The COVID-19 pandemic, which encouraged millions of people to shop online, is largely responsible for the explosion of ecommerce over the past three years.
With global retail e-commerce sales predicted to increase from $5 trillion to over $8 trillion by 2026, everyone anticipates that online shopping will remain popular.
It’s hardly unexpected that the number of online retailers and small e-commerce companies has exploded.
Although many internet stores are expanding favorably, there is no assurance that all of them will be successful.
The competition is always there to attempt to trip you up, customer expectations are constantly shifting, and new difficulties are continuously emerging.
Owners of e-commerce companies, however, can set themselves up for success by anticipating what will happen in 2023.
You can set up your company to take advantage of impending possibilities and minimize harm from prospective threats when you know which trends are on the horizon.
In light of this, we’ve compiled a list of the top 9 ecommerce trends for 2023 according to industry insiders.
Multi-channel is everything
Customers in 2023 don’t feel constrained by a certain gadget or channel. Consumers anticipate smooth cross-channel product research, pricing comparison, and purchase completion as well as the ability to switch between apps without losing their place in the buying process.
BOPIS (Buy Online Pay In Store) and in-store interactions like the Apple store, where customers can engage with Apple items while also placing online orders for delivery to their homes, are examples of additional channels.
Speech search and voice buying are expanding as well, particularly for groceries, household goods, and inexpensive electronics.
Social commerce is expanding
Thanks to tools like Shoppable Instagram, social media is becoming a more and more popular location to find new products and make purchases.
It is anticipated that social commerce sales will increase from $992 billion in 2022 to $2.9 trillion in 2026. For product recommendations, Gen Z prefers TikTok to Google, and 48% of users have access to TikTok’s direct shopping functionality.
New standards for customer service
Your clients demand quick answers to their questions and prefer to communicate with you through familiar channels like Instagram, Facebook Messenger, and WhatsApp.
Increasingly e-commerce companies are implementing chatbots so they can provide first-rate customer care around-the-clock.
Consumers want flexible return policies as well; 67% of shoppers say they seek up the return policy before making a purchase.
Furthermore crucial is complete visibility into the order. It should go without saying that they need to be able to check the progress of their delivery and get information on when it will arrive.
Augmented reality
A lot of internet shoppers want some assurance that they’ll enjoy the item when it arrives. Smart e-commerce companies like Sephora, Warby Parker, Kipling, and Zappo are utilizing augmented reality to provide immersive interactions that allow customers to “try on” clothes, eyewear, or makeup before placing a purchase. Even an app from IKEA lets you visualize how furniture will look in your space.
Diverse payment options
Modern consumers expect to be able to pay quickly and easily on any device, typically utilizing cryptocurrencies as well as digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay.
Internet merchants must be able to accept a variety of payment methods, such as adaptable Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) choices like Klarna.
They also need to persuade customers that hackers won’t get access to their financial details. Thankfully, Payoneer Checkout, their solution for accepting payments, allows for frictionless, secure transactions using a variety of payment options.
Sustainability is a yardstick
Consumers will be far more likely to spend more in 2023 for renewables, and they will look for brands that share their moral principles.
Online retailers that sell sustainable or fair trade goods, use eco-friendly and/or minimum packaging, give sustainable shipping options, and/or make it simple for customers to recycle or refill items are also sought after by customers.
Customers are looking for pre-used products
Shopping for used and pre-owned goods online is becoming more popular, partly because of interest in sustainability as well as increased inflation is pressuring people to find methods to save money.
Online sales of used goods are particularly popular in the apparel, books, shoes, and bag categories. Many shoppers start their search for pre-owned prices on secondhand markets like eBay, ThredUp, Alibris, and PoshMark.
Personalization
Ecommerce may have replaced physical stores, but customers still enjoy getting advice from a salesperson who is familiar with their tastes, body types, and buying inclinations.
They want the same experience online, with individualized product recommendations, discounts, and content that speaks to them by name and is aware of their preferences.
Conclusion
Small business owners in the e-commerce industry should anticipate a successful year of sales in 2023 if they bear in mind e-commerce trends like omnichannel, personalisation, sustainability, social commerce, and top-notch customer service.
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