A new report released by Algolia provides key insights from B2B ecommerce leaders on topics like AI, digital transformation, common pitfalls, and the future of the industry. It also covers the top uses for generative AI, barriers associated with adopting AI, and several other pieces of information that are crucial for ecommerce brands to be aware of.
AI is No Longer Just An Option
Algolia, a cloud-based search platform, recently released the 2026 iteration of the company’s B2B Ecommerce Site Search Report. The report is based on a survey of 300 B2B business leaders from around the world, and covers a variety of topics that are important to the world of B2B ecommerce.
This report follows the company’s B2C Site Search Report, which was revealed a few months ago.
One of the main insights in this new B2B report is that AI is no longer just an option or consideration for B2B ecommerce brands, but a foundational capability. In fact, 71% of B2B businesses are using AI for ecommerce in 2026, up from 67% in 2025.
Also, 83% of respondents said that they would be more likely to choose a search and discovery solution that has AI capabilities. The report also states that many companies have expanded beyond initial experimentation with AI and have moved towards systemic implementation.
Also, previous research has found that more than 75% of ecommerce brands are investing in AI, showing just how popular it has become in such a short period of time.
The Top Use Cases for Gen AI Among B2B Businesses
In addition to speaking about AI in general, the report also went over the top use cases for generative AI according to respondents. The most common use cases include:
- Customer sentiment analysis (43% of respondents)
- Auto-generated product descriptions (43%)
- Chat-based search (42%)
- Data analysis for advanced insights (40%)
- Inventory management (37%)
- Automated content marketing/sales (37%)
The report also stated that AI in general is increasingly being used by B2B businesses for automating order processing, streamlining operations, reducing costs, and personalizing customer experiences.
Barriers and Challenges Associated with Adopting AI
The report also mentioned several of the largest barriers and challenges associated with B2B businesses adopting AI. The top five, according to the survey results, include:
- High implementation costs (33% of respondents)
- ROI uncertainty (29%)
- Difficulty creating intuitive UX (25%)
- Integration difficulties (24%)
- Organizational resistance to change (24%)
Bringing Digital Transformations to Life
In addition to AI, the report also talked about digital transformations. It mentioned that 55% of B2B businesses are on track with their digital transformation goals from a year ago, with 29% being ahead of schedule. Also, 71% of organizations plan to increase the focus on their digital transformation moving forward in the next year.
The survey also asked respondents about the digital transformation initiatives planned in the past year. Some of the most common responses included:
- Enhance cybersecurity measures (38% of respondents)
- Develop mobile apps for B2B ordering and customer engagement (38%)
- Adopt AI and machine learning technologies (37%)
- Upgrade IT infrastructure (35%)
- Enhance online customer support channels (31%)
- Enforce digital skills training and workforce upskilling (28%)
- Upgrade website for improved usability and SEO (28%)
- Implement omnichannel sales strategies (26%)
It also mentioned a few of the most common challenges to accelerating digital transformation, such as online security, scaling infrastructure, meeting customer expectations, and B2B payment complexity.
Future Trends and Pitfalls to Avoid
The report concludes by touching on the most common ecommerce pitfalls that B2B leaders are working hard to avoid, and what they believe are the top future-shaping trends in the B2B space.
The most common ecommerce pitfalls that B2B leaders are trying to avoid include:
- Problems with ease of use and intuitiveness (11% of respondents)
- Unclear communication and transparency (9%)
- Inadequate search or filtering (7%)
- Underwhelming customer service (6%)
- Missing or inaccurate product information (5%)
In terms of future trends, the top five included:
- Localization of content and sales strategies to better serve diverse markets (37% of respondents)
- Emphasis on sustainable and eco-friendly supply chain practices (35%)
- A shift towards consumer-like interfaces and functionalities in B2B (31%)
- Introduction of innovative payment solutions and flexible financing platform options (30%)
- Enhanced self-service portals and 24/7 customer support options (29%)
I feel that the information in this report is incredibly important for B2B ecommerce companies to make note of. It gives them an inside look at the thoughts of hundreds of peers, and helps them learn more about how B2B leaders are using AI, the challenges they’re facing, and more.
