83% of business decision-makers surveyed in a study conducted by Cisco say that AI is a strategic priority. AI is likely to change how we work across most industries, but what does this mean for someone planning to launch an e-commerce business?
AI cannot yet replace human work entirely, but it is already a powerful tool for optimizing both the startup phase and the ongoing operations of an online store. Practical uses include writing product descriptions, generating images, composing emails, automating customer responses and much more.
According to a survey reported by Ehandel.se, 21% of e-retailers said they have already implemented AI in their operations, and even more plan to do so soon. If you are preparing to start an e-commerce business, adopting AI tools from the beginning can give you a competitive advantage.
To help you get started quickly, we have gathered five of the most useful AI tools for launching an e-commerce business below.
1. ChatGPT
First up is the well-known ChatGPT. Its uses extend far beyond e-commerce: it produces content, writes product descriptions and can even handle customer inquiries efficiently. One major benefit is the conversational interface—you can ask questions and get answers within seconds. ChatGPT can also be integrated directly into webshops; major platforms such as Shopify offer apps to connect AI chatbots powered by ChatGPT and tools to generate product copy.
- Free version available.
- ChatGPT Plus: $20 per month.
2. Jasper
Jasper is a focused content-generation tool popular among entrepreneurs and online sellers. It excels at copywriting, can generate images and supports many content formats. Unlike ChatGPT, Jasper includes over 50 templates to help you produce the exact type of text you need, which makes it easier if you don’t want to craft prompts from scratch. Jasper also supports more than 30 languages, including Swedish. There is no permanent free tier, but you can try it free for seven days before committing.
- Free trial for 7 days.
- Creator: $49 per month.
- Teams: $125 per month.
- Business: custom pricing.
3. Canva
When launching an online store you’ll need images and design elements. Instead of hiring a graphic designer, Canva lets you generate new images with AI and edit existing photos. Canva offers a wide range of templates that simplify design tasks and is useful for everything from product visuals to social media planning. It’s not a pure AI product but a versatile design platform with many practical features for e-commerce.
- Free version available.
- Pro: $12.99 per month.
- Teams (up to five people): $14.99 per month.
4. AdCreative
AdCreative is a more specialized tool focused on creating ads. You upload your logo, set your color profile and describe your business, and the tool generates ad creatives optimized for different channels. Advertising is essential once your store is live—without promotion it’s difficult to attract customers. If you don’t have the budget for a marketing agency, AdCreative is a cost-effective solution for producing consistent, performant ads.
- Free trial for 7 days.
- Starter: $21 per month.
- Premium: $44 per month.
- Ultimate: $74 per month.
- Scale-up: $111 per month.
5. MarketMuse
MarketMuse automates much of the research and content evaluation work you would otherwise do manually. Instead of guessing why some texts perform better, MarketMuse provides objective analysis. Use it to plan future content, perform keyword research, analyze competitors’ content and generate briefs. This saves time and improves results, especially for newcomers who lack experience in SEO and content strategy.
- Free version available.
- Basic: $29 per month.
- Pro: $39 per month.
- Enterprise: $99 per month.
E-commerce platforms with extensive app ecosystems
In summary, AI tools are becoming increasingly common in e-commerce. There are now hundreds of tools that cover roles traditionally filled by graphic designers, copywriters and marketing experts. As AI solutions for e-commerce and digital marketing evolve, integrations with CMS and e-commerce platforms are expanding. When choosing a platform for a new online store, it’s wise to select a system that offers a broad range of ready-made integrations or app marketplaces.
An app marketplace functions much like an app store, making it easy to find and install tools that extend your webshop’s capabilities. For retailers who want to take advantage of existing and emerging AI solutions quickly, the ability to integrate these services directly into the store via apps is a major advantage. Popular e-commerce platforms with large app ecosystems include WIX (300+ apps), BigCommerce (100+ apps), WooCommerce (900+ plugins) and Shopify (8000+ apps).
Connecting AI tools to your site via apps unlocks the full potential of those programs. New apps continuously appear, using AI for upselling, customer support and automating the creation of product information such as descriptions and images. For beginners, starting with ChatGPT is simple and effective, but to truly scale an e-commerce business it pays off to choose a platform that supports app integrations so AI tools can be embedded directly in the webshop.
Related links
- Study by Cisco
- Survey reported by Ehandel.se
- Shopify app options
- Data point: 29% of individual entrepreneurs sell online
- Use Canva for AI-generated images
- Leading e-commerce platforms and their app ecosystems
- WIX (+300 apps)
- BigCommerce (+100 apps)
- WooCommerce (+900 plugins)
- Shopify (+8000 apps)