Author Archive

Yext Launches GPT-3 Based Conversational AI

Taking inspiration from Chat GPT, Yext has launched an AI-powered chatbot. Known as Yext Chat, it lets enterprises integrate a chat function on their web properties for a variety of customer service use cases. 

Roku CTV Advertising

Roku & Doordash Bring CTV Advertising to Local Restaurants

As part of its ongoing ad monetization play, Roku is leaning into CTV ads. The company has partnered with DoorDash to combine CTV advertising and local restaurant promotions – to our knowledge the first company to do so. 

smb ecommerce

What Flavors of eCommerce Resonate Most with SMBs?

Benchmark Bytes is a series that examines Localogy’s original data on SMB tech deployment. Based on its recent Small Business Trends report, each installment drills down on a data excerpt and draws out meaning for Localogy Insider readers.

Google AI

Google Reminds Us It’s Primed for AI

In all the excitement around generative and conversational AI, the online punching bag seems to be Google. But the company may actually be best positioned for any AI, given the knowledge graph it’s been building for almost 25 years. We examine the evidence.

META

Meta Spends $13.7 Billion in 2022 to Build the Metaverse

Beyond Meta’s overall Q4 results, the bigger story may be what’s occurring within Meta Reality Labs (MRL). This is where it houses R&D and production for AR, VR, and all things metaverse. We go behind the numbers.

SMB SaaS Survey

How are SMBs Adopting and Integrating eCommerce?

Benchmark Bytes is a series that examines Localogy’s original data on SMB tech deployment. Based on its recent Small Business Trends report, each installment drills down on a data excerpt and draws out meaning for Localogy Insider readers.

Snapchat+

Snap Validates a User-Pay Model

In Snap’s Q4 results, one nugget buried in the earnings call caught our attention: the continued ramping growth of Snapchat+.  It has reached two million users, up from one million in August and zero in June. We unpack strategic takeaways.

Yelp Exposes Investment in Platform Trust & Safety

In an ongoing effort to provide more transparency on how its local search and reviews engine works, Yelp has released its latest Trust & Safety report. It details how the company uses machine learning and human moderation to quell deceptive content

Will Drive-Up-Only Grocery Stores Be a Thing?

The latest trend in logistics and yield optimization in retail has emerged: Drive-up-only grocery stores. This takes the curbside pickup option that inflected during the pandemic, and makes it the only option. We examine the latest attempt at this model.

SMB SaaS Survey

How Do SMBs Feel About Cryptocurrency?

Benchmark Bytes is a series that examines Localogy’s original data on SMB tech deployment. Based on its recent Small Business Trends report, each installment drills down on a data excerpt and draws out meaning for Localogy Insider readers.

Zillow Takes a Page From Calendly

Calendly is a much-loved scheduling tool that streamlines the art of booking calls or meetings. It seems that Zillow is a fan of the functionality too because it has integrated a Calendly-like function to streamline rental tour bookings. We take a look.

Yelp Reports All-Time High in New Business Openings

Yelp: 2022 Set Record for Business Openings

Amidst a suffering economy, tripledemic, and other world volatility, Yelp brings us some good news. The firm reports in its 2022 New Business Openings Report that the past year saw a record number of SMBs open in the U.S..

google

The U.S. Government Sues Google for Antitrust Behavior

Today the U.S. Department of Justice fired a shot at Google with a new suit that alleges antitrust behavior. It claims that Google’s suite of online advertising tools prevents competitors from entering the online ad market and blocks publishers from monetizing content.

SMB SaaS Survey

What Do SMBs Plan to do with the Business When They Retire?

Benchmark Bytes is a series that examines Localogy’s original data on SMB tech deployment. Based on its recent Small Business Trends report, each installment drills down on a data excerpt and draws out meaning for Localogy Insider readers.

retail as a service microsoft

Microsoft’s Retail-as-a-Service Ratchets Up

Joining Microsoft’s ongoing Retail-as-a-Service efforts, the latest from Redmond is a new partnership with retail tech startup AFI to create and support smart stores. Known as Smart Store Analytics, it provides retailers with shopper and operational analytics.

Amazon’s ‘Buy With Prime’ Launches This Month

eCommerce merchants have something new to think about: the option to incorporate Amazon’s “Buy with Prime.” The company announced that this program, already available to third-party merchants on Amazon, will be available in to non-Amazon merchants this month. 

creator economy

TikTok Adds Fuel to the Creator Economy Fire

The creator economy continues to gain momentum. Partly Covid-accelerated, professionals of all kinds are reinventing their careers as socially-fueled creators and developers. How is this subset being cultivated? TikTok is the latest player to cater to creators.

SMB SaaS Survey

How Do SMBs Think About Retirement?

Benchmark Bytes is a series that examines Localogy’s original data on SMB tech deployment. Based on its recent Small Business Trends report, each installment drills down on a data excerpt and draws out meaning for Localogy Insider readers.

AR’s Next Launch Pad: Apple Stores

One promising AR use case is retail. The idea is that you can get in-aisle product information through AR overlays. It can create more informed and empowered shoppers. Apple is the latest to jump in.