04 Apr 2025
Marketplace report – the AI and ecommerce revolution
Prosus, in collaboration with Dealroom.co, has today released a new report into the future of online marketplaces. Titled “The AI x ecommerce revolution: how AI is shaping the future of online marketplaces”, the report describes the trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping ecommerce, as the industry is radically transformed in the age of artificial intelligence.
Marketplace platforms are a dominant economic force globally, having revolutionised how businesses and consumers interact. Now, artificial intelligence represents a seismic technological shift, poised to reshuffle the deck once again.
At this time of rapid change, Prosus stands as a leader operating at the intersection of marketplaces and AI innovation. With a global portfolio of scaled marketplaces, a deep understanding of their dynamics and a leading in-house AI innovation hub, Prosus is uniquely positioned to redefine the future of ecommerce.
Fabricio Bloisi, CEO of Prosus Group:
“The online platform economy has fundamentally changed how businesses and consumers interact. Now, AI represents another seismic technological shift for ecommerce companies’ relationships with consumers. Companies using AI are dramatically improving the user experience, enhancing personalization and driving unprecedented growth. AI adoption is no longer optional – it’s an imperative.
“The recent release of DeepSeek’s R1 model is more than just a milestone in AI technology. This ‘DeepSeek moment’ is a transformative opportunity for businesses to accelerate value creation through new applications. And at Prosus, we’re doing just that – building, investing, and collaborating with our partners to create new frontier products and technologies. From enhancing customer experiences and driving operational efficiencies, to creating an agentic future, Prosus is putting AI at the forefront of our next phase of growth.”
Key findings from the report include:
- The AI App store is now open – as models and infrastructure are rapidly commoditising, we are seeing explosive growth and innovation at the application layer. We’re now closer to the value-accrual inversion between apps and infrastructure than many expected.
- The future of ecommerce is agentic – shopping agents are now poised to make autonomous purchasing decisions for us.
- Technology ecosystems are best positioned to win – they unlock a unique set of vast, interconnected data at scale, primed for AI innovation.
To delve deeper into these findings, read the full report and our blog post on the implications of the DeepSeek moment for ecommerce.
About Dealroom.co
Dealroom.co is the foremost data provider on startups, growth companies and tech ecosystems in Europe and around the globe. Founded in Amsterdam in 2013, Dealroom.co now works with many of the world's most prominent investors, entrepreneurs and government organisations to provide transparency, analysis and insights on venture capital activity.
About Naspers:
Established in 1915, Naspers has transformed itself to become a global consumer internet company and one of the largest technology investors in the world. Through Prosus, the group operates and invests globally in markets with long-term growth potential, building leading consumer internet companies that empower people and enrich communities. Prosus has its primary listing on Euronext Amsterdam, and a secondary listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and Naspers is the majority owner of Prosus.
In South Africa, Naspers is one of the foremost investors in the technology sector and is committed to building its internet and ecommerce companies. These include Takealot, Mr D Food, Superbalist, AutoTrader, Property24 and PayU, in addition to Media24, South Africa’s leading print and digital media business.
Naspers has a primary listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (NPN.SJ), a secondary listing on the A2X Exchange (NPN.AJ) in South Africa, and has a level 1 American Depository Receipt (ADR) programme which trades on an over-the-counter basis in the United States of America.
For more information, please visit www.naspers.com.
About the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection (MISTRA):
Since its inception in 2010, the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection (MISTRA) has assumed a leading position in long-term, strategic and transdisciplinary research through generating research and creating platforms for engagement. Our research, policy debates, convening power and scenario planning expertise have assisted in finding lasting and effective solutions to the challenges South Africa is facing.
MISTRA deliberates on socio-economic issues that have both a local impact and a global resonance. The Institute is founded by a group of researchers, academics, policy-makers and former governance practitioners.
MISTRA carries out research that addresses the country’s complex challenges, straddling issues of nation-formation, economic growth, social equity and South Africa’s global positioning. The research is conducted through a process of engagement and facilitation, drawing on the wide range of available expertise in the country and globally.
For more information, please visit www.mistra.org.za