Gen Z Is Rewriting the Rules of Brand Discovery, SOCi’s 2025 CBI Finds

The buyer’s journey is no longer linear—especially for Gen Z. According to SOCi’s newly released 2025 Consumer Behavior Index (CBI), younger consumers are ditching traditional search funnels in favor of a chaotic, cross-platform journey that favors authenticity, peer content, and visual validation over brand loyalty or legacy trust.

“Legacy marketing models weren’t built for today’s buyer,” said Monica Ho, CMO of SOCi. “Gen Z doesn’t follow a path—they create one.”

A New Model of Local Discovery

Forget the traditional Google-first approach. For Gen Z, local discovery might start on TikTok, detour through Reddit, cross-reference on Yelp, and finalize with Google Maps—a tangled path that brands can’t afford to ignore.

Key Gen Z discovery trends from the CBI include:

• Platform Hopping: Buyers use multiple sources before making a decision—each one influencing brand perception.

• Peer-Powered Validation: Reviews, Reddit threads, and TikTok videos rank higher than brand-originated content.

• Visual Content Wins: Visuals (images and video) carry more weight than text when assessing trust and quality.

The Trust Shuffle: AI vs. UGC

The data suggests trust is fluid and increasingly decentralized. While traditional tools like search engines still hold credibility, AI-driven platforms are being tested cautiously, and user-generated content (UGC) is emerging as a major trust-builder.

“There’s no single source of truth anymore,” added Ho. “Consumers are assembling the full picture themselves—platform by platform.”

Brand Loyalty in Decline

Among the most striking findings: brand loyalty is eroding, especially among younger demographics:

• 32% of consumers aged 18–24 say they’re less loyal to brands than just a year ago.

• 35% of 25–34-year-olds report the same.

• For Gen Z, brand reputation ranks ninth in purchase decision-making—well below price, quality, convenience, and customer reviews.

In short: your legacy brand equity won’t save you if your presence and content aren’t credible across the platforms that matter.

What Brands Must Do

The 2025 CBI is a clear signal: if brands want to earn the trust—and business—of younger consumers, they need to show up everywhere with proof, not promises. That means:

• Investing in authentic, platform-native content

• Encouraging peer reviews and UGC

• Maintaining real-time relevance across multiple platforms

• Treating each platform as a front door, not a secondary touchpoint

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Applied Manufacturing Technologies Debuts Intuitive, Mobile Cobot Palletizer for Lean, High-Mix Production

Applied Manufacturing Technologies (AMT), a FANUC Level V Authorized System Integrator and leader in advanced robotics for manufacturing and logistics, has introduced a plug-and-play collaborative palletizing system powered by the FANUC CRX-30iA robot. The solution is designed for manufacturers facing tight labor markets, limited space, and high-mix production demands—without compromising speed, safety, or uptime.

Built for Fast Setup and Operator Autonomy

At the core of AMT’s new system is an easy-to-use interface that allows operators to enter case dimensions, select pallet patterns, and begin palletizing in minutes—no coding or engineering support required.

“Ease of use was our top priority,” said Ben Kurth, Director of Engineering at AMT. “That flexibility is a game changer for dynamic production environments.”

Key Features of the AMT Collaborative Palletizer:

• Collaborative robot safety: Powered by the FANUC CRX-30iA with built-in force-limited sensing and no need for safety fencing

• High payload capacity: Handles up to 30 kg, with a 1,889 mm reach and IP67 rating for industrial durability

• Custom UI and pattern flexibility: End users can configure, adjust, and redeploy the system on the fly

• Space- and labor-saving: Compact footprint with quick mobility between lines; designed for facilities with space constraints

• Rapid ROI: Systems start at $120K and typically pay for themselves in under 12 months

• Cross-industry compatibility: Ideal for food & beverage, logistics, pharmaceuticals, and packaging operations

“Cobot technology finally gives manufacturers a way to automate palletizing where industrial robots simply won’t fit,” added Kurth.

Solving the Labor Gap with Smart Automation

AMT’s cobot palletizer reduces ergonomic risk, increases throughput, and maintains operational continuity—especially in plants operating with lean staffing or high turnover. Its mobile design allows fast repositioning and redeployment, ideal for environments with frequent product or layout changes.

“Cobots are ideal for repetitive, high-precision tasks like case handling,” said Craig Salvalaggio, President of AMT. “Our system delivers the speed, safety, and flexibility manufacturers need to stay competitive—especially as labor challenges persist.”

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Elanders Taps Bergen Logistics CEO to Spearhead Global Operations

Elanders has named Charles Ickes as its first-ever Group Chief Operating Officer (COO), a move aimed at aligning its global logistics and supply chain systems under a unified, AI-enhanced operational framework. Ickes, who currently leads Bergen Logistics—an Elanders-owned U.S. subsidiary—will now take on the dual mantle of Group COO while continuing in his CEO role at Bergen.

Why does this matter? Because the $1.3 billion (approx.) global supply chain player is signaling it's ready to modernize at scale. With clients increasingly demanding fast, data-transparent, and sustainable logistics solutions, Elanders’ choice of a seasoned operator with digital chops reflects an industry-wide urgency to evolve.

Bridging Strategy with Systems

The newly established role gives Ickes the mandate to harmonize tech infrastructure and push AI and data-driven decision-making across Elanders’ Supply Chain Solutions division. That includes integrating platforms, optimizing logistics workflows, and likely rethinking how warehouses and delivery ecosystems are monitored, forecasted, and managed.

CEO Magnus Nilsson called Ickes “central in building a unified, technology- and AI-driven logistics platform with global reach.” Translation: The company wants to move faster, think smarter, and shed operational silos—and Charles Ickes is the man to do it.

Elanders’ AI Inflection Point

The timing tracks with a broader logistics trend: legacy supply chains are finally getting their digital upgrades. Giants like DHL, GXO, and Maersk have already begun investing heavily in predictive analytics, robotics, and AI-powered route optimization. Elanders’ appointment of a COO who already scaled Bergen Logistics—especially in high-demand sectors like fashion and e-commerce fulfillment—suggests the company is ready to compete on intelligence, not just infrastructure.

For a company with operations in over 20 countries, Elanders’ next phase depends on turning fragmented networks into a single, data-fueled supply chain brain. Ickes will be tasked with making that happen—efficiently, and at global scale.

Textellent Redefines Business Texting, Leaving CRM SMS Add-Ons in the Dust

In a digital world where immediacy drives engagement, businesses are discovering the hard way that tacked-on CRM texting tools just don’t cut it. Enter Textellent, a long-time leader in business SMS, which today announced powerful new enhancements to its platform — reinforcing its position as a purpose-built SMS solution for growth-minded organizations.

While many CRM and marketing platforms offer SMS features as an afterthought, Textellent doubles down on the channel’s unique power. “Smart businesses are realizing that SMS is too important to be bundled in with second-tier tools,” said Chris Vaughan, Head of Marketing at Textellent. With open rates near 98%, texting is arguably the most responsive channel in a business's communication stack — and it deserves tools built for the job.

CRM SMS: The Hidden Weak Link

Textellent’s latest push highlights a growing pain point in the market: CRM-integrated texting isn’t built for performance. Among the most common pitfalls:

• Weak deliverability and compliance risks that can result in blocked messages or legal exposure.

• Throttled scalability and escalating message costs that make high-volume campaigns unsustainable.

• Limited conversation capabilities, especially in managing two-way messaging or dynamic responses.

• Bare-bones automation, often lacking support for logic-based drip campaigns or segmentation.

• Patchy analytics, making campaign success hard to measure — and harder to repeat.

For businesses relying on speed, personalization, and compliance, that’s a risky foundation.

Textellent’s Dedicated Approach

Textellent’s platform enhancements directly address these gaps with enterprise-ready capabilities:

• One-click CRM integrations with 800+ apps — bringing SMS power to tools businesses already use.

• Advanced automation including intelligent responses, drip campaigns, compliance rules, and scheduling.

• No-code/low-code workflows, allowing marketers to build logic-based campaigns without engineering support.

• Scalability for multi-location businesses, including franchise support with parent-child account structures.

• 10DLC compliance support, opt-in/out management, and a mobile-first app experience.

“We’re giving businesses the intelligence and control to manage customer conversations at scale,” said Majeed Ghadialy, CEO and founder of Textellent. “Relying on CRM SMS is like using a toolbox with the most important tools missing.”

Why a Specialist Matters in 2025

Textellent’s relaunch comes at a time when SMS is outperforming nearly every other digital channel. As email open rates fall and voicemail becomes a relic, texting remains personal, direct, and wildly effective. Yet too many businesses still treat it like a sidekick.

With its latest enhancements, Textellent aims to shift the market’s mindset: SMS is not just a feature — it’s a strategy.

Textellent provides robust business texting and scheduling tools designed to increase engagement and customer retention. With patented technology and accolades from SourceForge, Capterra, and SoftwareSuggest, the platform blends automation, personalization, and compliance to turn texting into a revenue driver.

NicSRS Rolls Out DigiCert VMC to Help Brands Stand Out—and Stay Safe—in the Inbox

In an age where phishing scams and inbox clutter are a daily reality, NicSRS is raising the bar on email security. The digital certificate provider has announced the addition of DigiCert Verified Mark Certificates (VMCs) to its portfolio—an upgrade designed to make emails more secure, more recognizable, and far more trusted by recipients.

The move reflects a growing trend: organizations want more control over how their messages appear—and how they’re perceived—before users even click.

What’s a VMC, and Why Should You Care?

A Verified Mark Certificate lets companies display their official brand logo next to authenticated emails in supported inboxes—think of it as a verified checkmark for your emails. It works hand-in-hand with the DMARC protocol, which already helps filter out spoofed or fraudulent emails.

But VMCs go further: by visually signaling trust, they help customers instantly spot which messages are the real deal. And in an era of rising phishing attacks, that instant recognition isn’t just nice—it’s essential.

Why DigiCert’s VMC Matters

By integrating DigiCert’s VMC offering, NicSRS aims to give businesses a sharper edge in both security and customer engagement:

• Better visibility: Showcasing a verified brand logo means customers can spot your message quickly—and know it’s legit.

• Phishing prevention: Branded authentication reduces the risk of impersonation, a major source of financial and reputational damage.

• Higher engagement: Messages that look credible get opened more often, clicked more frequently, and trusted more deeply.

• Customer confidence: VMCs signal that a company takes security seriously, helping build lasting loyalty.

CRM-Level Engagement, Enterprise-Grade Protection

“Email security is more important than ever,” said Andrea Cao, BD Director at NicSRS. “With phishing and online fraud on the rise, our new DigiCert VMC offering helps businesses communicate with clarity and authority—right in the inbox. When customers see a trusted logo, they’re more likely to engage, and less likely to fall for a scam.”

Why Go with NicSRS?

NicSRS isn’t new to this space. The company has helped hundreds of thousands of businesses strengthen their online presence with SSL certificates, code signing, S/MIME, and now VMCs—all available through its one-stop reseller platform. Whether you're a startup or a sprawling enterprise, NicSRS delivers enterprise-grade cybersecurity tools without the enterprise-level hassle.

And with the launch of VMCs, NicSRS reinforces its commitment to giving businesses smarter, more integrated ways to reduce risk, build brand authority, and improve digital trust in every inbox they enter.

RedWood Digital Redefines eCommerce Development with Custom, Scalable Online Store Solutions

As the online retail landscape grows more competitive and complex, RedWood Digital is stepping up with a fresh initiative aimed at helping businesses build future-ready eCommerce platforms. The company, known for its tailored digital solutions, is offering a structured, high-performance alternative to the cookie-cutter store templates that dominate the market.

With consumer expectations around speed, security, and usability at an all-time high, brands can no longer afford to cut corners on their digital storefronts. RedWood Digital’s latest offerings aim to fill that gap by combining technical excellence with deep user understanding—a blend that’s become essential in today’s digital-first world.

A Modern Answer to an Overloaded Market

Unlike one-size-fits-all platforms, RedWood Digital’s development model emphasizes scalability, data privacy, and mobile-first design, ensuring that each build meets the unique operational and experiential needs of the business it supports.

“Consumers are demanding seamless, responsive, and trustworthy experiences—and rightly so,” said a spokesperson for RedWood Digital. “We help brands meet those expectations through platforms that are built to scale, adapt, and thrive.”

Built for Growth, Not Just Launch

Where many services stop at deployment, RedWood Digital continues the journey. Their development process includes:

• Custom architecture that scales with business needs

• Multilingual and accessible design to serve global and inclusive audiences

• Integrated payment systems and mobile-first UX/UI

• End-to-end post-launch support for evolving functionality

• Compliance with data privacy and security standards

With engineers, designers, and project managers working in lockstep, RedWood avoids the trap of digital fragmentation and focuses instead on delivering cohesive platforms designed for real-world business demands.

More Than Technology—A Digital Strategy Partner

Beyond the tech, RedWood Digital helps clients navigate the larger digital commerce ecosystem—offering insights into analytics integration, performance optimization, and platform sustainability. As eCommerce shifts from "nice to have" to "mission critical," this guidance can make the difference between surviving and scaling.

Their customer-first approach has proven especially valuable during periods of digital acceleration, such as pandemic-driven shopping shifts or emerging market expansions.

An Invitation to Future-Proof Your Storefront

For businesses still tethered to legacy platforms or boxed-in by generic eCommerce builders, RedWood’s message is clear: it’s time to move on. With rising cybersecurity risks, fast-evolving consumer behaviors, and growing pressure for global accessibility, investing in a robust, flexible platform is no longer optional.

RedWood Digital’s latest initiative positions it not just as a service provider, but as a long-term partner in digital transformation—offering the infrastructure and insight businesses need to compete in a hyper-connected marketplace.

Buy Now, Boom Later: BNPL Market to Hit $1.4 Trillion by 2029

The Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) market is in overdrive. According to the latest report from The Business Research Company, the sector is on track to skyrocket from $231.5 billion in 2024 to $343.5 billion in 2025, reflecting a CAGR of 48.4%. But that’s just the start—by 2029, the market could hit an eye-watering $1.44 trillion, driven by aggressive adoption across retail sectors and digital platforms.

For businesses, fintechs, and investors alike, the message is clear: BNPL isn’t a payment trend—it’s a financial revolution.

What’s Fueling the Surge?

The report highlights several forces behind the meteoric rise of BNPL:

• Cross-border eCommerce expansion, opening new markets and increasing payment flexibility.

• Physical retail integration, bringing BNPL to the in-store experience.

• Mainstream retail adoption, particularly among traditional players moving beyond credit cards.

• Embedded finance and BNPL-as-a-Service, making installment options native to checkout flows.

• Regulatory focus on consumer protection, creating standards that build trust and legitimacy.

• Loyalty program integration, gamifying consumer finance to boost repeat usage.

These shifts are transforming BNPL from a millennial-friendly perk to a core part of global retail infrastructure.

Beyond Online—BNPL at the Point of Sale

The market is segmented across online channels (e-commerce, apps, marketplaces) and point-of-sale (in-store retail, restaurants, service providers). While online continues to dominate, POS adoption is ramping up fast, especially as fintech players streamline integrations with legacy retail systems.

Large enterprises and SMEs alike are deploying BNPL to capture higher conversion rates, offer more flexible purchasing power, and tap into younger demographics wary of credit cards.

Who’s Winning in BNPL?

The major players are familiar fintech names—Klarna, Afterpay, Affirm, PayPal, Zip, Sezzle, Paytm Postpaid—but the field remains fragmented. With over two dozen other companies, including Sunbit, Katapult, Credova, Uplift, and Bread Finance, racing to differentiate on features, underwriting models, and partnerships, consolidation could be on the horizon.

To stay ahead, providers are leaning into:

• Embedded finance APIs

• AI-driven personalization

• Merchant co-branded solutions

• Stronger fraud protection and compliance tools

North America Leads, APAC Accelerates

In 2024, North America held the crown as the largest BNPL market. But Asia-Pacific is tipped as the fastest-growing region through 2029. With surging smartphone usage, massive unbanked populations, and an exploding digital middle class, countries like India, Indonesia, and China are fertile ground for BNPL innovation.

Meanwhile, regions like Western Europe and Latin America continue to climb steadily, buoyed by favorable regulation and rising merchant adoption.

What This Means for the Future of Payments

BNPL’s rise reflects a broader trend: consumers want flexibility, speed, and transparency in their financial interactions. As traditional credit systems struggle to keep pace, BNPL offers a user-centric alternative—and it's quickly becoming a standard offering, not a novel feature.

The line between fintech, commerce, and finance continues to blur, and BNPL is right at the intersection. Whether through native apps, white-labeled APIs, or loyalty-linked POS solutions, expect “Buy Now, Pay Later” to evolve into “Buy Now, Build Loyalty.”

Web Content Management Market Set to Surge 85% by 2031 Amid Digital Shift

The Web Content Management (WCM) market is entering a major growth phase. According to a new report from Business Market Insights, the market is projected to leap from $9.63 billion in 2024 to $33.32 billion by 2031, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20.4%. This acceleration reflects a broader global movement toward digital-first operations—and a pressing need for businesses to manage content at scale.

Why the WCM Market Is Booming

WCM systems, which help organizations create, organize, and distribute content across digital channels, have become indispensable. From e-commerce to government services, the ability to maintain consistent, responsive, and secure content delivery is now central to customer experience and operational efficiency.

Leading retailers like Amazon and Walmart are prime examples of this shift. Amazon’s web content platform, for instance, supports millions of SKUs, blog posts, and customer reviews globally—ensuring brand consistency and customer trust across all regions.

And it’s not just tech giants leaning into this space. Governments are deploying WCM systems to modernize public communication. According to Singapore’s Digital Economy Report 2023, the nation’s digital sector accounted for over 17% of GDP in 2022, up from 13% in 2017. The surge illustrates how WCM platforms are increasingly central to national and commercial digital infrastructure.

Cloud-Based WCM: The Game Changer

One of the most significant trends driving the market is cloud adoption. Businesses of all sizes are ditching clunky, on-premises setups in favor of cloud-native WCM platforms, which offer:

• Rapid scalability

• Lower infrastructure costs

• Real-time collaboration

• Seamless updates and integrations

These solutions are especially attractive to SMEs, which seek enterprise-grade functionality without the complexity or overhead. Cloud WCM enables dynamic content delivery across channels like web, mobile, social, and voice assistants—essential in a landscape where omnichannel engagement is the norm.

Geographic Trends: North America Leads, Europe Evolves

North America remains the largest WCM market, driven by widespread digital transformation across sectors such as BFSI, media, and healthcare. Companies are investing in AI-powered, personalized content delivery tools to drive customer loyalty and optimize user experiences.

Meanwhile, Europe is seeing robust WCM adoption among SMEs, especially those looking for GDPR-compliant, flexible solutions. Open-source platforms like WordPress dominate, offering a low barrier to entry while still supporting powerful content strategies.

Case in point: In May 2023, Advantage Solutions divested its WCM platform, The Data Council, to SPINS in a strategic pivot—highlighting how the content management space is becoming increasingly specialized and competitive.

Market Segments (2024 Snapshot)

• By Component: Solutions led the market, outpacing services.

• By Deployment Mode: Surprisingly, on-premises deployments still held the top spot, though cloud is expected to overtake in the coming years.

• By Enterprise Size: Large enterprises continue to dominate, though SME adoption is rapidly accelerating due to affordable cloud models.

• By End User: The retail sector was the largest adopter in 2024, reflecting the industry’s deep investment in seamless digital engagement.

The WCM market is undergoing a profound transformation. As organizations across industries embrace digital-first strategies, the ability to manage, personalize, and distribute content at scale is no longer optional—it’s critical.

From hyper-personalized customer journeys to multilingual, globally compliant content strategies, web content management is evolving into a strategic pillar of digital success. And with forecasts pointing to 85% market growth by 2031, businesses that invest now will be best positioned to lead in the decade ahead.

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