- Research claims that dynamic pricing creates competitive advantages for retailers
- AI improves real-time price adjustments across platforms
- Smart shoppers track prices for optimal savings
Dynamic pricing has become a cornerstone of modern e-commerce platforms, which increasingly adjust product prices in real time based on factors such as demand, competition, seasonality and even local market conditions.
Unlike traditional fixed pricing, dynamic pricing strategies allow companies to quickly respond to shifts in the market, helping them stay competitive and maximize profits. For consumers, this approach means prices can fluctuate frequently, creating both savings opportunities and challenges in tracking the best deals.
As AI and machine learning become an integral part of e-commerce, dynamic pricing is now more sophisticated, with algorithms analyzing vast amounts of data to optimize price 24 hours a day.
Good for business, bad for consumers?
Now, one report by Smartproxy has revealed the top five ecommerce platforms with the most fluctuating prices.
Amazon.com is a leader in dynamic pricing, with an average of 12.6 price changes per day, using advanced algorithms to make real-time adjustments. By constantly monitoring competition, demand and inventory levels, Amazon ensures its products remain competitively priced, with some reports claiming it updates its prices every 10 minutes.
On the other hand, Amazon’s Canadian site, Amazon.ca, uses a customized dynamic pricing model that aligns with Canadian market trends. With an average of 4.3 price changes per day, Amazon.ca uses automated repricing tools to keep pace with local demand and competitor prices, giving Canadian sellers the flexibility to adjust prices quickly.
Walmart’s Canadian site ranks second in price changes per day. The report shows that the site is updated approximately seven times, with supply and demand, seasonality and promotions all playing a role in calculating new prices.
Home furnishings store Wayfair.com uses dynamic pricing as a core component of its strategy. With approximately 3.6 price adjustments per day, Wayfair also adjusts its prices based on seasonality, demand fluctuations and inventory data.
Complementing the list, BestBuy.com averages 2.6 price changes per day, using dynamic pricing to respond to competitor promotions and local product availability. Best Buy’s price match guarantee and AI-powered tools further support frequent customizations, making it a favorite destination for tech-savvy shoppers. By predicting demand shifts, BestBuy effectively manages its prices to remain competitive in the U.S. electronics and home appliances market.
“Our industry-first Dynamic Pricing Index is designed to provide a holistic view of the global e-commerce landscape. By evaluating local and regional websites in 40 countries against carefully chosen criteria, we have provided a comprehensive assessment of e-commerce platforms that use dynamic pricing,” said Vytautas Savickas, CEO of Smartproxy.
“This data reflects the popularity of using dynamic pricing and any price change patterns in the market. We believe that our Dynamic Pricing Index will become a reference source for various e-commerce companies looking to improve their user experience, and that the entire report will keep savvy online shoppers informed of the latest developments in this extremely competitive landscape,” said Savickas. .