The UK is officially the nation of online shopaholics, with Internet shopping evidently more popular than in any other country.
With over 30% of retail sales being taken online, generating a whopping $120 billion the ecommerce market here continues to grow in popularity with the British public.
2023 promises to be yet another mammoth year for online sales, so ecommerce businesses need to make sure they are ahead of the game. Competition is fierce out there, so there’s no room for complacency. Online customers expect to be wooed by not only the best prices and selection of products, but the best customer experience too.
So how can you get your online store in shape for the year ahead? Well, here we’ve listed a number of trends that we think will make it big (or continue to do so) this New Year…
Mobile Shopping
There has been an historic caution about using mobile devices to make purchases online, but the tide is already turning. The pandemic forced consumers to start shopping online, and since then sourcing and purchasing products online has become the norm.
Consumers are now more confident and comfortable buying goods on the Internet, so are more likely to explore using their mobile devices to do so. Ecommerce website owners however need to ensure that the mobile shopping experience they provide is both easy and convenient.
Social Media
There’s no escaping it – social media will continue having a huge impact on the retail behaviour of us all. The proof is there right before your eyes on any social media channel; adverts and video clips promoting products and services bombard and tempt us on a daily basis.
It’s easy to link your ecommerce website to social media platforms; many of the platforms also now offer the facility for customers to purchase products there and then, such as Facebook’s Buy button . Social media provides a convenient and relaxing space to shop, and customers seem to love it!
Augmented reality
Just how can you make it easier for customers to make a decision about a purchase when they can’t actually see or touch the product? Well, using an Augmented Reality (AR) solution can help just that. For example, AR on a website can provide customers with the facility to view a product they like in their own home setting.
The use of AR on ecommerce websites is destined to become huge, and a feature that us online shoppers will expect to see. AR can help make customers more confident about their purchasing decisions as it removes a lot of the uncertainty and guesswork about choosing.
Chatbots
Love them or hate them, chatbots are being increasingly used on websites to further enhance customer support. The software welcomes and assists customers solve their queries through simulated human conversation, either by text or voice.
When employed, chatbots can be great help as the first line of customer service, where they can efficiently and easily provide answers to the more common questions customers may have.
Video
Video is now commonly used on ecommerce websites to help consumers better understand products they are interested in buying. Short, well produced videos clips can maintain the attention of customers and can pass on information much quicker than traditional blocks of text.
On social media channels too, videos promoting products and services are in abundance, as brands recognise these are the places where consumers spend their time. Short video clips are proving to be hot ways of marketing and will continue to do so this year.
Easy Checkouts
Historically, online store owners have been forcing customers to create account before they buy, but this requirement is changing fast. Abandoned carts prove that customers now just want a quick, streamlined and frictionless checkout process.
Many of the well-known online stores have already embraced obstacle free, customer focused checkout processes, and this will undoubtedly cascade quickly across the rest of the ecommerce world.
