In recent years, the social commerce landscape has shifted dramatically. While platforms like Instagram and TikTok have dominated the conversation, Snapchat is rapidly establishing itself as a major eCommerce channel. Once known primarily for its disappearing photos and playful filters, Snapchat has evolved into a serious commercial channel, driven by a highly engaged Gen Z and millennial audience and cutting-edge augmented reality capabilities. Nick Hoare, Director and Co-founder at Prolog Fulfilment discusses why brands need to work in partnership with a reliable fulfilment expert to help them navigate the fast-paced world of social commerce.
Today, with more than 500 million monthly active users, Snapchat is playing an increasingly influential role in product discovery and brand engagement, and now, in direct purchasing. ‘Snapchatters’ are highly engaged, opening the app 30 times a day on average, and preferring to communicate with their cameras and photos instead of words. For eCommerce brands, this shift presents exciting opportunities. But it also demands operational excellence, especially when it comes to fulfilment.
A shopping destination
One of the platform’s biggest breakthroughs is its advanced AR (augmented reality) technology. Snapchat’s AR ‘Try-On’ lenses allow users to virtually test products ranging from beauty items and accessories to clothing and home decor. This interactive experience brings physical retail confidence into the digital world, helping shoppers make more informed decisions and reducing the likelihood of returns – a win for both customers and brands.
The platform’s audience is another powerful asset. Snapchat has maintained a uniquely young, trend-driven user base that is highly responsive to social creators and viral moments. For brands targeting this demographic, the platform has become an ideal environment for product launches, limited-edition releases, and lifestyle-inspired campaigns.
In recent years, Snapchat has also introduced a suite of native commerce tools: shoppable AR experiences, in-app brand storefronts, creator-led product pages, and increasingly seamless checkout journeys. These features reduce friction, increase impulse purchasing, and integrate shopping directly into the user’s social experience. Combined with sophisticated ad targeting driven by user behaviour and interests, Snapchat now offers brands a highly personalised and high-impact sales channel.
Why fulfilment matters
As Snapchat moves deeper into commerce, brands using the platform must be ready for rapid, unpredictable demand patterns as viral content and creator-led promotions can drive sudden spikes in orders. Customer expectations are also higher than ever, particularly among younger audiences accustomed to fast delivery and transparent tracking. Fulfilment partners can play a critical role in supporting brands through this shift. The ability to scale operations quickly, process orders automatically, and adapt to sudden surges ensures that brands never miss an opportunity created by a viral moment.
Beyond speed, fulfilment must also deliver reliability and a seamless customer experience. At Prolog, our infrastructure supports everything from next-day delivery options and late cut-off times to secure packaging, real-time tracking, and category-specific handling for segments like beauty, apparel, and high-value goods.
The unboxing experience
On a visually driven platform like Snapchat, unboxing has become part of the marketing journey. Customers often share their purchases online, making packaging a vital aspect of brand perception. Prolog supports brands with custom packaging solutions, eco-friendly materials, kitting services, and seasonal fulfilment options that elevate the customer experience and strengthen brand identity.
Looking ahead
As Snapchat’s AR tools continue to develop, customers will gain even more confidence in digital purchases. More advanced virtual try-on features, personalised avatar fitting, and AI-powered recommendations are all on the horizon. This evolution will inevitably drive higher order volumes, and with it, greater pressure on fulfilment networks to be fast, technologically integrated, and exceptionally accurate.
Snapchat’s emergence as a powerful eCommerce platform offers brands a new way to reach highly engaged consumers through innovative, immersive shopping experiences. But capitalising on this opportunity requires more than a strong marketing strategy – it requires operational strength behind the scenes.
Fulfilment partners like Prolog Fulfilment provide the infrastructure, flexibility, and expertise that brands need to navigate the fast-paced world of social commerce. As Snapchat continues to reshape digital shopping, ambitious brands will look to their fulfilment partners to help them scale with confidence, and deliver exceptional customer experiences from first click to final mile.
