In 1995, the first-ever online Amazon order was placed—a book.
Twenty-seven years later, the ecommerce industry has mademore than $5.5 trillionin sales worldwide.
Ecommerce has revolutionized retail. It has evolved to meet the changing needs of people and to make online shopping easier for modern-day consumers.
When it started, ecommerce was fairly limited in its capabilities. But not anymore. Whether it’s customization, enhanced return policies, or improved integration, all of these changes (among countless others) have taken the world of ecommerce by storm.
And 2023 will only further transform the world of ecommerce.
So, if you’re still on the fence aboutthe future of ecommerce, these latest trends will prove to you that ecommerce isn’t just rapidly growing, it’s here to stay. And you too can include these ecommerce developments in your business to ensure steady growth of your online store.
To take yourecommerce businessto the next level in 2023, make sure to take advantage of these emerging industry trends.
Why are ecommerce trends so important?
The ecommerce world is increasingly competitive.
To stay ahead of the competition, trends need to be constantly monitored.
No matter how mature your ecommerce store is right now, if you don’t keep up withecommerce trends, you’ll risk falling drastically behind.
You need to keep looking ahead to ensure future success. As we look ahead to 2023, you need to know these trends in order to take advantage of them.
That’s why it’s so important that ecommerce trends are analyzed and adopted in a timely manner. By doing this you can drive your ecommerce brand forward, and stay ahead of your competition.
Top ecommerce trends for 2023
Are you wondering what the future of ecommerce looks like? Do you want to look into what trends will shape your customer experience? Here are the 10 biggest ecommerce trends for 2023 that you need to look out for.
1. Consumers hit the gas pedal on online shopping
Ecommerce sales have been growing constantly and for good reason. Online shopping is one of the most popular online activities.Global ecommerce salesare projected to increase 12.2%year-over-year, to $6.3 trillion in 2023, according to eMarketer.
That’s not all. Online sales are expected to continue growing and hit $8.1 trillion by 2026—around 55.8%more than that of the total ecommerce sales in 2021.
Even though online shopping is one of the most popular online activities, its usage varies by region. With theincreasing popularity of ecommerce stores, a rising number of people are turning to online shopping.
This increase in online shopping can be attributed to anumber of factors. One of the main ones is arguably the level of comfort provided to online shoppers.
There is also an increase in trust that online buyers have when they are purchasing online, as well as an improved website experience. At one point, people used to be hesitant to buy things online, but that’s no longer the case. Websites have also become a lot more customer-friendly.
With all the comfort that is provided, there’s no surprise that online sales growth is becoming unstoppable.
2. Ecommerce strengthens further in digitally mature markets
Undeniably, one of the biggest impacts—if not the biggest—on ecommerce trends in recent years is the COVID-19 pandemic.
With governments worldwide shutting stores and implementing lockdowns to restrict social movement for months on end in a bid to combat the coronavirus, more and more people resorted toonline shoppingto purchase items.
Experts predict that the impact of the coronavirus will not just be a short-term boost to ecommerce but one that’s here to stay, even after COVID-19. This is because people will get comfortable with the comfort and convenience it offers and the benefits of contactless payments, both of which are likely to cause a permanent behavioral shift toward digital purchases.
In fact, market analysts say the ecommerce industry will be the biggest beneficiary of the coronavirus pandemic. Global penetration rates, which are currently at 22%, are expected to increase to27% by 2026.
Analysts are even expecting ecommerce adoption to increase in countries where online shopping is already pretty rampant. In the US, ecommerce penetration rates are set to rise from the current 23% to 31% by 2026.
3. Mobile shopping accelerates
The growth ofmobile commercehas been particularly noteworthy. In 2021, total sales made via mobile devices came in at $359.32 billion. This figure is expected to more than double, to reach$728.8 billion, and account for nearly 44% of US retail ecommerce sales by 2025.
These figures can’t be ignored. Improving the ecommerce experience for mobile customers can be a huge opportunity for businesses to tap into.
Ecommerce growthhas been driven in part by the increase in usage of mobile devices. That’s because consumers aren’t just checking out online, they’re also using their mobile devices to browse or research before making their minds up about their purchase.
As trust in online shopping increases, consumers start to feel更舒适的购物在移动设备上than ever before. This is especially so withmillennials and Gen Zconsumers, who have grown up surrounded by computers and the internet. These generations are also more likely to be shopping online using their mobile devices in comparison to older generations.
With more and more sites now optimized for mobile use, make sure that not only your website but your online store is optimized for mobile devices as well. By doing this, you’re making ecommerce simpler and more accessible for a larger audience.
4. Young consumers change the business landscape
In recent years, a shift to online shopping has been observed across consumers of all ages. However, there’s one particular group that increasingly purchases stuff on the internet: young consumers.
Survey results show thattwo out of three(80%) young consumers aged 25 to 40 do the majority of their shopping online.
攒钱和找到交易是主要原因for young consumers’ online shopping, but they also appreciate a smooth checkout process and product recommendations given by businesses.
That said, going forward, as an ecommerce business owner, you should be targeting the younger generation to increase your sales potential.
To do so, consider increasing yoursocial media marketingefforts. More than half of young consumers who buy from independent brands discover them via social media—more than any other age group.
5. The evolving role of social media in ecommerce
The number of social shoppers is also rapidly increasing. With theintroduction of the Buy button on FacebookandInstagram Checkout, social media is playing a significant role in the world of ecommerce.
Social media has changed the way we live our daily lives, including the way we buy things. This is a great opportunity for brands to start thinking about how to improve their position on social media, which is a great platform for brands to get discovered.
With consumers spending more time on differenttypes of social media, ecommerce businesses can get help fromInstagram influencersto increase their chances of getting discovered by theirtarget audience.
Additionally, withplatforms like Shopify,businesses can easily link their ecommerce stores tosocial media sitesso people can buy from them directly through social media. Instagram and Facebook, for example, are constantly updating their features to meet the comfort needs of online buyers.
And who can forgetTikTok—the latest and rising rave within the world of social media that has not only made its way into thehearts of teensbut alsoaround Hollywood?
视频分享应用程序一直致力于incorporating ecommerce elements, and one of its latest efforts includesShoppable Ads. These ads will help brands reach TikTok audiences who are most likely to convert with fully automated creatives and smarter, more advanced targeting. Moreover, TikTok has other commerce features that let store owners sell directly on the app.
These social media platforms act as channels for inspiration and allow brands an opportunity to be discovered while people scroll through their feeds. As social media continues to become a regular part of our daily lives, its power to influence ecommerce trends will only increase. That’s why brands need to adopt a shopping-focused approach to theirsocial media strategy.
6. Environmental topics influence buyers
Green consumerism is on the rise, and brands need to take action. As many asthree in 10consumers say environmental factors impact their decision to purchase from a company.
As an ecommerce business, you should strive to create more sustainable practices. Consumers these days have become more conscious of the environment than ever before, and for the right reasons.
Online businesses need to step in and make sure their practices are environmentally friendly. This includes practices of sourcing products from fair-trade organizations to help create a greener ecommerce environment.
Millennials are paving the way forward to greener consumerism habits. Whether it’s free-range meat or vegan skin care products, there is an increasing demand for brands to start taking care of our environment.
7. The desire to shop with aligned businesses
Not only are more and more consumers shopping online, but their shopping habits and brand preferences have also evolved.
The focus on sustainability and environmental practices aside, many consumers are interested in brands’ values. Eighty-two percentof consumerswant these values to align with their own.
Moreover, they are clearly willing to act on this sentiment, with three-quarters of surveyed consumers sharing they had left a brand over a conflict in values.
So if you want to delight and retain customers, familiarize yourself with their values and then see how you can position your brand to align with them.
8. Virtual reality (VR) transforms how we shop
It’s estimated that the number of VR users in the US will reach65.9 millionby 2023. VR adoption among consumers will be driven by creative and innovative ecommerce storefronts. One of the main concerns people have when shopping online is the inability to see a product firsthand. VR technology helps bridge this gap and enable online shoppers to better visualize the products they are interested in.
For ecommerce businesses, this could be a game changer. VR/AR experiences can change the way online customers perceive the products they intend to buy. By showcasing your products in virtual reality, you can help them better understand if the items meet their demands.
Some ecommerce brands have already started to experiment with VR/AR, which will help them stand out from the competition. Delivering more personalized shopping experiences will result in better brand recall.
Companies are using virtual reality not only to enhance the customer experience but also to allow shoppers the ability to test and explore products in the way that they would do during an in-person shopping experience.
9. Personalization is the future
Personalized shopping experiences can keep customers around and make them loyal to your brand. Consumers even indicate they want such experiences, with49%saying they would likely become repeat customers if a retail brand offered them a personalized experience.
Ecommerce sites are on board with this trend and are investing in personalization tactics to make the online shopping experience a better one. This could include the personalization of messages that go out via email, or by providing the right information to the interested consumer group.
By offering personalized customer communications, providing relevant discounts, and engaging with customers through, for instance, video content, you will deliver a better shopping experience and boost customer loyalty.
10. Visual commerce is on the rise
One of the many difficulties ofrunning an ecommerce storeis having to sell your product to consumers who have no chance of physical interaction with your product. That’s where visual commerce comes into play.
In short, visual commerce is the next generation of normal static visuals. It takes marketing to a whole other level, as instead of simply usingproduct photosto market your business, it incorporates other types of visuals, such as consumer-generated media, interactive content, engaging videos, and, as previously mentioned, augmented reality.
As it stands, approximately75%of internet users in the US search for visual content before carrying out a purchase on a regular basis. Only a handful (3%) do not.
Planning your ecommerce strategy for 2023
With the advancement in technology and changes in consumer behavior, you need to keep an eye out for these ecommerce trends in 2023.
Whichever ecommerce trend you decide to adopt, do it with the aim of improving the shopping experience for your customers and building a long-lasting relationship with them.
Take your ecommerce evolution to the next level by evolving with it side-by-side and taking advantage of these ecommerce trends.
Want to Learn More?
Are you excited about these ecommerce trends in 2022? Or uncertain? Let us know in the comments below!
