Spring I/O Developer Conference 2025 recap – Celebrating 30 years of Java

The Dawn of Digital Commerce and the (Customer) Journey Beyond

The beginning of the commercial internet was uncharted territory. The launch of the first commercial websites marked not just a technological milestone, but the beginning of a fundamental shift in how companies interacted with their audiences: a world where the storefront extended beyond brick and mortar, a digital frontier where businesses could connect with customers in entirely new ways.  If you’re my age (or older) and think back to those first online presences, the websites were often static, one-size-fits-all experiences. Companies were essentially broadcasting information, hoping it would land with the right person at the right time. There was little or no understanding of individual customer needs or the ability to tailor interactions based on behavior. It was a digital Wild West, with a lot of potential but also lacking the sophisticated technology for engaging potential customers.