Article

Mike Owen
Mike Owen 9 April 2018

Digital trends B2C retailers must keep an eye on

The most disruptive eCommerce strategies and add-ons are already here, and the sooner you start to study and apply them, the greater the advantage you will have over your competition. Take a good note of the digital and tech trends that are gaining more and more importance for B2C eCommerce businesses and websites. Are you applying all of them?

The NRF (National Retail Federation) predicts a growth of between 8% and 12% for online retail in 2018, three times more than retail sales growth in physical stores. How can you miss this fantastic opportunity for your business?

Take good note of the digital and tech trends that are gaining more and more importance for B2C eCommerce businesses and websites. Are you applying all of them?

Niches

eCommerce will become increasingly segmented and the best growth opportunities will be in very specific niches, within each line of business. This evolution has occurred naturally due to two phenomena: the competition and the needs of the public.

On the one hand, increasing competition in eCommerce means that old and new businesses alike must look for ideas that have not yet been exploited. On the other hand, there is genuine demand from users with very specific needs, who are unable to find certain products or services in their local shopping neighborhood, especially in areas, cities or countries where there is less variety or, directly, certain products are not sold. Take the niche for vegans or celiacs products for example, who hardly ever find anything outside capital cities.

Response Speed

The user demands increasing speed in their online shopping experience. Incorporating innovative technology that contributes to this will be key to any successful eCommerce business in 2018.

For some time, Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP) and Progressive Web App (PWA) systems, developed by Google, have been useful additions for online retailers and customers who can check product catalogs under the appearance of efficient apps, which work in full-screen mode without any issues, can be accessed offline and provide seamless navigation with no bugs. The controversy surrounding AMPs is that they can negatively influence analytics and this issue merits more attention to verify its effectiveness in each online retail business.

Payment Flexibility

Having consolidated their online payment security systems, retailers must now respond to a new demand from users: that of having different payment options.

This affects the variety of payment methods available and is linked to another element, the agility of the purchase process. Many users feel discouraged when they see long payment processes and that they need to fill in a lot of fields. Express buttons at the checkout, such as Apple Pay, ShopRunner, Square or Stripe, are the new must after the reign of PayPal and credit cards.

And, apart from the control over how they pay, customers are also beginning to demand more control over how and where they receive their shipments.

Augmented Reality

This is not restricted to sci-fi movies: the next big thing is artificial intelligence and is already present in the eCommerce world.

It is estimated that by 2018 there will be 200 million users worldwide using augmented reality and virtual videos. The ease of access to this new type of technology that companies such as Apple have developed will continue to escalate, with apps for online sales. For example, Gadget Flow is an eCommerce product aggregator that allows buyers to review product listings with previews of tech products in augmented reality.

It is the next step after the importance of video in eCommerce: customers will be able to appreciate the products in 3D, interact with them, make demos about what a product looks like or how it works, and feel more similarity between buying in a physical store and the online shopping experience.

Mobile Shopping

Although they attract many traffic visits in apps and eCommerce websites, so far the conversion rate on mobile devices has been much lower than on computers. Visits from smartphones account for 60% of traffic, of which only 40% were being converted into real purchases.

Thanks to improvements in the search and purchase experience in mobile apps, this trend is beginning to pay dividends and it is foreseeable that it will continue. To continue achieving positive results, you have to invest in better technology, enhance speed, security and adaptation to the type of interaction that the user performs  — with fast buttons that are easy to use with the thumb, increased presence of videos and large interactive images.

Subscriptions

The main eCommerce reference point is Amazon Prime, but this subscription trend has also been based on the example of streaming platforms like Netflix. Recent months have seen huge expansion of online subscription services, both based on flat rates (usually in shipping costs) as well as on periodic shipments of product boxes.

The current user prefers the comfort a single platform offers instead of bouncing between several websites and comparing costs and options in each one. Loyalty will always end up being won by the quality of the service offered, but subscription services will be one of the most explored tools in eCommerce.

Wraping up

Technologies have always been the future, but that will more than ever for eCommerce. From Product Content Management software to artificial intelligence, eCommerce must adhere to the digital revolution if it wants to lead the world’s most effective online experiences.

Please login or register to add a comment.

Contribute Now!

Loving our articles? Do you have an insightful post that you want to shout about? Well, you've come to the right place! We are always looking for fresh Doughnuts to be a part of our community.

Popular Articles

See all
Thought Leadership Content – Why Bother?

Thought Leadership Content – Why Bother?

In the increasingly crowded market, brands and businesses constantly compete for attention, and standing out is harder than ever. One smart way to differentiate yourself from the competition is through thought...

Glenn Matchett
Glenn Matchett 29 August 2024
Read more
Podcast - Event Marketing: Insights from Industry Leaders

Podcast - Event Marketing: Insights from Industry Leaders

In this episode of the c-suite podcast, we chat to a panel of experts about how companies use events to showcase products, strengthen partnerships, and generate business opportunities.

Russell Goldsmith
Russell Goldsmith 22 August 2024
Read more
The Impact of New Technology on Marketing

The Impact of New Technology on Marketing

Technology has impacted every part of our lives. From household chores to business disciplines and etiquette, there's a gadget or app for it. Marketing has changed dramatically over the years, but what is the...

Alex Lysak
Alex Lysak 3 April 2024
Read more
How to Review a Website — A Guide for Beginners

How to Review a Website — A Guide for Beginners

A company website is crucial for any business's digital marketing strategy. To keep up with the changing trends and customer buying behaviors, it's important to review and make necessary changes regularly...

Digital Doughnut Contributor
Digital Doughnut Contributor 25 March 2024
Read more
Podcast – Data-Driven Decisions: The Business Advantage

Podcast – Data-Driven Decisions: The Business Advantage

Recorded in partnership with SNP, a world leading data transformation company, and on location at GSK's London office, Russell Goldsmith is joined by Shobie Ramakrishnan, Chief Digital and Technology Officer, GSK...

Russell Goldsmith
Russell Goldsmith 8 October 2024
Read more