5 Ecommerce Trends to Consider in 2023
There were over 250 billion eCommerce sales in the U.S. in the final quarter of 2022 alone. Clearly, e-commerce is a powerful mechanism for moneymaking.
But, how do you know what works for making money via eCommerce? What’s gaining popularity right now?
Let’s go through what you need to know about eCommerce trends this year.
1. Increased Use of Mobile Commerce
Mobile devices are now ubiquitous, and most people always carry a smartphone with them.
Mobile commerce apps and mobile-optimized websites have made it easier for consumers to browse and buy products with just a few taps or swipes on their devices.
That’s part of why mobile optimization is so important for eCommerce businesses. Use a mobile-responsive design. Test your website on mobile devices. Use a mobile-friendly checkout system for best results.
Optimize images and videos on your website for mobile devices, too. This means reducing file sizes and ensuring that they load quickly on mobile devices.
2. Personalization and Customization
Nowadays, eCommerce businesses need to provide personalized and customized experiences to their customers.
Personalization involves tailoring the shopping experience to meet the individual needs and preferences of each customer. Examples include recommendations based on past purchases, personalized product offerings, and targeted marketing messages.
Businesses can use data such as browsing history, purchase history, and demographic information to create personalized recommendations and marketing messages. This can be done using algorithms and artificial intelligence to analyze customer data. It also helps make personalized recommendations.
Customization involves allowing customers to customize their products according to their individual preferences. This can include selecting colors, sizes, and other features to create a unique product.
Businesses can use product designers that allow customers to create their own customized product. You can offer software tools that help customers visualize the finished product.
3. Rise of Social Commerce
Social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook have started integrating eCommerce features like checkout and product tagging into their apps. Social commerce allows you to sell products directly to customers without them needing to go to your website.
Social commerce can take many different forms. You can use social media marketplaces. Different platforms have created their own marketplaces where businesses can sell their products directly to customers.
Or try shoppable posts. These allow businesses to tag their products in posts, making it easy for customers to purchase the product directly from the post.
Of course, you can always use influencers to your advantage. You can partner with social media influencers to promote products to their followers.
4. Sustainability and Eco-Friendliness
With increasing environmental concerns, more customers are looking for eco-friendly and sustainable products. eCommerce businesses can show their commitment by offering eco-friendly packaging, using sustainable materials, and supporting social causes.
5. Augmented Reality
Augmented reality allows eCommerce businesses to create more immersive experiences for their customers.
With AR, customers can visualize products before making a purchase. This can help to reduce the number of returns from dissatisfied customers.
AR can be used to allow customers to visualize products in 3D and in real-world environments. A furniture company, for example, could use AR to allow customers to see how a new couch would look in their living room before buying.
You can also use AR to create virtual try-on experiences for fashion and beauty products. A makeup company could use AR to allow customers to try on a variety of colors of lipstick virtually before buying.
AR allows you to create interactive product demos that allow customers to explore and interact with products.
Or use it to create personalized experiences. For example, create customized virtual showrooms that feature products tailored to the customer’s preferences.
6. Artificial Intelligence
AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants are becoming more complex, which is part of what’s making them more and more popular in the eCommerce world.
AI can be used to analyze customer data, such as browsing and purchase history, to make personalized product recommendations. This can help boost sales numbers.
It can also improve your customer service overall. You can provide customer service through chatbots or virtual assistants that can answer customer questions and provide support.
7. Voice Commerce
With the increasing popularity of smart speakers and voice assistants, voice commerce is trending.
V-commerce enables customers to make purchases by simply speaking a command to their device, such as “order more dog food” or “buy a new phone case.” It provides extra convenience since customers can check in on their order without even picking up their phone.
Voice commerce can also use customer data to provide personalized product recommendations. This is very helpful if you’re looking for more pathways to market to your customers, and even reach new audiences.
Try Out These eCommerce Trends Today
There’s a lot that these different eCommerce trends can do for your needs. You just need to dive into the research and figure out what might work for you.
Are you looking for help with merchant services? Contact Gateway Payments today.