How ZeroBounce is Redefining Email Validation and Customer Experience

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Welcome to Unofficially eTail – your insider guide to the biggest trends, insights, and conversations at eTail West 2025.

At eTail West, Austin Helm, Sales Manager at ZeroBounce, shared insights on how email validation is becoming more critical than ever—not just for deliverability, but for building trust in customer communication.

ZeroBounce ensures that businesses—from mom-and-pop shops to global tech giants—are only sending emails to real, active recipients. As email remains a primary channel for commerce and marketing, ZeroBounce’s role in cleaning and verifying email lists is fundamental to digital communication success.

Standing Out in a Crowded Expo

Unlike many companies at eTail West focused on direct mail, AI-driven personalization, or paid media, ZeroBounce operates in a space that sneaks up on brands—they don’t always realize the issue until they see declining engagement or email deliverability problems.

The company kicked off its presence at roundtable sessions, engaging directly with marketing professionals about the evolving email landscape, security concerns, and AI-driven automation in customer outreach.

"People aren’t just here to be sold to—they want real conversations about what’s changing in marketing and commerce. That’s where we thrive," Helm added.

Email is More Important Than Ever—Here’s Why

ZeroBounce saw a massive spike in demand during COVID, when email became the primary way businesses reached customers. Today, email remains a top conversion channel, but consumer behavior continues to evolve.

🔹 Email is the new home address. Brands can collect social handles and mobile numbers, but email remains the most valuable customer identifier.
🔹 A clean email list equals higher ROI. Unverified emails hurt deliverability, waste ad spend, and lower engagement rates.
🔹 Security & compliance are non-negotiable. With GDPR and SOC 2 compliance, ZeroBounce helps brands protect customer data while improving email performance.

Why Human Connection Still Wins in an AI World

While AI is reshaping marketing, automation, and personalization, Helm emphasized that human connection remains the key differentiator in business.

"AI is powerful, and we leverage it for efficiency and service improvements—but people still want to buy from people," Helm said.

ZeroBounce intentionally prioritizes human interaction over full automation. Their customer support remains human-led, ensuring that users have real conversations instead of being pushed through automated chatbots.

At the same time, AI does play a role in optimizing ZeroBounce’s core service. The company uses machine learning to improve email validation accuracy, detect anomalies, and enhance processing speeds.

"We use AI where it makes sense—to refine the service, not replace human interaction," Helm said.

Where AI, Email, and Commerce Are Headed Next

Looking ahead, Helm noted that the industry is at an inflection point—will consumers embrace AI-driven interactions, or will there be a backlash toward human-first experiences?

🔹 Retailers are adapting to AI-powered automation—but will consumers want more human touchpoints?
🔹 AI can optimize processes, but can it truly replace the human element of brand trust?
🔹 Shorter attention spans mean brands must deliver value faster than ever before.

As commerce, email, and AI evolve, ZeroBounce is balancing both worlds—leveraging technology for efficiency while keeping human interaction at the forefront.

"At the end of the day, trust is built through real relationships—whether it’s in person, through email, or in the way a brand communicates with its audience," Helm concluded.

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