PlayAbly Podcast Episode 29: Press Play on Engagement: Gamification, AI, and the Future of Ecommerce Growth

Hey everyone! Welcome back to The PlayAbly Podcast, the show where ecommerce growth meets game design. Today, our host Kajal is joined by PlayAbly’s CEO and Founder, John, for a deep dive into the future of brand engagement — and why now is the time to press play.In this episode, we explore the rising power of ecommerce gamification as a driver for customer retention, loyalty, and delight. Drawing insights from Harvard Business Review’s “Press Play” report, Robinhood’s entrance into prediction markets, Hermès’ stunning “Mystery at the Grooms” experience, and 2025’s top growth trends (spoiler: think AI + memes), we make the case for turning your customer journey into an interactive, rewarding experience.💡 You’ll learn:Why game mechanics outperform traditional retention tacticsWhat luxury and fintech brands are doing right now to gamify engagementHow tools like prediction markets and interactive storytelling are changing CXPractical, low-lift ways to start your own gamification strategyWhat kind of ROI brands are already seeing from shoppable game experiencesIf you’re responsible for CRM marketing, retention marketing, VIP programs , or just want to stand out in a sea of ecommerce sameness — this episode is your blueprint for the next phase of brand growth.🎯 Ready to make your brand more playable? Explore Shopify gamification strategies, ecommerce quizzes , and more at PlayAbly.Want to see what PlayAbly can do for you? From cool custom games to PlayAbly Gamified Rebates, we (probably) have a solution for your ecommerce shop woes. Book a meeting with the great and powerful John here.