Ecommerce Trends Leading the Way

Ecommerce Trends Leading the Way

1. AR enhances the reality of online shopping.

Augmented reality (AR) has been a complete game changer for ecommerce. With this type of technology, shoppers can truly see the item they're shopping for, which helps them make a buying decision. AR really changes the shopping experience in specific industries, such as fashion and home decor because the customer can get a better feel for the item without seeing it in-person.

2. There will be a growing volume of voice search.

As more homes adopt smart speakers, more consumers will utilize voice search to shop online, order food and organize their lives. The rise of voice search creates an opportunity for ecommerce businesses in terms of keywords and content.

3. AI helps shops learn about shoppers.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning make it possible for the customer to have automated, personalized shopping experiences. AI is continuously collecting data on how a customer shops, when they buy purchases and what they're looking for in a product or a service. It's a piece of technology that really can't be replicated in-store.

4. On-site personalization uses those insights to create individualized experiences.

Buyers of all sorts — including B2C and B2B — are looking for personalized, custom shopping experiences online. The data collected from AI is what makes it possible for a buyer to get personalized product recommendations and detailed customer service.

5. Big data plays a big part in creating personalized experiences.

Today, many consumers are more aware that ecommerce sites are collecting personal data, which puts them at risk. Because of this, experts have mixed feelings about the benefits of big data and how it affects the personalized shopping experience.

6. Chatbots improve the shopping experience.

Chatbots interact with online shoppers much like an in-store sales associate would do. Today's shopper wants to be able to find and buy a product in just a few clicks, and if they can't, they get frustrated. This is where a chatbot can step in and save the sale.

7. Mobile shopping is still on the move.

Mobile shopping allows customers to make purchases from anywhere, which is vital in today's world. However, if your ecommerce site isn't responsive on mobile or through web apps, you'll be missing out on big opportunities. Shoppers who are mobile users want the added convenience, plus the ability to pay digitally.

8. More ways to pay.

Customers have individual needs when it comes to payment methods, but they might cancel a potential sale if they can't pay how they want on an ecommerce website. Offering a wide variety of ways to pay is a good way to increase conversion rates on mobile devices. Plus, if customers can save their payment information on your site, they'll be able to checkout even faster the next time they make a purchase.

9. Headless and API-driven ecommerce allow continued innovation.

Headless commerce is a solution that allows an online store’s ecommerce platform to be completely decoupled from the frontend presentation layer.More ecommerce businesses are adopting headless because of its flexibility on the backend, plus the added SEO, content marketing and digital experience capabilities.

10. Customers respond to video.

Creating videos for your website is a great way to instantly grab and engage a customer and inform them about your product or service.

11. Subscriptions keep customers coming back.

There are subscriptions of all sorts these days and their convenience is attractive for consumers. For companies, subscription services create a way to plan for inventory and sales that are already locked in.

12. Sustainability is becoming more important.

Consumers and businesses alike are becoming more aware of the environment. Because of this, consumers are being more conscious about where they shop and the impact it has on the environment and related effects.Many businesses are finding ways to be more eco-friendly by going paperless when possible, using biodegradable packaging, and using recyclable supplies.

13. Businesses should optimize digital strategy for conversion.

Getting potential customers to your site is one task but getting them to convert is another. Today businesses are looking to improve their conversion rates by optimizing their product pages. Multi-channel selling is also another way to get conversions, whether through Social Media platforms.

14. B2B is growing...and changing.

If you were ever worried that B2B would go out of style, fear not. Global retail ecommerce sales for B2B are expected to reach $1.1 trillion in 2021