#United States #New York #Automation #Marketplace #ChannelEngine

Overview

In a recent revelation from ChannelEngine, the leading marketplace integration and management platform, a significant issue surfaces regarding the efficiency of online sellers. The Marketplace Seller Trends Report 2025 paints a picture of a pressing threat to holiday sales as manual tasks claim a staggering 36% of sellers' workweek. As retailers gear up for the bustling peak season, these outdated practices are eroding profitability and hindering growth.

Key Findings

The report uncovers that sellers are now active on an average of six different marketplaces, with more than a third of them engaging on seven or more. Despite this expansion in reach, many sellers struggle to keep up with the operational demands. On average, nearly two full working days are consumed by manual tasks such as updating product listings, managing inventory, and processing returns. Alarmingly, over half of the sellers still rely on traditional spreadsheets and internal tools to manage their operations, severely limiting their responsiveness to competitive pricing and fluctuating seasonal demands.

Notably, 45% of sellers are still handling product content and pricing updates manually, while nearly one-third of them express that pricing visibility stands as one of their greatest challenges. This inefficiency not only impacts sales but could lead to missed opportunities during peak shopping periods when rapid action is critical.

Expert Insights

Bart Verschoor, COO at ChannelEngine, emphasized the gravity of the situation: "Sellers cannot afford to allocate two days weekly to manual fixes while the pace of marketplace dynamics intensifies. Every hour lost to manual processes is an hour where competitors can take the lead in sales and market presence. Automation has now become a necessity rather than a luxury."

The findings also tie into evolving consumer behaviors. ChannelEngine's earlier research indicates that 47% of consumers initiate product searches on marketplaces, nearly double those who start on search engines like Google. Furthermore, 63% expressed a preference to shop from marketplaces over brand-specific websites.

Looking Forward

Looking ahead, the Marketplace Seller Trends Report 2025 sheds light on the need for automation. A resounding 91% of sellers view automation as crucial to their business's survival and competitiveness. Interestingly, a significant portion anticipates that AI-driven shopping assistants—tools designed to search, compare, and even make purchases on behalf of consumers—will lead to a substantial transformation in marketplace commerce within the next two years. This concept has even been termed 'Agentic Commerce' by industry experts.

Conclusion

As the holiday sales season approaches, it is evident that the challenges posed by manual processes could have a detrimental impact on sellers' successes. Embracing automation is no longer merely an option but a vital strategy for those aiming to thrive in the competitive online marketplace landscape. The full implications of these findings resonate clearly: swift adaptation and technological advancement will be key to unlocking sales potential this holiday season. ChannelEngine continues to advocate for brands and retailers to modernize their operations, ensuring they remain agile and profitable in an ever-evolving market.

About ChannelEngine

ChannelEngine is a marketplace integration platform that connects brands and retailers to over 1300 marketplaces globally. By managing product data, inventory, orders, and pricing through a unified interface, ChannelEngine empowers users to sell more effectively and maintain growth. With a solid presence in cities like New York, Toronto, and Paris, they support renowned brands such as Samsung and Unilever in their marketplace ventures.