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Record-Breaking Cyber Week: Salesforce Data Shows $314.9B in Global Online Sales

Key Highlights
  • Global Sales: $314.9 billion, up 6% YoY.
  • U.S. Contribution: $76 billion, up 7% YoY.
  • Mobile Dominance: 70% of sales through mobile devices.
  • AI Impact: $60 billion in AI-influenced sales.
  • Social Commerce: 19% of sales through platforms like TikTok and Instagram.
Cyber Week 2024 online sales
Cyber Week 2024 has set a new benchmark in digital commerce, with Salesforce reporting a staggering $314.9 billion in global online sales between November 26 and December 2. The U.S. contributed $76 billion to this record, marking a significant 7% year-over-year (YoY) growth. These figures underscore the evolving shopping landscape, driven by technology, personalized experiences, and mobile adoption.

A Mobile-First Shopping Era

Salesforce revealed that mobile devices facilitated 70% of all online sales in the U.S. and globally, up from 67% last year. This trend signals growing consumer comfort with mobile commerce for high-value purchases. Over 80% of ecommerce traffic originated from mobile devices during Cyber Week, resulting in $220 billion in global mobile sales, including $53.3 billion in the U.S.

Mobile wallets also gained traction, with global usage increasing by 16%, enhancing checkout convenience and security for shoppers.

The Role of AI in Transforming Retail

AI and agents were pivotal during Cyber Week, influencing $60 billion in global online sales. Retailers like Saks leveraged AI-powered recommendations, personalized promotions, and conversational support to elevate customer experiences.

Key AI-driven results:

  • Retailers using AI saw a 2% higher conversion rate compared to non-AI users.
  • AI-powered product recommendations surged 21% YoY, delivering nearly 60 billion suggestions.
  • AI-fueled chatbots increased by 32.2% YoY, streamlining customer service.

“AI and agents have redefined retail by enhancing customer engagement and driving efficiency,” said Caila Schwartz, Director of Consumer Insights at Salesforce.

Shopping Trends and Discount Strategies

Despite competition from marketplaces like Temu and Shein, Western retailers leaned on modest discounts to attract shoppers:

  • The average global discount rate was 26%, while the U.S. average was 28%, both slightly lower than last year.
  • Top discounted categories included makeup (40%), general apparel (37%), and skincare (33%).

Social Commerce: The Emerging Force

Social commerce platforms like TikTok Shop and Instagram played a crucial role, contributing 19% to Cyber Week sales. This reflects the growing importance of social media in driving consumer purchasing decisions.

Cyber Week by the Numbers

  • Black Friday: $74.4 billion in global online sales (5% YoY growth); $17.5 billion in U.S. sales (7% YoY growth).
  • Cyber Monday: $49.7 billion globally (2% YoY growth); $12.8 billion in the U.S. (3% YoY growth).
  • Marketing Efforts: 56.5 billion marketing messages sent via Salesforce Marketing Cloud, up 5% YoY.

The Power Behind Cyber Week Success

Salesforce’s Commerce Cloud, Marketing Cloud, and Service Cloud enabled seamless operations for retailers during the shopping season, with:

    • Nearly 50 million orders processed on Commerce Cloud.
    • 3.8 billion customer service cases handled via Service Cloud.
    • Agentforce generating 1.67 million AI-powered replies to enhance efficiency.
This unprecedented Cyber Week highlights the rapid evolution of digital commerce, emphasizing the importance of personalization, mobile-first strategies, and advanced AI technology for modern retailers.

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