Amazon is launching satellites

📡 Project Kuiper competes with Starlink by Spacex

Amazon wants to build a network of satellites that can provide internet access to more locations around the world. Nicknamed “Project Kuiper”, Amazon is planning on launching 3236 of these satellites to compete with SpaceX’s Starlink who already has more than 5000 satellites already in orbit.

2.6 billion (or 1/3 of the world) does not have internet access according to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), limiting their access to the outside world and the conveniences or innovations that come from the internet.

📆 Internet access coming soon

Amazon booked three Falcon 9 rockets from SpaceX to help launch its satellites, famous for its reusable rockets.

According to Amazon, some of the most important dates of the project are:

• It launched its first set of rockets in October, 2023

• It’s expected to be used by its first set of customers by the end of 2024, according to Amazon.

• According to Space.com, Project Kuiper aims to have internet speeds of about 400 mbps by 2029, with its largest model offering 1 gbps

Boomers "shop like billionaires" with Temu

🕰️ Boomers are more loyal on Temu than any other generation

“Shop like a billionaire” is Temu’s signature tagline. Surprisingly, it’s the Boomers in the US that are more loyal shoppers in Temu than Gen Z and Millenials, according to Bloomberg and Attain.

According to a report by Attain:

• Boomers in 2023 bought an average of 5.6 orders, Millenials bought 4.5 and Gen Z bought 2.6 orders.

This is a big contrast from its demographics from SimilarWeb, which says that most of its traffic comes from Millenials and Gen X.

🎰 Variety, games and easy of use are Temu’s biggest success with Boomers

Brian Mandelbaum, CEO of Attain says that its more to do with the wide range of products along with big discounts.

The gamification (roulette wheels, referral rewards, group buying) are also very appealing, while the app itself is easy to navigate for the less tech savvy generation according to Wendy Woloson

❓️ A background on one of ecommerce’s biggest brands

Temu is known for its huge discounts and overall low prices in exchange for a longer wait time. It’s one of the leaders in ecommerce ranking second to AliExpress with 467 million users. For its marketing, MediaRadar says that Temu spent $463M on digital ads while $16.6M went to TV ads, including its first Super Bowl ad

Microsoft introduces new AI for retailers

🤖 AI’s 345% ROI

Microsoft has introduced new AI tools that retailers can use to give customers a better shopping experience. A study by Microsoft and IDC found that the return of investment in AI is $3.45 for every $1 invested

The update brings Microsoft’s AI companion called Copilot into its Cloud for Retail platform.

According to TechTarget and Search Engine Journal, some of its new benefits include:

• Customers can ask the AI shopping assistant for recommendations on what to buy through a conversation, resulting in a seamless and personal shopping experience

• Staff can ask the AI (through conversation too) for relevant data that can be used to help customers

• Copilot is also included in Dynamics 365 Customer Insight to generate project ideas and campaign content via generative AI

• Retail Media Creative Studio also lets users generate AI images or assets for their marketing campaigns