2021 was quite interesting for business in various industries across the world. From major technological advancements to global challenges in the supply chain, the last year kept marketers and business owners on their toes, and this excitement doesn’t seem to end in 2022. That said it’s essential to track all the emerging trends to remain ahead of the competition curve. Here are the top eight online eCommerce trends we’ll keep seeing in 2022.
1. Chatbots
With machine learning continually becoming more sophisticated, brands are beginning to leverage automation and artificial intelligence to enhance their customer’s experience. Chatbots are an excellent example of how brands use these technologies, as the software can communicate and help shoppers through a live chat interface.
Chatbots offer instantaneous 24/7 customer support, making them an excellent resource for leading shoppers to the right places. Chatbots are also great tools for keeping the customers coming back to the business by leveraging machine learning.
2. Diverse payment methods
Diverse payment options are among the top online eCommerce trends searching for what ensures or the last several years. Customers want to know they can get the payment method of choice when checking out, whether they’re playing at a no deposit casino or shopping for products online.
Businesses that show diversity in their payment methods are more likely to reduce cart abandonment, build trust and encourage the shoppers to spend more money. Seamless 1-click payment options and interest-free financing such as “buy now and pay later” will also keep growing in popularity, appealing to shoppers in search of more flexibility when buying online.
3. Subscription and loyalty programs
In 2022, eCommerce will only continue being competitive more than ever. For many brands and businesses, customer retention will remain among their top priorities and they will keep implementing different techniques to achieve that. For that reason, subscription and loyalty programs will continue to grow, offering shoppers exclusivity, savings, and convenience. That creates a relationship with the customers while making them brand advocates.
4. Augmented reality for visualizing purchases
In 2022, customers want to know how a new piece of furniture would look like in their homes before buying it. Fortunately, augmented reality is making sure that customers are no longer guessing how a piece of furniture will look before buying it.
Businesses using augmented reality will allow their customers can use their laptops or mobile phones to see a video of their room with their prospective addition. That also goes for flooring, artwork, and clothing items. That’s why eCommerce businesses are actively adopting AR where necessary to allow their customers to try products virtually.
5. Renewed Focus on Sustainability
Sustainable and renewable are more than just buzzwords in 2022. Governments and consumers are making significant shifts to sustainable environmental practices, renewable energy, and long-term sustainable thinking. Additionally, global investors are driving new environmental, social and governance practices in different markets as many consumers prefer shopping from businesses with strong sustainability practices.
6. Smarter Mobile Shopping Tools
Land-based retailers might not like their customers walking around their phones as it may be an indicator that the person is price shopping. The customer might also be using the store as a showroom before shopping elsewhere online. However, smart mobile shopping tools are among the key online eCommerce trends for tech-savvy retailers offering a personalized GPS-enabled shopping experience to help customers buy in their stores and online.
7. Enabling Personalization
Personalizing your customers’ online shopping experience is crucial to keeping them satisfied. The customers need help finding the products they need and value a personalized shopping experience. As such, poor product recommendations will make online shoppers avoid buying from certain websites altogether.
Recent reports indicate that 80% of customers are likely to buy from businesses that offer personalized promotions and content. That leads to a 20% rise in the conversion rate for websites that show personalized content.
To tailor your customers’ shopping experiences the way they like it today, your eCommerce platform will need to feature basic personalization tools. If your platform doesn’t, then it’s time to start considering restructuring it afresh.
8. More online Advertising Competition
The rise of eCommerce means that brands are increasingly advertising their online stores. That means that more businesses are continually competing for eyeballs online, contributing to more advertising competitions and higher inventory prices for these services. As a result, businesses can expect to pay more for popular keyword search phrases and common item listing ads.
Get ready to Leverage eCommerce trends and Transform your Business
In 2022, eCommerce customers will be expecting an online shopping experience that’s more convenient, seamless, and more memorable than ever before. That’s why businesses will need to invest in the right online eCommerce trends to allow them to adapt to their customer’s fast-changing preferences and needs. Brands will also want to determine the areas that are growing in eCommerce and where to invest in these areas to create better online experiences.
It is really essential and important for you to go with the flow of the latest and upcoming eCommerce trends to grow your business. Most of successful businesses do this.
