eCommerce Business Trends

As ever, the way that people shop is changing. As it has been for the past decade, e-commerce is leading the way on most of those changes. Now, we’re taking a look at some of the most recent trends in e-commerce. As the digital market continues to grow, here are a few trends you should follow.

AI-driven shopping

E-commerce stores have, for a long time, lacked the helpfulness of the in-store assistant that brick and mortar retail offered. With the increasing use of AI chatbot assistants, that may not be the case for much longer. Companies collect a lot of data on their customers. Now, AI-enable sites are using that data to make more tailored recommendations and provide more specific help.

A more personalized experience

Hand-in-hand with the rise of AI e-commerce is increased personalization. The data we store on customers can be used to make sure the shopping experience is as catered to them as possible. This has already been done for years through product recommendations. However, this is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to e-commerce personalization.

People are subscribing

A lot of businesses are using subscription plans to keep customers returning month after month. Not only does it allow businesses to better predict profits and fulfillment requirements. It also creates a greater incentive for customers to keep shopping when paired with loyalty programs.

Voice search is growing

Smart speakers such as the Google Home and Amazon Echo are driving a large volume of voice searches. People are getting used to speaking their queries aloud at a pace they never did with smartphones. As such, e-commerce stores are expected to implement voice search functions more commonly in the future. Search engine optimization may rely a lot more on voice search, too.

The rise of augmented reality

Augmented reality is when digital images and overlayed on a real-world backdrop. More stores are starting to use AR-enabled devices to help customers make better choices. For instance, some furniture brands will use AR to show customers how certain pieces of furniture will look in their home. More lifestyle and fashion brands are expected to start using AR previews, too.

Mobile shopping continues to rise

The past decade has already seen smartphone e-commerce rise to overtake the amount of shopping done on laptop and desktop. That rise is continued to only expect more as mobile devices offer smoother shopping experiences and better online connections. As such, many stores are focusing on creating better mobile UE and more efficient customer journeys on mobile.

A choice of payments

Customers expect to be able to pay in their preferred method. Traditionally, e-commerce businesses offer the choice of credit or debit. Then they added PayPal and other online payment services. Now, many are offering cryptocurrency. It’s recommended that business owners keep an eye out for the next biggest payment platform. There could be profit in catering to it first.

The above trends are just some of those expected to shape e-commerce in the coming months. Online businesses that invest in them could see big profits before too long.