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The confluence of mCommerce, social commerce and digital capabilities have contributed to an eCommerce boom for the seller community. A lot of brands that were earlier selling via third-party marketplaces or majorly through physical retail touchpoints also joined the bandwagon to reach their audience via alternate, more feasible means, with social media being instrumental to helping some brands make the digital debut and enabling others to revamp to stay on the top of their game.
Epigamia (Drums Foods International) made its digital debut with us two years ago, and saw a remarkable increase in its brand awareness and business growth. in <24 months, the brand executed its online launch to diversify its touchpoints, which is where EasyEcom chimed in.
The new year is here and so are the new trends for global eCommerce that we believe you should capitalize on. Check out these top eCommerce trends that will prevail in 2023 and how you can make the most of it for your brands to nail the new age of commerce.
Omnichannel Selling
Omni-channel eRetailing includes every possible platform you can think of to market your products including your own web store, marketplaces, and social media. Omni-channel selling is to ensure that marketing strategies are geared towards enabling customers to convert on any channel. It’s simple to understand but practicing omnichannel selling requires proper planning of your resources, so make sure you are prepared.
Fabbox, a healthy snacking company and an esteemed part of EasyEcom’s customer family, is an impressive example of how to get your omnichannel selling right. The brand has its shop on Facebook, a digital store, and sells on other marketplaces to maximize its reach and audience engagement. To handle orders from all directions, they have also deployed chatbots on the website and their social media handles. This is the level of preparedness you need to cater to your audience coming from all directions.
JustWatches is yet another brand that we are associated with and is practicing omnichannel selling. The company operates from its website as well as social media handles to meet user demands. The order fulfillment happens from their physical stores across the country. Omnichannel in the true sense!
Make the most of this eCommerce trend
Make sure you can handle the audience coming from different directions using resources at your disposal. For instance, you can implement chatbots that take user queries, make purchase requests on different platforms. You can engage a team and or a system to handle these channels individually and keep a track of your progress. Based on how you perform on each channel, you can re-strategize or ditch a channel that is not working out for you. For easy inventory listing, and connecting your offline stores with online channels, you can try out various inventory management/order management tools. EasyEcom aids its patrons with all these facilities at the click of a button.
Social Commerce
Social commerce is the foundation of modern-day business as we know it today. The scenarios have changed, of course, but the concept remains the same nonetheless. Engaging your customers on social media makes sense because that’s where you will find half the world’s population and the reach is unparalleled.
All major social media platforms now exhibit e-commerce capabilities. From catalogs on Pinterest to shops on Facebook and Instagram, social commerce is unlocking new milestones for online sellers. Facebook Shops were announced in May, 2020 but they quickly gained popularity and a lot of B2C brands have set up their digital storefronts on the social media platform. These shops allow sellers to set up full-fledged storefronts on their Facebook and Instagram business pages.
One of our esteemed clients Snackible is a prime example of how to use the power of social commerce to serve your audience where they are most of the time. Besides selling on their own eCommerce store, the brand makes use of its Facebook shop to cater to the audience.
Zouk, one of our valuable Bags and accessories clients has an up and running Instagram shop that allows the users to browse through the products on the app itself. Another EasyEcom client in the food and beverages category, Paperboat also exhibits a strong social commerce with its Facebook and Instagram shops along with a fully-functional website.
Facebook has been taking major steps to up its social commerce game. The social giant owns both Instagram and Whatsapp and is making the best use of these platforms while executing its social commerce plans.
On Instagram, customers can access the social giant's ‘in-app checkout’ feature that allows shoppers to make a purchase without having to leave the app. It can all happen on Instagram itself. Facebook has also pushed WhatsApp to join the band-wagon and is allowing in-app shopping experience now. It will let users browse through the products on Facebook Shops and buy products directly via the chat option. The usage and dependence on social commerce is surging, particularly in South East Asia, and it's projected to cross >2 Trillion in global retail sales in the next two years.
Make the most out of this eCommerce trend
Social commerce can expand your online selling horizons to the depths unknown but this option is available to one and all. Hence, the competition becomes even more fierce than selling from a good old fashioned digital storefront. Here’s what you do:
- Build your social media audience
- Set up your shops on Instagram and Facebook
- Collaborate with influencers
- Get them to feature your products in their short videos and live-streaming
And, that would give a good ignition to your start.
Video Commerce
Using video content to sell and promote products is what we call video commerce and this trend has been quickly gaining momentum and rightly so. It allows the consumers to have a deeper look and feel of the product and an experience with the brand itself.
The Video commerce approach is tried and tested to improve the conversion rate anywhere between 50-100% and it has become the ultimate ace card for eCommerce marketers. There are different kinds of videos that can be leveraged for video commerce.
Shoppable Videos and live-streaming
A shoppable video features the products to be sold and they are linked to the product page in the video itself. Viewers can choose to purchase the product directly from there, go to the product page, or directly land to the cart page for faster transactions. The products in the video are tagged and the links to these pages can be referenced from these tags.
A live-streaming video, on the other hand, features products in real-time to form an instant connection with the target audience. Two big players going after live-streaming shopping are Facebook and TikTok. Facebook has been experimenting with this feature for a while and we can expect them to roll it out soon.
TikTok, on the other hand, has partnered with Shopify to feature products in their short video and live video format to allow Shopify sellers to tag their products in them. Users can simply tap on it to view and make a purchase on the platform, without ever leaving it.
While video commerce is gaining popularity on social media handles, it can be set up on any section of the website. And, that is what would be trending this year.
Come to think of it, video commerce is a major update on the TV advertising industry we got used to as kids but it’s limited to certain devices and on certain platforms for now. Imagine watching an OTT movie and being able to order the protagonist's outfit from the current scene right from your screen. Well, if we can dream it, it might happen sooner or later.
Make the most of this eCommerce Trend
Start with ad placements on Instagram and Snapchat stories instead of regular feeds is a good way to start your social commerce initiatives. You can get more creative with the video and placement. For instance, make a product video of your best products and tag them for direct purchasing. You can place these ads on stories or social media feeds for people and generate traction directly to the checkout page of your store. You can also collaborate with influencers on TikTok and ask them to feature your products in their live-stream.
Personalization
Personalization isn’t something new to eCommerce but since everyone is now online, it could be new to late additions to the eCommerce bandwagon. This trend carries its importance forward to this year and will possibly beyond, thereby making it crucial for your audience to experience the best customer service on your website. You can make use of the shoppers’ data to understand their liking and come up with relevant suggestions in turn establishing strong customer relationships, hence customer loyalty.
For instance, based on the purchase history, smart recommendations can be made to the consumer or they can be reminded of the items they might have abandoned earlier, and so on. But that’s something that brands are already doing and this will only flourish in the upcoming months. So, what’s the trend here? It’s using personalization to improve your human quotient using smart systems. Consumers love a brand that doesn’t act like one and instead tries to make more humanly connections with their consumers.
We are delighted to have been associated with Mylo, a health and wellness brand that not only sells carefully-curated pregnancy and baby products but also offers a personalized experience and helpful community for young parents and experts to come together to share their parenting journey. They have managed to create a community of over 1 million+ people on their platform.
Make the most of this eCommerce trend
Check everything on your list that can be done via technology when it comes to offering a personal experience to the consumers. You can use your CRM database information for personalized service on the platform of your shoppers’ choosing. Conduct audience polls on your social handles to understand their needs and interact with them as much as you can. You can also hold Q&A sessions for the same.
Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence is not a buzzword anymore and its applications have found more permanent and concrete roots in eCommerce businesses. Now that people have realized the importance of technology, it will be easier and more trusting for them to deploy into their day to day operations. Going into 2021, mainstream stuff like chatbots, smart recommendation systems, will only get stronger and brands will start digging deep to harness the full potential of AI we have available as of now. Voice-enabled search, for instance, is getting steadily popular for digital shopping. It is smart, convenient, and will soon be IN! Virtual assistants such as Google Assistant, and Microsoft’s Cortana, Amazon’s Alexa, Samsung’s Bixby, Apple’s Siri are some great platforms that are quite successful with voice queries.
Make the most of this eCommerce trend
Start with a simple audit to check where you stand when it comes to using technology for your business.
Now, do a self-assessment of the activities that are time consuming and can be automated using AI. In case you need a reference for your checklist, here is an article for help.
Moreover, start early and invest in the upcoming AI technologies like a voice-enabled search for your eCommerce business and get a competitive advantage in the industry.
Micro-Warehousing
Micro-warehousing is probably one of the most successful eCommerce experiments that has helped a lot of small and medium-sized businesses overcome their supply chain problems.
The micro-warehousing system refers to a fulfilment ecosystem outside of a traditional company warehouse. The companies who practice micro-warehousing open small warehouses across different locations in tier 2, tier 3 cities making next-day delivery possible and keep up with the customer demands.
Our partners Pickrr and Emiza are some of the most reputed brand names in the micro-warehousing industry. They make it possible for businesses to offer same or next-day deliveries and compete with giants like Amazon and Walmart.
Make the most of this trend:
Micro-warehousing is a great option for the businesses struggling to maintain their stock and frequently getting into out-of-stock or understocking situations. This leads to losing customers to your most disruptive competitors and you eventually die out. In order to keep up with the customer demands and timely delivery, you should engage a micro-warehousing company and work on further improving your supply chain.
Sustainability and Green Consumerism
A lot of brands have started advocating sustainability. The world is going through a major paradigm shift on the cultural, social, and economic fronts and people are inclining towards green consumerism. After all, there is no second Earth!
Retail giant Amazon has several dedicated campaigns to promote healthy and sustainable commerce including their shipment zero initiative that actually promotes zero-carbon shipments via sustainable process improvements, recycled materials, electrification, and various renewable energy initiatives. Additionally, Amazon is also redesigning its product packaging to minimize waste. Tech giant, Apple is also dedicated to promoting sustainability with its carbon neutral and energy efficient initiatives.
With giants like Amazon and Apple setting an example, a number of brands, small, medium alike that are going to follow the carbon-free footprints and spread green consumerism.
We are honored to have been working with brands that promote sustainability and some of them are even conceived with the very notion. Two Brother Organic Farm is one such brand that was built to find alternate solutions to growing agriculture and soil-fertility problems and provide chemical-free, healthy food.
The Ecocert certified organic farm is home to a number of indigenous A2 cows and is known to produce fruits, vegetables, processed foods, and dairy products organically.
Make the Most out of this eCommerce Trend
Practice what you preach! It’s that simple. We, as a society, brands and earthlings have a responsibility to make sure that the aftermath of our doings does not affect the future of the upcoming generations. There are a number of ways in which you can adopt green consumerism in your eCommerce business. For instance, you ditch plastic for your packaging, reduce waste, and look into other processes that you can afford to lose. You can start by stepping into Amazon’s footsteps and minimizing waste while packaging the final goods. With people getting woke, a lot of brands are taking it upon themselves to promote nature-friendly initiatives among their users. For instance, Big Basket asks their users to return their paper boxes to the company delivery person when they get their next round of orders and so forth.
M commerce
You've probably heard e-commerce entrepreneurs mentioning the term mobile commerce, or m-commerce, a few times in recent years. With time, wireless content distribution has advanced in speed, security, and scalability.
One of the eCommerce sector's fastest-growing trends is mobile commerce. With the rise of smartphones, more people are using their mobile devices to purchase online. Recent surveys indicate that more than 50% of online purchases are now made on mobile devices, making them a crucial channel for companies to use to connect with their clients.
The convenience of mobile commerce is one of its key advantages. Customers may shop anytime, anywhere using a mobile device, making it simpler for them to make purchases on the road. This is crucial for companies that cater to younger customers, as they are more likely to shop on their mobile devices.
As the number of people using mobile devices for online shopping continues to surge,mobile engagement is rising which businesses must adapt to in order to stay competitive.. As more and more consumers rely on their mobile devices to make purchases, businesses get a new avenue to multiply their profits by optimizing their websites and apps for mobile-responsiveness. Some measures include navigability for search-friendliness on small screens and using big buttons and icons for better visibility.
In addition, developing mobile apps can provide a seamless buying experience for customers, which can result in increased sales and tap into the expanding market for mobile shoppers. It is clear that mobile commerce is not just a passing trend, but a key forward-facing trend that businesses need to embrace in order to remain competitive and grow their customer base.
St Botanica, the leading beauty and wellness brand, has been leveraging the power of M-commerce to enhance its sales growth and customer experience. With over 500k app downloads in a year and 10X live mobile users, the brand has witnessed a 10% increase in MoM sales growth. St Botanica's success story is a testament to the power of M-commerce and how it can revolutionize business operations and drive sales growth.
Make the most out of this eCommerce trend
With M-commerce on the rise, it's becoming increasingly vital for businesses to adapt their eCommerce strategies for mobile platforms in order to remain competitive.
With the power of m-commerce to practically put things at the fingers of consumers, brands are altering their online strategy to accommodate mobile purchases. As the amount of time spent on mobile devices grows each year at the expense of computer time, it allows retailers to reach a wider audience than is possible with only computer-based e-commerce.
M-commerce makes this hyper-personalized, omnichannel approach much simpler by fostering a seamless purchasing experience, allowing for constant customer communication via mobile phones.
With the rising demand for smartphones, it's clear that mobile commerce is no longer a 'nice to have'—it's now a must have.
Augmented Reality (AR)
AR is one of the most appealing technologies used by online brands that make up for a perfectly immersive shopping experience.
Some of the major AR use cases in eCommerce include:
- Preview Placements
- Virtual try-on services
- Interactive User manuals
IKEA has been doing it for a while now and it’s helped them gain more sales. Another company called WANNABY launched a dedicated app called “Wanna Kicks” that lets online shoppers try on sneakers virtually from their homes. The applications and implementation of AR are not unheard of but they are still fairly uncommon. AR use cases can be massive for the eCommerce industry and the brands have started to realize it. It will only go up from here and you should also start thinking of investing early in the technology to stay ahead in the game.
Make the most of this eCommerce trend
The worldwide pandemic has induced the biggest digital transformation within a matter of months and online selling has moved past B2C like we discussed in the previous trend. So, if you are selling a product that would require people to have a better look and feel, invest in AR. For instance, if you are selling home decor products and would like your shoppers to get a preview of the products, you can always take inspiration from IKEA.
Voice Commerce
In recent years, the rise of voice commerce (v-commerce) has transformed the way consumers interact with ecommerce brands. Instead of using traditional interfaces like apps or websites, customers can now interact with their preferred voice assistants to carry out a range of activities, from getting advice to placing orders. Put simply, the customer experience is enhanced by voice commerce investments, which also boost revenue and allow staff to work on more difficult jobs.
The obvious advantages it provides to clients are the cause of its rising popularity. Customers can effortlessly communicate their exact needs to virtual assistants like Alexa and Siri using voice commerce, doing away with the necessity for a mouse or touchscreen. This gives consumers the ability to finish transactions while they're out and about or even from the convenience of their own homes, giving them a smooth and trouble-free purchasing experience. Additionally, voice commerce enables users to receive prompt responses to their questions, making it a very practical and effective method of shopping.
Retailers should bear in mind that v-commerce is just one of many channels that customers expect to interact with them on. Therefore, it's important to ensure that v-commerce is integrated seamlessly with other channels like social media and email to provide a consistent and unified customer experience.While v-commerce offers exciting new opportunities for retailers, it's important to approach it with caution and to prioritize customer privacy and user experience.
BiteMe, a popular cookie company that understood the need of the hour and jumped onto the voice commerce bandwagon. By creating a personalized skill on Amazon's Alexa, the brand allowed customers to easily reorder their favorite cookies with a simple voice command. This not only enhanced the convenience factor for the customers but also led to increased sales and brand loyalty. With voice commerce on the rise, BiteMe set a remarkable example for other food and beverage brands to follow suit and keep up with the changing consumer trends.
Make the most out of this eCommerce Trend
Voice commerce is an emerging technology that has the potential to completely change how consumers shop online. With the potential to change the eCommerce industry, businesses cannot afford to ignore this developing trend.
By utilizing natural language processing, long-tail keywords, and personalized recommendations, businesses can give their customers a smooth purchasing experience. What makes voice commerce an interesting eCommerce trend is that it facilitates asynchronous social conversations across time zones, redefining seller-buyer interactions. Voice searches allow AI to process different words and produce better and accurate search results, enabling a customer to find what they’re looking for in reduced steps. Therefore, it is in a business's best interest to explore feasible routes for integrating speech-activated ads and voice-assistant chatbots.
eCommerce has seen a new high in the last few months and it will only go higher. The competition in the industry will be fierce too, so it’s important that you stay prepared. We are here to back you right up. Know how we have stacked up to enable 10x growth for your eCommerce business.
Are you looking for an omnichannel inventory management solution with integrated B2B order management for your eCommerce business? Drop us a line at care@easyecom.io or directly sign up for a demo here.
FAQs
1. What ecommerce trends to look out for in 2023?
In 2023, we can expect to see continued growth in social commerce, personalization, AR/VR, subscription services, and sustainable and ethical shopping practices. Retailers who stay ahead of these trends and provide exceptional customer experiences will be well-positioned for success in the years to come.
2.What is the future of e-commerce 2023?
As per an industry report, e-commerce will make up 20.4% of global retail sales by 2023. One of the factors contributing to the increasing share would be the entry-level products targeted at the new-age customer base.
3. What are the trends in ecommerce in India 2023?
In 2023, the market is expected to see the emergence of new trends such as mobile commerce, new payment methods, and the expansion of e-commerce beyond the major metropolitan areas. Retailers will need to be aware of these trends and adapt accordingly in order to remain competitive.
