4 financial ecommerce trends shaping the future of retail.

Ecommerce companies are feeling the squeeze as rising costs, tighter margins, and unexpected expenses make profitability harder to sustain. As the future of ecommerce continues to evolve, businesses must adapt to shifting retail trends like increased tariffs on imported goods, supply chain disruptions, and rising operational expenses — all of which are driving up costs and putting pressure on pricing.

A sound financial strategy is as important as great products when it comes to scaling in ecommerce. That’s why leading brands are embracing ecommerce trends such as employee efficiency, cash management, and operational streamlining. We spoke with Brex customers about their top financial priorities and ecommerce trends for 2025. Here’s how they’re preparing to make every dollar count in the future of retail.

Trend 1: Increasing efficiency while maintaining spend controls.

Kevin Leja, Controller at AG1, says growth is a big focus for the health drink company, and getting there takes a team hyper-focused on execution. That starts by empowering employees to do their jobs with efficiency using AI-powered spend solutions.

“We have ambitious growth goals in 2025, and our employees need the right tools to make that growth happen,” Kevin says. “For us, it’s about efficiency. And when our team can purchase what they need — whether it's for lab equipment, marketing, or operations — we move faster. I've managed countless corporate card programs, and Brex is by far the easiest. Brex is built for speed and control, and it’s set up as if it were designed by accountants. Brex helps us close the books faster with AI-powered automation so we can focus on the workstreams that drive real growth.”

Trend 2: Optimizing working capital for inventory management.

For ecommerce businesses, balancing inventory purchases and customer payments is a constant juggling act. Managing cash flow effectively is essential to scaling operations without unnecessary financial strain. Sparkling beverage company Aura Bora is turning to flexible payment solutions to bridge this gap.

“Access to higher limits and extended payment terms enables us to keep up with inventory without straining our working capital,” says Paul Voge, Co-founder and CEO of Aura Bora. “Brex helps us bridge the gap between when we have to pay for inventory and when customers pay us through high credit limits. With 30 to 40 times the credit limit compared to Chase or Amex, Brex helped us finance a lot of product runs that wouldn’t have been possible otherwise.”

Trend 3: Proactively streamlining financial operations to reduce the friction of high growth.

For Dude Wipes, scaling isn’t just about selling more — it’s about managing the complexity of financial operations. More spending means more vendors, more approvals, and more operational challenges.

“When spending increases, staying organized and securing the higher credit limits we need for expansion becomes difficult,” says Lindsay Bodeman, VP of Finance and Accounting at Dude Wipes. “Growth comes at a cost — more headcount, more vendors, more transactions. It all adds up. That’s why having a future-proof financial solution that scales with us at every stage is essential.”

With Brex’s high credit limits, a high-yield business account with same-day liquidity, and built-in accounting automation, Dude Wipes streamlines financial operations and eliminates the friction of high growth.

“Of all the solutions we considered, Brex is by far the easiest to use. We can issue virtual cards in a single click, unlock higher capital and rewards, and automate expense reconciliation — saving us 40 hours a week,” Lindsay says. “Brex isn’t just a credit card; they’re a true financial partner ready to scale with us.”

Trend 4: Improving cash management and preventing fraud.

Goody is hyper-focused on ensuring every dollar serves a broader purpose for the online gifting platform. “Focusing on the path to profitability is crucial for Goody,” says Katy Carrigan, Goody’s CEO. “We use Brex cards as a strategic cash management tool, making every dollar work harder for us. From earning rewards tailored to a scaling company to optimizing spend controls, it directly impacts our bottom line.”

But with more transactions comes greater fraud risk — something Goody cannot afford as it scales. Brex’s virtual business cards automated key parts of the ordering process, reducing fraud exposure while saving employees valuable time.

"Some employees submit 10 to 20 orders per hour, and with Brex saving 2 to 5 minutes per transaction, we’re freeing up significant hours every day," says Ahad Alzaman, Goody’s Director of Finance. "And with fewer human touchpoints, we’ve seen zero fraud since using Brex.”

​​How Brex helps fuel ecommerce growth.

As these customers state, scaling an ecommerce business today requires more than just controlling costs — it demands financial solutions that enable operational efficiency and reduce complexity as the business grows. But basic legacy solutions won’t do; they need:

• Corporate cards with high limits, customizable spend controls, and business-building rewards.
• Business banking accounts that offer high yields on idle cash but also same-day liquidity.
• AI-powered bill pay that automates invoice processing and accelerates vendor payments.

Navigate the future of ecommerce with Brex.

More than 30,000 businesses from startups to enterprises — including some of the world’s top ecommerce companies — use Brex to spend smarter and scale faster. Sign up for Brex today and see how financial efficiency can help you not only navigate emerging ecommerce trends but also set the pace.