E-commerce refers to the buying and selling of goods over a digital network. Essentially, this is everything you buy over the internet. And unsurprisingly, it’s a rapidly developing industry, with innovations constantly improving and streamlining the experience for the consumer. Below, we explore some trends to keep an eye out for in 2022.
Social commerce
Social commerce is set to become more and more popular in the coming years. This is where you use social media to find and purchase products. It’s particularly useful for businesses as social media allows them to find potential customers with much greater precision. When purchasing items on Facebook or Instagram, it’s often cheaper, successful products that trigger the most sales. And with the ability to create custom store pages on these apps, you can help boost your business with an active social commerce presence.
Live shopping
Live shopping is growing in popularity too. This largely occurs on the social media platform, TikTok, and refers to live streams where viewers can watch product demonstrations and buy directly from the platform. The first item you buy will usually be at a massive discount, but after that, you’ll be buying products for slightly less than they’d be sold for by a retailer.
Personalisation
Personalised content is a trend to watch out for too. Per YouGov, around 74 per cent of customers feel frustrated when websites don’t personalise content. To achieve this, brands need to provide customers with relevant deals and offers that are tailored to each customer. Indeed, many customers are looking for a personalised loyalty program where they can benefit from consistently supporting a brand or a product.
Sustainability
Sustainability is another key area in e-commerce. This is largely driven by consumer preferences. Indeed, nearly one in three consumers in the UK claimed to have stopped purchasing from a brand because they had ethical or sustainability concerns about the business. As a result, e-commerce is having to adapt by promoting sustainability and changing its operations to have a lower impact on the environment.
Payment options
E-commerce is also moving towards offering several different payment options. Consumers are always searching for a smooth purchasing experience, and an array of options can help facilitate this. From simply using your credit card, to using third-party software to structure monthly payments, there are plenty of different avenues that e-commerce can use to help consumers make easier payments.
E-commerce is innovating at a rapid pace. It can be difficult to follow the latest developments, but by following the guide above, you should be all set to enjoy all the latest benefits e-commerce has to offer when you next shop online.