Behind The Tool: Marc-Andre From Flyweight

For those unfamiliar, what does Flyweight actually do?

Flyweight AI turns a Shopify store’s existing content into a smart AI chat assistant that supports and sells. It engages customers in real time, answers questions instantly, and helps guide purchases — in multiple languages, 24/7. Setup takes one click, and no ongoing training is required. The AI updates itself daily to stay accurate and on-brand.

When did you first realize this was a problem worth solving?

While running our own Shopify brand, we realized we were spending too much time answering the same questions — and losing too many visitors who just needed a quick answer before buying. Our attempt to use a live chat created more problems than it solved. We had all the content: product pages, guides, FAQs. But it wasn’t being used to support or convert. That gap between great content and actual customer help made the problem obvious.

What’s something brands often misunderstand about AI in ecommerce?

Many think AI is just for support — or that it takes a lot of effort to set up and train. But the real opportunity is using AI to drive sales, not just reduce tickets. Most stores already have the answers. The challenge is unlocking that knowledge and turning it into real-time guidance that helps customers buy.

How did your own experience set you up to build Flyweight?

We built and sold a successful Shopify brand, so we know firsthand what it takes to grow and support an online store. We also come from a strong tech background, including AI and automation. That combination helped us see where merchants get stuck — and how to build a tool that actually helps them scale without losing quality or time.

What’s the first thing people love about using Flyweight?

It just works. One click, and 30 minutes later, the AI is answering questions, guiding customers, and helping convert. It sounds like the brand, stays accurate, and delivers clear value — more sales, fewer tickets, and better customer experience — without setup headaches.

What makes Flyweight different from other chatbot tools?

We’re not a rule-based chatbot or a generic AI wrapper. We use graph-based tech to map the full structure of the store — products, policies, help docs, and even external content like PDFs or ticket systems. That means nearly none hallucinations, smarter answers, and more conversions. It’s scalable, accurate, and always aligned with the brand.

What’s a major shift happening in your space that people aren’t talking enough about?

AI isn’t just replacing support agents — it’s becoming a real part of the sales funnel. More and more shoppers want fast, trustworthy answers before they buy. The brands that win will be the ones using AI not just to react, but to proactively guide decisions and close the gap between browsing and buying.

What’s one hard lesson you’ve learned building Flyweight?

Powerful tech doesn’t mean much if it’s hard to use. The biggest lesson was that simplicity is everything — especially for busy ecommerce teams. We had to work hard to make something advanced feel effortless.

If you could go back to the very beginning, what would you do differently?

We’d start collecting real merchant feedback even earlier. The sooner you understand what matters most to your users, the faster you can build something they truly rely on.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?

Always listen to your customers and build things that solve real problems.