Ecommerce Trends from These 18 Business Professionals

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Online shopping has been around for many years, and with the pandemic that hit, e-commerce skyrocketed. To stand out against other competitors, you should find creative ways to market your company. Here you will learn about upcoming and current trends in the e-commerce industry that may work well for your business. 

Social Media Channels as Sales Channels

“We’ve already seen social media platforms integrate storefronts directly into their apps. Instagram has its shopping tab while Facebook utilizes its marketplace for example, both of which allow users to make purchases from third-party retailers without leaving the app. We may see this expand to even more social media channels to streamline the purchasing process for users when they see an item they want to buy in a photo or a video. E-commerce brands may also launch collections exclusively through their social media outlets before they go on sale on their websites or in-store.”

-Jacob Dayan, CEO of Community Tax

Chatbots For Customer Support

“Chatbots have become increasingly popular over the last couple of years. Experts have already predicted that over 80% of online businesses will use chatbots by 2023. These chatbots have become more intuitive and allow for better customer service. The shopping experience becomes easier for the customer since these chatbots will turn into their shopping assistants using previous data to help anticipate any help or questions the customer might have. Chatbots typically answer any common FAQ, and if they are unsure about an answer, they will direct you to someone who can help. Chatbots have helped people answer their questions quickly and save time within customer support.”

-Rich Rudzinski, Founder and Technical Strategist for Oversight.co, Tragic Media, and Drivey.com

Conversational Commerce 

“As the online market continues to rise in popularity year after year, providing an exceptional customer experience online becomes more critical as time passes. Conversational commerce is a method to accomplish this by using digital mediums like text/chat SMS messengers, chatbots, voice assistants (i.e. Siri, Google Home), and other similar platforms to facilitate automated business transactions with consumers. This can include directly purchasing products and other business-related actions such as customer support or scheduling appointments. However, in all of these situations, it’s critical that the customer feels as though they have been adequately guided through the process and/or received the information they sought. If the process is simple and satisfactory, you stand a higher chance of retaining the customer’s business in the future.”

-Bill Lyons, CEO of Griffin Funding

Livestream Marketing

“Video commerce has been a critical part of eCommerce for several years now. Consumers have responded positively to video marketing for years from ad spots, product tutorials, product tips, and more. A new trend in video commerce is Livestream marketing. Companies use platforms such as Twitch or Instagram stories to host streams in which consumers have an opportunity to interact with the hosts and make purchases in real time. One major benefit to this approach is creating a sense of personal connection and community with the host and other viewers, with real-time interactions creating a sense of camaraderie. There’s also the option to create exclusive deals or promotions during livestream periods, encouraging a sense of urgency that can motivate people to engage with the streams regularly. With these benefits, it’s no surprise that 31% of retail managers said they planned to integrate livestream shopping into their strategy in 2021.”

– Lev Berlin Founder of Recipal

Buy Now Pay Later Options

“In 2022, looking at the impact of the pandemic on the economic uncertainty, we have seen a trend in adopting a buy now pay later plan. This allows customers to pay for their products in installments, which are often interest-free. Buy now pay later options can be implemented into most checkouts for any kind of product. This option lowers the customers’ upfront commitment and can positively impact sales and brand loyalty. As e-commerce sees more buy now pay later providers to enter the space, it will become a growing trend for business professionals seeking a competitive edge to consider.” 

-Adrien Dissous, Global SVP of Marketing at Babo Botanicals

Mobile Commerce Will Be The First Choice 

“In recent years, the rise of mobile commerce has been noteworthy, and it’s usage is only projected to increase in coming years. As consumers have become more comfortable making online purchases, they have evolved to trust making purchases through their mobile devices.  This makes it especially important for business professionals to ensure that all ecommerce marketplaces and communication channels are optimized on mobile platforms before desktop or in-store shopping. Google has a great tool to easily check your website’s mobile-friendliness, including the responsiveness and any loading issues that may need to be addressed. For everyone moving forward, an optimized mobile experience is essential for ecommerce.”

Angie Snow, Director of Customer & Product Training at ServiceTitan

Focus On Sustainability

“Sustainability in e-commerce today is no longer reserved for eco-friendly brands. Although this is not a new trend, the attention and importance around the conversation have continued to grow moving into 2022. The conscious consumer has raised their standards for ecommerce companies and expects brands to hold themselves accountable for their impact on the environment. The growth in ecommerce has also led to consciousness around sustainable packaging materials, eco-friendly shipping methods, and companies that give back to the planet. Business professionals have to stay aligned with their target customers’ values to build trust and drive business in the digital marketplace.”

– Adrian Pereira, Co-Founder at Eco Pea Co.

Enhanced Distribution and Fulfillment Planning

“Ecommerce businesses are looking to emerging technologies to automate marketing, production, fulfillment, and other parts of their businesses. Customers want their purchases usually delivered as quickly as possible, and if your delivery estimates are too slow, they may go elsewhere. Looking into effective fulfillment planning enables brands to avoid stockouts, offer a first-class eCommerce customer experience, and minimize costs. Implementing technology and automation into your fulfillment service strategy not only improves the process efficiency of your overall operation, but it also minimizes the risk of error and the returns that inevitably follow. You need the right balance between speed and cost to maximize customer orders.” 

-Hilary Kozak, Vice President Marketing LivSmooth

Additional Payment Options

“If your business accepts payment only via check, credit, or debit card, it might be time to consider a few additional new options. Many online retailers now use tools that allow consumers to buy with a payment plan with no extra fees. For example, a new trend that has become the preferred way of paying very quickly is Apple Pay. Along with Apple Pay, the contactless payments industry is represented mainly by Google Pay and Samsung Pay. Along with convenience, this speeds up the checkout process so once customers are ready to buy it is an easy process.”

-Sacha Ferrandi, CEO and Co-founder at Source Capital

Increased Product Subscriptions

“Product subscriptions have become a very convenient option for consumers in the last few years. Shoppers have taken the opportunity to eliminate the ‘guesswork’ from their shopping lists by signing up for subscriptions to automate purchasing essentials. Groceries, tools, animal toys/supplies, and more are becoming more seamlessly available with subscriptions. Businesses will continue to capitalize on this e-commerce trend because it offers consumers convenience while creating more consistent revenue for the company. Product subscriptions also build and maintain long-term relationships between businesses and customers so businesses can receive consistent feedback and adjust their products accordingly.”

Clayton Howard, Director of Analytics at Net Pay Advance

Product bundling

“Product bundling is an eCommerce trend that every business should consider offering. If you have a large catalog of products, you have a wealth of different product bundling options that you can offer your customers. Apparel businesses can bundle outfits, hardware businesses can bundle tools, and cosmetic businesses can bundle makeup. Not only do businesses benefit from selling more products and generating more revenue, but customers also benefit from getting multiple products at a discounted price. Product bundling also takes some of the decision-making out of consumers’ hands because related products are already included in the offer, and some people appreciate that.” 

– Amy Alderstein, Senior Marketing Retention Manager at CanvasPeople

Influencer Marketing

“Ecommerce businesses have been utilizing influencer marketing for years, but the trend is only continuing to gain momentum. Influencer marketing allows companies to get their product out to the public in a way that looks less self-promotional than typical advertising would. Influencers will promote products on their social media accounts for their entire following to see. Sometimes this will include product links, which allow viewers to visit eCommerce websites and purchase products directly as they please. It’s a great choice of marketing for eCommerce brands specifically and can make or break the success of a product. Depending on their social media following, there are various levels of influencers, so if you’re unsure about investing in a ‘Mega–Influencer’, try reaching out to ‘Micro-Influencers’ first.”

-Jeffrey Pitrak, Manager at Transient Specialists

Mastering Supply Chain Management

“Mastering automation is crucial in your ecommerce supply chain, as it’s the use of digital processes to improve efficiency and connect applications within the operations, making the flow of information clear. Sharing data such as inventory details, shipping, and customer information is another key component of supply chain management that should be available at every level. Lastly, basing your supply chain around your customers is key to customer satisfaction by identifying customer goals, likings, and tendencies. Understanding these three components of supply chain management will help the operational efficiency of your ecommerce business run smoothly.”

-Gregg Dean, CEO and Co-Founder, Layla Sleep

Content Repurposing

“As the race for coming up with creative content becomes harder than ever, it is important for eCommerce businesses to make repurposing content a top priority. It is much harder to continuously spend time thinking of new ideas than it is to take the brand you’ve already created and put a new twist on it. This way, your content will remain original but stay relevant to the present times. There are tons of opportunities to repackage your popular content into other forms, such as taking a blog and turning it into a video to reach even more people on their preferred method of viewing. Whether people prefer to watch, read, or listen, your goal as an eCommerce business is to meet your audience where they like to be in the format they prefer to view on.” 

– Todd Jensen, Head of Marketing at Nursa

Use of AR in Commerce

“Augmented reality, or AR, has made it easier for users to “try before you buy” by allowing them to do so from the comfort of their own homes. Its usage started growing in 2020 when buyers couldn’t shop in stores, meaning it’s only going to keep growing out of convenience. AR has a multitude of applications in ecommerce, from virtually trying on glasses frames, applying makeup products virtually, and placing pieces of furniture to see how and where it would fit in a room, all without having to leave the house. Online stores will take advantage of this as this eliminates the need for a storefront, and other ecommerce brands will see a decrease in product returns due to AR commerce.”

-Joe Spector, Founder and CEO of Dutch

 Discount and Referral Codes

“Now that social media has become such a large part of company exposure, new strategies to share your business with potential customers are necessary.  One way that some companies are utilizing social media is by creating random giveaways or discounts for their subscribers.  By providing your subscribers with occasional giveaways or discounts, you increase the likelihood of new customers joining your online community.  With a larger following on social media, your content and products can reach more individuals.  Also, by interacting with your followers in this way, your company can better develop a relationship with its customers.”

– David Ring, Senior Marketing Manager at MCT Trading

Make Sure Your User Experience Goes Above and Beyond! 

“One of the biggest and most important e-commerce trends that all businesses should be aware of, and hop on, is user experience. The user experience is essentially how users interact with and experience your products, service, website, systems, etc. This is especially important for your website product pages and checkout. Businesses should always strive to make sure their consumers’ user experience is easy, efficient, and utilizes important features that cater to their needs. Ways you can do this are to wow your client with exceptional customer service, implement fast and effective shipping methods, make sure your website is easy to navigate and create a fast and effective checkout experience.”

– Sanem Ahearn, Head of Marketing at Colorescience

Higher Focus on Conversion Rate Optimization

“If you are looking to succeed in the modern ecommerce world, you will start to see how important it is to look into your organization’s conversion rates. You will want to remove any kinds of barriers your customers have from ultimately purchasing your product or service. You can run various A/B tests on your website to see what kinds of graphics, language, and offers to entice your visitors to customers. Surveys are also an excellent way to gather information on how you can improve your site and make it easier for new traffic to become part of your audience ultimately.”

  • Brandon Brown, CEO of GRIN    

I’m sure you have found at least one trend you can implement in your business. Whether it’s AI, AR, product bundling, or more, there are many trends to consider when it comes to e-commerce. Not to mention, every change you make to your website is an opportunity to reach a new audience, so take that leap of faith and try something new!