What Are Ecommerce Trends Shaping up the Industry?

Starting an eCommerce venture is a reliable option if you want to create a source of income. However, the industry is quite competitive, and many newcomers find themselves struggling to stand out from the rest. It leads to abandoning the idea before it picks up, and one is left with nothing in the end. 

One of the reasons why new businesses fail to make their mark is failing to recognize the trends. With how much the eCommerce industry has grown in recent years, it is no surprise to see innovations come and go. This article will give you a better idea of what trends have shaped the industry and what we can expect to see in the next few years.

Trend #1 – Custom Merchandise

Offering custom merchandise on one’s website is not just about making money by directly selling print-on-demand products. This merchandise is an excellent way to raise brand awareness.  Businesses can include POD products as complimentary gifts to reward their most loyal customers. Having your team wear matching t-shirts for team building is also worth considering. If you are uncertain how to start creating print-on-demand merchandise, look for a customized mug guide and guide other products you are interested in.

Trend #2 – Voice E-commerce

Retail e-commerce sales surpassed 3.5 trillion US dollars worldwide, and some of these numbers can be credited to better access to shopping on the Internet. As the e-commerce industry continues to evolve, customized print on demand products are becoming increasingly popular among consumers.

Voice commerce has made it possible to shop online if you have a disability and only use your voice to order goods or services. People with disabilities may not be the first thing when it comes to finding your demographic, but failing to include voice search in your online store means missing out on potential customers.

Besides, it is not just people with disabilities that use voice search. Some people find it more convenient to stick to voice commands significantly if they save you time. 

 Trend #3 – Social Media E-commerce

You can sell stuff on social media by joining relevant groups or letting your friends know by posting the news on your wall.  However, more and more social media platforms have been pushing their e-commerce feature. Facebook is a good example. Now, brands can sell directly on the platform rather than redirect customers to relevant landing pages. 

Trend #4 – Influencer Marketing 

Influencer marketing continues to play a prominent role in marketing strategies. However, it seems that some brands have been leaning toward micro-influencers rather than A-tier celebrities, particularly if someone asks for a ridiculous amount of payment. Micro-influencers may have fewer followers, but that does not diminish their value. If anything, someone with a higher overall engagement rate is more valuable for a brand that wants to invest its resources wisely. Working with multiple micro-influencers may prove a better overall option than sticking to the same top influencer. 

Trend #5 – Virtual Reality

There is no telling how far virtual reality will advance in the future and how it will influence the eCommerce industry. Even with what we have available right now, it is clear that VR will feature even more in the next few years.

Currently, businesses are adopting virtual reality to give customers opportunities to browse products as if they were in a physical store. It is hard to decide whether you want to purchase something like a chair or a bed if you cannot try it first. However, putting on a VR helmet and trying the furniture is helpful. Sure, implementing virtual reality is expensive, and only a few businesses have managed to do so, but that should change as technology advances and becomes more available.

Trend #6 – Chatbots

Chatbots will replace real people in customer support. Machine learning makes it possible for a chatbot to absorb information and respond to customer questions immediately. Besides, a chatbot would be available 24/7, and it does not need a break, unlike real humans. 

Trend #7 – Offline E-commerce

Offline commerce is the one for the future. And it is not about bringing people from the internet into a brick-and-mortar store. No, the offline eCommerce we are talking about is where you will find advertisements in places you would not expect to find them. 

For example, you may be watching a TV series and notice a character wearing a nice pair of shoes. What if you wanted the same pair? Well, you could pause the show and click on the shoes for information on where you can get them.  Sounds convenient and disruptive? We can expect to see more examples of this advertisement type in the future, especially if it improves one’s sales.

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