Andrew Schydlowsky is the Founder and CEO of TrackStreet, a cutting-edge SaaS platform that empowers brands by leveraging eCommerce data. He has been involved in eCommerce since 1998, starting with an innovative idea to sell sports nutrition products online. As a serial entrepreneur, Andrew founded Performance Unlimited, Inc., Soma Distribution, Inc., and Kala International, Ltd. He also established Soma Internacional, S.A. in Peru. His diverse experience includes roles as Chief Growth Officer for a retail chain and Corporate Trainer for Unisys in Beijing.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

• [2:24] How the digital landscape has evolved from grassroots marketing to tech-driven businesses
• [8:23] Andrew Schydlowsky’s transition from selling physical products to developing software solutions
• [11:27] Andrew shares his cautious approach to AI and its implications for technology-first brands
• [19:43] How TrackStreet transforms brand management with a unified data platform
• [24:26] Unifying data streams and automating key decisions with AI
• [33:53] The risks of AI and what brands should consider for the future
• [44:16] Creative SEO strategies for launching a new brand online

In this episode…

With the digital landscape evolving and new technologies emerging, brands must navigate rapid eCommerce growth and AI integrations. Where should businesses focus their energy to avoid being misled by shiny objects or overwhelmed by an influx of data? 

With over 25 years at the helm of eCommerce, Andrew Schydlowsky affirms that brands can leverage technology and AI to make strategic business decisions but must recognize their risks and potential to derail progress. Before adopting any new tool or software, systemize your data and assess your tech stack regularly to ensure responsible use and long-term stability. By maintaining a clear vision for your business, you can evolve it with the market while staying savvy about the implications and pitfalls of trends.

Tune in to the latest episode of The Digital Deep Dive as Aaron Conant speaks with Andrew Schydlowsky, the Founder and CEO of TrackStreet, about the intricacies of eCommerce, technology, and AI. Andrew talks about leveraging AI to automate data and decision-making, the evolution of the digital landscape, and TrackStreet’s mission. 

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Aaron Conant on LinkedIn   
• BWG Connect  
• Andrew Schydlowsky on LinkedIn 
• TrackStreet 
• Meghan Corroon on LinkedIn
• Clerdata
• “Measuring Incremental Retail Media ROI” with Meghan Corroon on The Digital Deep Dive
• Lauren Livak on LinkedIn
• Digital Shelf Institute
• SmartCommerce

Quotable Moments:

• "We're so early in what the internet's going to be for brands and commerce and consumers."
• "If you don't know what's happening on the internet with your products, you can't make decisions on anything like strategy."
• "I built early Flash animations. I built my infrastructure websites. I've always gotten in and done stuff."
• "AI doesn't always tell you the truth, and it doesn't have a tell. It doesn’t wink, it doesn't grimace; it'll just make stuff up."
• "The dream state is, you come to us in the morning, and the system says, 'Here's what's happened and what we think is about to happen. What do you want to do about it?'"

Action Steps:

1. Embrace an entrepreneurial mindset by starting with a clear vision and evolving your business with market changes: Andrew Schydlowsky’s journey from 1998 to creating TrackStreet shows that adaptability and foresight are key to staying relevant.
2. Leverage technology strategically, understanding its full scope and limitations: Andrew discusses the need to carefully control AI to avoid making uninformed decisions based on skewed data.
3. Build data consistency for AI to work effectively: Andrew mentions the importance of organized data, implying that the cleaner the data input, the better the AI results.
4. Diversitize and secure your online product presence: Brands should have strategies in place to protect and differentiate their offerings in a crowded digital marketplace.
5. Keep a keen eye on tech stack rationalization: Brands should regularly assess the efficacy and longevity of their tech partnerships to ensure long-term growth and stability.

About BWG Connect...

BWG Connect provides executive strategy and networking sessions that help brands from any industry with their overall business planning and execution. We network and knowledge share together to better understand and adapt to the newest trends, strategies, and pain points shaping growth in the digital space. BWG Connect, in conjunction with BWG Strategy, has built an exclusive network of 125,000+ senior professionals and hosts over 2,000 virtual and in-person networking events on an annual basis.

In addition, we have had 1x1 conversations with over 5,000 brands and have a real-time pulse on what digital strategies are successful and why. This in-depth knowledge allows our team to operate on the cutting-edge and provide our clients with best-in-class guidance on how to win in the digital world. We have provided free consultations and strategy sessions for companies of all sizes, from start-ups to Fortune-100, to enable growth, resolve issues and make curated service provider introductions that can impact your digital footprint.

We have held to the philosophy of providing high-level insights and actionable knowledge with no sales pitches in order to provide to our network the ability to listen, learn and act to improve themselves as well as their organizations. Our ultimate goal is to be the resource out there to help digital executives find the research they need to excel in the modern marketplace.

If you are interested in getting involved with any of our current or past events, you can find them here. If you are looking for help & would like to set up some time to chat with our team, you can schedule a time or reach out directly to Aaron@bwgconnect.com or Tiffany@bwgconnect.com.