The eCommerce industry has been rapidly changing over the years, and this year will be no different. Merchants are trying their best to improve their online business to reach shoppers where they are. The eBusiness industry has seen the evolution of multiple eCommerce trends over the years; here, we have narrowed it down to some of the biggest ones that are likely to significantly affect businesses in the coming months.
You can also talk to our consultants and learn more about the biggest trends moving online businesses forward.
Now, let’s explore the top eCommerce trends for the year and see what they entail and how to embrace them.
Significant D2C Growth
In the past 12 months, we have seen that businesses now prefer selling directly to their target customers instead of selling on Amazon and eBay through resellers. This concept is called D2C (direct to consumer) sales.
The D2C business is not new and has been around for several years. But in 2021, it truly started taking off, and this year is when it will grow even further, making it a trend to watch out for.
This shift is a result of two things:
- The pandemic’s push on shoppers’ habits towards digital.
- The advancement in content management systems and web development technologies has enabled small businesses to set up their stores effortlessly.
D2C has been beneficial for both the consumers and businesses as clients can purchase at better prices with more personalized deals, while allowing business owners to build a better relationship with their customers and win their loyalty.
D2C businesses have access to first-party consumer data that can be used for hyper-personalization, letting brands improve the buyer experience and product development efforts.
The Rise of Livestream Shopping
Livestream shopping offers a blended experience of social commerce and live streaming. Essentially, the function is similar to a home shopping network where a host (store owner, influencer, or even a celebrity) presents the product on screen, and customers purchase it during the broadcast.
Although similar in terms of functionality, there is a major difference between a home shopping network and Livestream shopping. The latter allows the audience to interact with the host and other shoppers who are live on the stream. This feat is achieved with a real-time chatbox where buyers can ask questions, request feedback, discuss, and interact using live reactions.
This innovation creates a feeling of a shopping community and charges the buyers’ experience with positive shared emotions that make the process even more fun! This helps humanize a brand by building a direct connection between the customers and the business; If done well, this can make all the difference in how appealing a brand is compared to its peers or competitors.
Improved Home Delivery Services
The digital-savvy shoppers of today know what kind of shopping experience they require, and are bold in sharing their preferences. Due to this, one of the major eCommerce trends is perfecting the supply chain.
This year, we can expect online businesses to improve their home delivery services as fast doorstep delivery has been high in demand since the pandemic.
Millennials and Gen Zers express a strong desire for same-day or next-day delivery, and delivery plays a vital role in client satisfaction. Due to this, brands are being creative with their delivery strategies, and many businesses are partnering with the best delivery services to optimize their home delivery.
More Focus on Sustainability
Sustainability has become a big topic in businesses for a while now, and establishing better eco-friendly practices has become more important than ever. This is why embracing sustainability will be a significant trend to follow.
Consumers do care about sustainability, which is more accurate for socially conscious generations like the Millennials and Gen Z. Sustainability has also become a great marketing trend over time, and this will continue to be so with particular focus on:
- Nonplastic packaging.
- Inclusion of details about production materials.
- Information about the brand’s carbon footprint.
Sustainable practices don’t have to be complicated; this is being mass adopted and can give your business a competitive edge. So, review your operations and make small changes that will benefit both your business and the environment.
Boost in Reusing Materials
To support sustainability, companies are shifting towards using reusable items. Over the years, we saw that online businesses that focus on selling pre-owned products yield massive success, mainly in the fashion industry.
However, this process is not just limited to fashion. Examples include Apple and Amazon’s programs that allow buyers to turn in their unused products for discounts or cash. Retailers like Ikea and ETSY have embraced this trend by including a second-hand section in their eCommerce stores.
Therefore, as a business owner in 2022, you can think about providing such services that appeal to the audience.
Endnote
These were some of the top eCommerce trends that you can use to grow your business in 2022. However, we would want you to stay alert and keep looking for opportunities that can give your brand a competitive edge!
At Sellryt, an Amazon advertising partner, we implement the best Amazon PPC strategies and run fully optimized Amazon advertising campaigns to boost the growth of our clients. If you need to know more about online marketing strategies, you can always contact us, we would be happy to help!