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Retail Refined: Rebalancing the Physical vs. Digital Experience
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More Retail Insights
B2B ecommerce pulse: AI agents, marketplace expansion, and digital investment drive mid-2026 momentum
B2B ecommerce is accelerating into the second half of 2026, driven by concrete AI deployments, marketplace expansions, and measurable gains from digital investment. The global B2B ecommerce market reached $20.4 trillion in 2024 and is forecast to hit $36.1 trillion by 2031, providing the macro backdrop for a string of notable mid-year developments. Kawasaki Engines USA's reported 500% average-order-value increase and Global Industrial's 9.2% Q1 sales growth illustrate the real-world stakes of getting digital infrastructure right.
- 01Kawasaki Engines USA reported a 500% increase in average order value through its B2B ecommerce channel, according to Digital Commerce 360's coverage of Salesforce Connections 2026.
- 02The global B2B ecommerce market reached $20.4 trillion in 2024 and is projected to reach $36.1 trillion by 2031, per Grand View Research via Creatuity.
- 0372% of organizations reported adopting AI in at least one business function in 2025, up from 55% in 2023, according to McKinsey's State of AI report.
Jun 18, 2026
Zero-click commerce arrives: AI agents set to intermediate $15 trillion in B2B purchases by 2028
Gartner predicts that AI agents will intermediate $15 trillion in B2B purchases by 2028. As a result, businesses will need to reconsider their approaches to data management, discovery, and digital infrastructure. This shift indicates a significant transformation in how B2B transactions are conducted using AI technology.
- 01AI agents will manage $15 trillion in B2B purchases by 2028.
- 02Businesses must revamp data, discovery, and digital infrastructure.
- 03AI technology is changing the landscape of B2B transactions.
Jun 17, 2026
Zero-click commerce: AI agents set to intermediate $15 trillion in B2B purchases by 2028
A Gartner projection cited by commercetools places $15 trillion in B2B purchases under AI agent mediation by 2028, pushing procurement entirely past the traditional vendor storefront. Adobe Digital Insights data shows AI-referred traffic already converts 42% more often than non-AI visits as of March 2026 — a full reversal from a year earlier. Together, the figures signal that agentic and AI-assisted commerce have moved from pilot phase to structural infrastructure priority for B2B organizations.
- 01Gartner forecasts AI agents will intermediate $15 trillion in B2B purchases by 2028, according to commercetools — compressing the timeline for commerce infrastructure upgrades.
- 02Adobe Digital Insights found that AI-referred traffic converted 42% more often than non-AI traffic in March 2026, reversing a trend from just one year prior.
- 03Only 18% of B2B companies describe their AI commerce maturity as 'advanced,' according to Boston Consulting Group, leaving most organizations exposed to fast-moving competitors.
Jun 17, 2026
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