While price remains the main factor for Latvian shoppers, ecommerce is heading toward major changes. Over the next five years, an online store’s competitiveness will increasingly depend on data – and its ability to work with artificial intelligence (AI).
However, the visual shopping experience will not disappear. Some people will continue to shop manually because they enjoy browsing products or are simply not ready to rely on AI agents. That means ecommerce platforms will need to combine two things: clear, AI readable product data and a pleasant shopping experience for humans.
The latest Posti report “Moving the world, caring for tomorrow” shows that as many ecommerce companies plan to implement AI shopping agents in the coming years, ecommerce growth will largely depend on product data accuracy, structure, and compatibility with AI systems.
AI as the New Shopping Assistant
Ecommerce is moving away from the traditional “website + cart” model. AI is no longer a distant concept – it can already analyze offers, compare prices, and suggest the best delivery option.
Agent-based commerce is evolving fast – AI assistants that shop on behalf of the user, based on their habits and past choices. The Posti industry report highlights three directions that will shape the future shopping experience:
“Try before you buy” (AR solutions) Augmented reality tools allow shoppers to digitally try on clothes or preview furniture in their homes. This reduces uncertainty about product fit and quality.
Voice commerce Voicebased shopping is becoming practical both for tech-savvy users and for people who find traditional web search harder – such as older shoppers or the visually impaired. Voice commands make online shopping more accessible, faster, and more intuitive.
Agentic Commerce 53% of companies expect AI shopping agents to become the norm within five years. These agents will analyze buyer habits, compare thousands of offers, and automatically choose the option that best matches the customer’s preferences – from price and delivery time to quality and other criteria.
Logistics as a DataDriven Ecosystem
Logistics is no longer just moving goods from point A to point B – it is becoming an intelligent, data-driven ecosystem. From solarpowered smart parcel lockers to robotic warehouses and AIoptimized routing, the industry is rapidly finding ways to work more efficiently and sustainably. Companies that combine technological advantages with customers’ need for clarity, simplicity, and security will lead the market. And while price and delivery speed remain important, customers increasingly expect a smooth and transparent delivery experience. According to ecommerce companies, shoppers want full control over their parcels from the moment an order is placed until delivery.
What customers expect most:
Realtime tracking – the ability to see the parcel’s location at any moment.
Flexible delivery options – choosing where, when, and how to receive the shipment.
Superfast delivery – around 50% of surveyed companies believe sameday delivery will become the industry standard next year.
Simple payments – one-click payment options are becoming the norm.
“To stay competitive, logistics companies must not only maintain high service quality but also adapt quickly and collaborate more closely with AI solutions. AI helps customers make more optimal delivery decisions,” explains Guntis Mičuļs, SmartPosti Head of Operations in the Baltics. “As AI accelerates decision making, the companies that can best identify customer needs in real time will win.”
About the report
Logistics report "Moving the world, caring for tomorrow" is based on two major data sources:
VTT – Technical Research Centre of Finland VTT conducted an indepth study of the future of logistics, commissioned by Posti.
A survey of 2,375 business decisionmakers The survey, carried out by Posti and Norstat in Finland, Sweden, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, reflects companies’ views on logistics trends, risks, and investment plans — regardless of which logistics provider they currently use.
This combined perspective highlights both global trends and the practical needs of Baltic and Nordic businesses. Full report: https://www.smartposti.lv/trendreport