eCommerce is takin off, which is not a surprise to anyone. As technology continues to develop, internet retail will be impacted with the shift of desktop to mobile. Here are the trends to pay attention to as a online business owner.
- Mobile Is KingThe future of mobile is here. Now. 125 million consumers own and use smartphones. 62% of these individuals have made an online purchase using their mobile phone during the past 6 months. That is 75 million consumers using their phone to make a online purchase.As it stands desktop still outweighs mobile purchases, but that is not going to last much longer. Research shows that mobile devices will become the main technology used to discover, research, and purchase goods.Mobile optimization has a direct impact on your ability to rank in Google. Partially due to the fact that mobile device friendliness is now a big factor in their ranking algorithm. What’s more, clients expect your site to be mobile optimized. In fact, 40% of mobile users will seek out a competitor after a bad mobile experience.
- eWallet TechnologyAn integrated mobile wallet is a must nowadays. An encompassing mobile platform is one of the key eCommerce technology trends. Adding mobile wallet functionality will help you increase sales and boost your conversion rate. App shopping is more convenient for consumers and provides a more immersive environment for you to market with. Think of your website like a pop-up shop and your app like a department store.Visitors to your site are less likely to shop around. Because apps are more immersive, users tend to spend more time browsing. That means more opportunities for marketing, sales, and conversions.
- Subscription ServicesThink of the impact that Netflix and Amazon have made on your purchasing decision over the past years. eCommerce technology trends indicate that personalized subscription services will continue to emerge as power players. Subscriptions are going to provide two retail needs for both consumers and providers.The first thing is that subscription services create a relatively stable revenue stream for the companies that offer it. Additionally, the steady nature of the service provides solid analytics that help shape future offerings. Second, it fulfills a need for consumers. Clients of subscription services no longer need to shop for certain products and services. Subscriptions take the forethought out of everyday purchases, eliminating time consuming and costly trips to a store.
- Product CustomizationThe ability to customize offerings will go hand in hand with subscriptions that you are offering. Recommended offerings and remarketing ads is a truly personalized touch that consumers will be pleased with. That’s because it’s easy for consumers to use, eliminates the hassles of shopping, and meets the demanding needs of modern clients.
- Product VisualizationProduct visualization has changed dramatically over the past few years. Evolving from small, hard to view images to multiple images from different perspectives, the ability to zoom, customer uploaded images, etc. Augmented reality, a technology that superimposes digital images on a user’s view of the real world through their mobile device, is changing the way consumers can imagine products before they buy.Virtual reality, where users “enter” an immersive virtual world with a VR headset and compatible 360 video, allows clients to virtually experience a product before the make a purchase.These eCommerce technology trends will impact the way consumers make decisions about products and services.
Ensure your eCommerce site is ready for the new year by adapting these trends into your business plan. If you’re interested in integrating some of the most innovative and leading merchant services and payment processing solutions into your eCommerce strategy for the next year, contact us today.
Currently Mark is owner of Legacy Payments and part owner of Deposyt
where he increases overall company sales by developing relationships with vertical markets to bring in new merchant processing accounts.
