Watch Out Amazon, Here Comes Google

If anyone is going to challenge Amazon.com's dominance in e-commerce, it might just be Google. Yes, the company that dominates search and challenges Microsoft on applications is a "dark horse" in the e-commerce space.

That's the assessment of Eric Best, CEO of Mercent, a Seattle company that helps big-brand retailers sell and market products through Amazon, Google and other e-commerce avenues. Best told TechFlash's Eric Engleman that one reason to watch Google is because the company hired former eBay executive Stephanie Tilenius as its VP for commerce.

"It’s clear to us that Google is making a significant investment in the e-commerce space and the big strategic question that they will have to answer in the next few years is how they go from a strictly catalog and ad-focused business to actually being a participant in the transaction, either through a shopping cart program or a payment program," Best said.

Mercent also works with the retailers on pricing strategy, analysis of shopping behavior and the continued push toward new platforms, such as mobile and so-called "social commerce," where decisions are made through social marketing trends.

For the full Q&A with Best, check out TechFlash.