You’ve probably heard all the talk about how much eCommerce has grown over the past few years. However, what you might not know is that eCommerce isn’t slowing down, and it’s predicted to continue increasing exponentially in the coming years.
Here are nine eCommerce trends to keep an eye on going into 2022, as they could have a major impact on your business in the future.
1. AR enhances the reality of online shopping
As augmented reality (AR) becomes more ubiquitous, ecommerce companies should be thinking about the many different ways it can improve the online shopping experience. Mobile AR apps make it easy to find 3D models of clothes or furniture and get a sense of how items look in your own home before you buy them.
Expect AR applications like these to become more popular in the coming years as consumers become comfortable with what ecommerce has to offer.
2. There will be a growing volume of voice search.
Increasingly, shoppers will be using voice search (i.e., where they speak their search query). This will change how people find products and make purchases.
For example, a user who wants to buy a car seat might first ask their Amazon Echo Alexa, what is the best baby car seat on Amazon?
When she replies with one of our product pages, voice shopping has started. The next step might be asking Alexa for information about that product.
3. AI helps shops learn about shoppers.
Artificial intelligence will create smarter, more efficient shopping experiences in 2022. AI-powered assistants will help online shoppers as they search for products, suggesting alternate purchases and better ways to serve shoppers.
This machine learning could mean that eventually no one needs customer service—at least not when making a purchase online. Thanks to AI’s ability to learn from and adjust for its users, shoppers should have a seamless experience online.
Even non-AI tools are already here today; many ecommerce sites use cookies and other tactics that allow them to customize your shopping experience based on past purchases or preferences. It’s likely those practices will continue into 2022, but with even more customization thanks to powerful AI systems.
4. Big data plays a big part in creating personalized experiences
The more a customer shops on your site, looks at products, and interacts with you online, the better equipped you are to tailor their experiences in a way that maximizes their purchase. But how do we accomplish all of these personalized touchpoints?
Well, big data plays a big part in creating personalized experiences. It’s becoming increasingly easier (and cheaper) to collect large amounts of information about your customers and use it in different ways.
There’s nothing personal or valuable about having a lot of data; it’s what you do with it that matters. If you can use ecommerce data effectively, though—even if just in one way—your conversions will increase immensely and your business will be set up for long-term success.
5. Chatbots improve the shopping experience.
Chatbots are on the rise in eCommerce, allowing customers to chat directly with a customer service representative instead of navigating a help menu. They’re making an already good experience even better, as businesses see average order values increase by over 20% when they implement them.
Plus, having human representation online has its benefits; it gives customers a chance to ask questions and raise concerns before purchasing, saving both parties from headaches down the road. A natural fit for online shopping companies like Amazon and Zappos, chatbots are becoming more ubiquitous every day.
Since their introduction in 2013, there have been well over 70 million downloads of Facebook Messenger alone—that number is likely much higher by now.
6. Mobile shopping is still on the move.
While the hype is mostly over, mobile shopping is still on the move. More than a quarter of consumers are now shopping via mobile devices on a monthly basis and despite the larger population that’s still not as high as you might expect, signaling there’s still opportunity.
The biggest challenge facing retailers is making mobile payments easy and seamless while also offering an experience that’s different from the in-store experience.
Buying a new refrigerator isn’t the same experience if you’re sitting at home or standing in your local appliance store but it should be easy enough to adapt based on context. In short, embracing technology is crucial — especially when it comes to mobile payments.
7. Headless and API-driven ecommerce allow continued innovation
The trend of API-driven, headless ecommerce platforms will push innovation and allow merchants to better compete with larger brands, but it comes with its own challenges. The technology isn’t easy; these platforms require understanding of APIs and all that that entails.
A successful API-driven ecommerce platform requires a business owner to have advanced technical skills and resources, or be willing to invest in hiring out those services.
8. Customers respond to video.
Video is an increasingly effective marketing tool, thanks to social media. According to HubSpot, 71% of people want brands to create more video content and 55% of consumers say they’d watch a video that’s shared by a brand if it was interesting.
With so many companies leveraging video to market their products and services, it makes sense that customers are responding in kind and choosing their favorite companies based on which ones produce high-quality videos.
As your company grows, you’ll likely find that one effective way to communicate with existing and potential customers is via video.
9. Subscriptions keep customers coming back
Subscriptions are one of ecommerce’s best-kept secrets. With subscription-based sales projected to increase by 25% between 2018 and 2022, retailers would be wise to invest in subscriptions now rather than later.
When you combine subscribers with a smart automated marketing strategy, you’ll be able to keep customers coming back—even after they’ve bought from you. This is good news for retailers because it means repeat sales and potentially loyal customers who won’t have any reason not to buy from you again.
Conclusion
In short, ecommerce is likely to get even more sophisticated and segmented in coming years. As trends such as AI and AR/VR become part of our daily lives, online shoppers will have a wealth of options at their fingertips.
While it’s true that many shoppers still enjoy browsing in stores, we’re likely to see an increase in sales from those who want personalization from their shopping experience (especially millennials). If you are looking to develop an eCommerce site in future, it is better to hire eCommerce developers and build your dream store on top of an eCommerce platform.
Focusing on your customer’s goals throughout all stages of their purchase journey is going to be essential for merchants looking ahead toward 2022. Sales are never guaranteed – you have to put yourself out there. But if you do so with great customer service and a solid product, things should work out well!
Hey, I am a technology consultant at AppsDevPro, a leading Mobile & Web development company that offers offshore mobile, web, frontend, full-stack developers. I have 18+ years of experience in writing and always looking for new ways to improve skills and learn from others.
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