Top eCommerce Trends to look out for in 2022
Since the first book was sold on Amazon in 1995, the eCommerce industry has changed tremendously. With over 2 trillion pounds spent on eCommerce sales worldwide, the way we shop shows no signs of slowing down. Throughout the pandemic, millions of people relied solely on eCommerce as their main source of shopping, and brands quickly had to change to meet the consumer’s demands.
Ecommerce has been revolutionary to the retail industry, and it has evolved to meet the needs of the modern-day customer. These trends will show how Ecommerce has rapidly changed and how it is here to stay. Including these trends in your business can ensure you stay at the forefront of online shopping and ensure steady growth.
The future of eCommerce After COVID-19
It is undeniable that the pandemic was the biggest impact on eCommerce trends in 2021 – if not ever.
Governments worldwide closed down high street shops and implemented lockdowns which restricted our freedom to shop as we knew it. As a result, online shopping became the major source of food, clothes, and necessities to a lot of people, especially those with illnesses who were advised against leaving the house.
Closing up shops was detrimental to the high street, with many major UK stores such as Topshop and Debenhams closing down with an approximate 100,000 more shops forecast to close over the next five years. However, eCommerce giant Amazon saw its fortune grow by £24 billion, with more and more people having to shop solely online. Market analysts have predicted that the eCommerce industry will continue to be the main beneficiary of the pandemic.
Many customers are still skeptical about shopping in-store, leaving eCommerce open to more growth despite shops being reopened. Experts predict that the impact of COVID-19 will be here to stay even long after the pandemic ends. People have gotten comfortable with the convenience of online shopping, being able to buy necessities without leaving the comfort of their own homes.
Headless commerce
If you are not familiar with the term ‘headless commerce,’ it means separating an eCommerce website’s front end and back end. The front-end and the back-end will then work separately, which allows for an increase in agility and adaptability. Headless commerce is crucial if you want your customers to have an omnichannel experience.
The front-end provides you with a personalized experience by connecting their secure data in the back-end to deliver offers, products, and services best tailored to the user’s needs.
Businesses can take on new technology touchpoints, mold the buying process, and offer an interactive experience personalized to the consumer. In addition, it provides the chance to experiment and test new strategies.
The ‘full-stack’ approach to Ecommerce platforms is slowly dying out, as the desktop is no longer the most used device for shopping. Instead, mobile and tablets are now among the most used devices, with 79% of smartphone users purchasing their mobile devices in the last six months. In addition, 40% of users will go to a competitor after having a bad mobile experience – so now is a better time than ever to go headless.
With the rise of headless commerce, companies are offering a service to build a headless commerce platform, taking the stress away from you.
The Growth of Mobile Shopping
The growth of mobile shopping goes hand in hand with the rise of eCommerce after COVID-19. As a result, sales via a mobile device are on the rise and are set to total £3.79 trillion in 2022. In 2020 the overall sales of mobile devices totaled £2.66 trillion.
These figures are not easily ignorable. However, many businesses are not optimizing their eCommerce site for mobile platforms. Improving the user experience for mobile users can be a huge benefit to your business and result in more traffic and sales.
Mobile shopping is vital to your business if your business targets Generation Z or Millennial consumers. These generations have grown up surrounded by the internet and feel more comfortable shopping on online platforms.
Young Consumers Drive Online Shopping
Like the growth of mobile shopping, young consumers are driving the shift to online shopping. Even though the change in online shopping through the pandemic was due to consumers of all ages, younger generations were responsible for this push.
A survey shows that 67% of young customers aged between 18 to 34 are spending more money now online than before the pandemic. However, those aged 35 to 54 years old increased online shopping by just 57%, and only 41% for those aged 55 and over.
As an eCommerce business owner, it may be in your interest to target the younger generations to increase potential sales. Consider social media marketing to do so, as most young consumers buy from brands they discover via social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok.
The Evolution of Social Media Platforms as eCommerce platforms
Social media giants Facebook, Instagram, and Tiktok have also taken note of the rise of online shopping. In their efforts to connect with the eCommerce community, they have implemented shopping tools on their platforms to allow social media users to buy directly from the social media platform.
Social media now plays a vital role in the world of eCommerce. This has left a great opportunity for brands to rethink improving their social media presence and connecting to their target audience.
Even the latest social media legend TikTok has recently partnered with Shopify to allow businesses to link directly to their products on the app. With each TikTok user spending approximately 52 minutes per day on TikTok, it might be worth considering for your business.
The Rise of Green Consumerism
Environmental topics influence consumers with 39% of digital consumers to say that poor environmental records impact purchasing decisions send been taking more action than ever in an effort to appear more environmentally friendly, from reducing the amount of plastic to creating fully recyclable packaging, big brands have noticed the change in how conscious consumers have become.
As an eCommerce platform, it is important to strive to create a more sustainable business, this will set you apart from your competitors and win the support of sustainable shoppers.
So there you have the top eCommerce trends to look out for in 2022. Which one will you be implementing in your business?
