Social Commerce has exploded in popularity over the past few years. For retailers and brands, it provides a fun and engaging way to showcase products and connect directly with customers. For shoppers, it makes buying more entertaining and interactive.
Several Video Commerce platforms have emerged as leaders in this exciting new space. Here are some of the top live shopping platforms to watch in 2024:
eStreamly is a live streaming commerce platform that lets retailers and brands host live shopping events anywhere. Video commerce can be on retailers and brands own websites, social media (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube), mobile app, SMS, emails… Viewers can browse products, ask questions, and make purchases without leaving the live video stream thanks to their proprietary in-video checkout. eStreamly offers features like SMS reminder, social media integration with Facebook, Youtube, Instagram, robust analytics and viewers attribution. It’s a good fit for mid-size and large retailers and brands looking to drive sales through interactive live shopping or leveraging their existing video content with video commerce.
Best For:
Midsize ecommerce and retailers looking for a white label frictionless solution that can leverage multiplatform, offer cart & payment on the video itself and have full ownership of the customer experience & relationship. Versatile eStreamly will enable to integrate video commerce at multistep within your viewers’ journey. eStreamly is easy & fast to integrate with Bigcommerce, Shopify, Magento, WooCommerce.
Not ideal for:
Entrepreneurs and Brands early stage trying to get exposure to new audiences.
TalkShop Live
TalkShop Live is a simple and intuitive platform for running live shopping events. It’s seamlessly integrated with Shopify stores, allowing merchants to showcase their products via video and sync inventory across both channels. Shoppable video, audience engagement tools, and robust data are key features. TalkShop Live is ideal for small Shopify merchants wanting to test out live commerce and looking to drive awareness to their products. TalkShop Live is well known for its books reviews and their celebrities shows. The platform should be considered a social media site. It’s important to spend time there and invest in building an audience. As with any marketplace, the audience could be exposed to your competitors as well.
Best For:
Celebrities, product drops and brands looking for exposure.
Not ideal for:
Brands and retailers not interested to build audience on rented land.
Amazon Live
The e-commerce giant’s live streaming platform allows businesses to host live shows and interact with customers in real-time. Amazon Live builds on the company’s massive reach and existing Prime Video audience. For Amazon sellers, it provides another way to promote products and increase sales. The platform offers options to bring in influencers and integrate live shopping into Amazon product pages. Amazon sellers must meet certain criteria of ads spent on Amazon to access the feature.
Best For
Amazon sellers.
Not ideal for:
Brands looking to grow their own DTC and reduce dependence on Amazon.
TikTok Shop
Capitalizing on its enormous Gen Z user base, TikTok has made a big move into live shopping. Brands and retailers can work with influencers to create shoppable live videos that drive purchases without leaving TikTok. The platform offers creative tools for interactive videos as well as robust e-commerce capabilities for checkout. TikTok Shop has huge potential thanks to TikTok’s 1+ billion monthly active users. TikTok Shop can easily connect with Shopify. TikTok is known to work best for lower ticket prices products
Best For
Shopify brands with engaged TikTok audience
Not ideal for:
Brands & retailers that are not running on Shopify and e-tailers with AOV > $25/30
CommentSold
CommentSold is focused specifically on live shopping for fashion brands. The platform is primarily an ecommerce platform that can enable mom-and-pop retailers to set up an entire ecommerce suite. It offers features like the ability to bookmark and purchase products while watching a live video through comments on the chat. CommentSold also provides designs and templates for an engaging live shopping experience. The platform as a solid integration with Facebook. If live video commerce is part of your retail strategy, CommentSold is worth a look.
Best For
Retailers and boutique that needs a solid ecommerce platform.
Not ideal for:
Brands & retailers that already have an ecommerce setup or cannot handle to manage 2 separate inventory
Firework
Firework also known as a TikTok for B2B enables live shopping across a brand’s owned sites. The company provide a strong solution to create short-form vertical video along with options to add interactive polls, chats, and more. Firework offers robust analytics and a global reach. For retailers seeking a highly customizable live shopping solution, it’s a solid choice. It comes at a high cost and long implementation time.
Best For
Retailers and Brands looking for the most technology
Not ideal for:
Brands & retailers that are on budget or looking to leverage their social media audience. Also, not ideal for companies that have no strong IT department to manage implementation.
Agora
Agora provides the technology infrastructure for live streaming including features like low latency video and messaging. Brands can use Agora to build customized live shopping experiences into their apps and websites. With an API and SDK available, Agora is ideal for retailers with an in-house development team. The global platform supports scalability from small demos to enterprise-level video commerce.
Best For
Marketplace that have resource to build an in-house solution
Not ideal for:
Not tech first retailers and brands
Caast.tv
Caast.tv bills itself as an “interactive live streaming platform” with a focus on shoppable video. The company works with brands to create customized live shopping channels. Features include the ability to showcase products, highlight user-generated content, offer limited promotions, and more. Caast.tv also provides analytics and strategic consulting services. It’s a full-service option for brands exploring live commerce that include video production.
Best For
European brands that look for hands-on solution.
Not ideal for:
Non-European brands.
Bambuser
Bambuser offers a complete live shopping solution, including 1:1 liveselling, interactive product displays. The company works with luxury retailers and brands to create customized live shopping experiences that integrate with their online stores. Bambuser offers a suite of support services to help create unique memorable shopping experiences.
Best For
Luxury brands and retailers looking for stunning video experiences
Not ideal for:
Brands and retailers that are not looking to engage on long term contracts and seek to leverage their social media presence to drive viewership.
These are some of the top platforms to watch as live shopping gains steam this year. Offering a lively, engaging experience that feels more social than regular online shopping, live commerce turns buying into entertainment. Savvy retailers will want to start exploring how interactive live video can be integrated into their e-commerce strategy in 2024 and beyond.
Looking to find what is the solution that would work for you? Consider the top 4 questions you should ask a video commerce technology provider to help your decision-making process.
What is Live Shopping?
Live shopping gives consumers the opportunity to purchase as they watch video streams. With social commerce, retailers can broadcast live video streams and engage with consumers in real time. eStreamly’s video commerce solution enables brands to host live shopping events across multiple channels. From shoppable live shows on social media to hosting video commerce events. Live shopping is the future of retail. Live streaming shopping apps, shoppable videos, these are the tools successful retail brands will need. eStreamly’s white label solution gives brands shoppable videos. As live streaming shopping gains momentum eStreamly is empowering retailers to leverage these Live streaming shopping apps and shoppable videos to drive higher conversion rates and connect with today’s mobile first consumers.
