2017 was an amazing year for eCommerce and we are drawing near the end of 2017. New technologies which emerged towards the end of 2016 flourished this year and had a stable hold in the online world. E-commerce has reached great heights where one can get even the tiniest things on their doorstep. Let's check out what the e-tailers need to know to make their business flourish on the in 2018.
Augmented reality and Virtual reality will create a new customer experience
By 2018, the total number of AR and VR users is expected to increase exponentially. Users could experience a 3D representation of the outfit or see how a particular thing can fit in their home. This enhances the user experience and also reduces the return rates for the merchants. Thus, it is a great fit for eCommerce.
Big data and analytics are expected to be sharper than ever
Almost every action of the consumer over the internet is transformed into some kind of data, which will later assist eCommerce sites to know more about their customer base. Big data and analytics are all set to determine the customers' demand and provide a highly personalized customer experience. It also helps in optimizing the pricing structures of the eCommerce sites.
Mobile usage expected to contribute more to the eCommerce sites
With the advent of various technologies, almost every person owns a smartphone now. It is proved that people do research, shopping and even make purchases through mobile platforms. More than 50% of the online sales is made through mobile platforms. Thus, it is expected to have a significant impact on the eCommerce sites in 2018.
Cognitive supply chain management
Supply chain management plays a crucial role in the eCommerce industry. It is expected to be the next big entity in the eCommerce trends. Automation, data sharing and customer Centricity are the three important factors of supply chain management, which is expected to increase the customer satisfaction, which in turn leads to increased sales and profit.
Micro-moments marketing
When customer's look for information about a product or look for instructions, micro-moments offers certain most inclinable touch points. Retailers take action based on their micro-moments in order to anticipate customers' actions and fulfill their needs.
Voice assistants
In the recent time, voice assistant has grown rapidly in terms of usage and popularity. People are highly interested in using voice-activated digital assistants like Amazon Alexa, Apple Siri, and others to complete various purchase oriented tasks. Thus, it is justified to be a compelling trend that will influence the eCommerce sectors in 2018.
Chatbots augments online businesses
Chatbots helps eCommerce sites to interact directly with the customers, instantly and naturally. Chatbots can help in suggesting ideal purchase options, customer's content, offer a coupon or communicate a message. Through this way, it can offer personalized service to the customers. Therefore, it’s evident that the chatbots will play a massive role in eCommerce, by 2018.
Smooth UX/UI for intensified eCommerce utility
The User experience and User interface of the eCommerce sites must be considered from the customer's point of view. It should be easy and smooth for the customers to navigate and make a purchase. Usage of highly mobile responsive eCommerce website design, SEO friendly user interface and navigation links can be added to the site to offer a better experience to the users.
Social commerce
Social platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and others have introduced a unique method to engage the customers. Social media platforms have become a great source of customers as bloggers, technological enthusiasts, existing customers and online reviewer’s link up with brands to endorse.
Same day delivery
Delivery time is one of the most important factors that online customers' are most worried about. Same day delivery feature attracts a lot of customers, and a report also states that 29% of the consumers are willing to pay extra for same-day delivery. 2018 might prove to be an ultimatum for the same day delivery trend to be improved.
The bottom line is eCommerce trends are continually growing for better customer conversion and retention. Not updating with these trends, will finally result in a serious issue for your eCommerce business. Develop an eCommerce site with all the above-mentioned trends and stay a step ahead in the online business world. Looking for a reputed company to develop an eCommerce site? Contact Seehash, the leading eCommerce website development in Chennai offering complete eCommerce solutions for online selling businesses.