smarter Commerce, SHOP.CA is creating a rich online experience that’s personalized, timely, and relevant, and spans the entire commerce lifecycle of buying, marketing, selling and service.”

Under the terms of the agreement, IBM is providing SHOP.CA with Coremetrics Web Analytics delivered through the cloud and IBM WebSphere Commerce Professional. It was announced today, July 11.

Photo courtesy: SHOP.CA