eCommerce Trends for 2022: What You Need to Know

Ecommerce trends are changing drastically with the growth of online commerce.

To keep your strategies up to date, dive in and find out everything you need to know about the 2022 e-commerce trends.

What eCommerce Trends to Pay Attention to in 2022

As the e-commerce industry becomes increasingly competitive, you need to keep an eye on your e-commerce strategy to stay ahead of the competition. 

You need to be aware of what’s working now for eCommerce brands in 2022 if you want to take advantage of them.

You might be wondering where to start when researching e-commerce trends and best practices. This article will help you sort through trends that are relevant to your business and act on them.

Top 5 eCommerce trends to watch in 2022

Use Of Augmented Reality In E-commerce

Did you know you can now create an augmented reality for your e-commerce business that bridges the gap between physical stores and the online shopping experience?

Augmented reality has become popular among customers introducing the “Try before you buy” trend.

It allows marketers to reach customers who are too busy or don’t have access to a nearby store. 

By using this technology, your customers can test any product and have an interactive experience while shopping. 

Customers’ buying choices are more informed because they can preview products and experiences before buying, which reduces the number of returns.

According to BigCommerce,

• Global AR advertising revenue, which peaked at $500 million in 2019, is expected to increase to $1.41 billion by 2020.
• According to one AR research firm, advertising revenue could reach $8 billion by the end of 2024.
• According to eMarketer, more than 43 million people in the United States will use social network AR at least once a month by 2020. That equates to nearly 21% of social network users.
• More than 83 million people in the United States will use AR on some kind of device at least once per month, according to eMarketer, and this number is expected to rise to 95.1 million by 2022.
• By June 2020, 35% of Americans had used augmented reality to visualize furniture or vehicle customizations.
• According to a June 2020 survey of US retailers, 20% planned to invest in AR or VR for their company’s online store, up from 8% six months prior.

Some eCommerce stores that are using augmented reality are;

• IKEA Uses AR to Power Furniture Shopping at Home.
• Dulux Paint Uses AR to Show Paint Colors on Customers’ Walls.
• Lego Hidden Side & Bic Kids Layer Interactive Games onto Real Toys.
• Wannaby & Warby Parker Apps Let Shoppers Try Stuff on at Home.

Live Product Promotion

Live streaming has recently become popular, which is also another way to engage with customers while promoting specific products.

All live streams are participatory because you can demonstrate the products live to your customers who don’t have access to stores or don’t prefer to shop offline. 

They may ask questions or inquire about products that you might feature. 

Different social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and others are popular for launching live product promotions.

Assume you have a cosmetic product that you have recently launched or stocked. You can hold a live promotion demonstrating how to use the product in conjunction with other products they have while emphasizing the product’s strengths.

They will witness the process and the end result, which will compel them to purchase the product as well.

It is applicable to any product.

Another example is that you sell dinner attire. Try on the dinner wear with the appropriate accessories to help them visualize how the dress will look if they purchase it.

Using Chatbot for a Better User Experience

Customers today want to make informed buying decisions. As they explore your website, your products, and services, questions may arise. 

Making it easier for customers to engage with you while shopping is key and chatbots are a great way to do that.  

Chatbots (or conversational bots) can help you have meaningful interactions with your customers. These chatbots can converse with customers in the same way as a human salesperson.

If a consumer asks for specific information, your chatbots can quickly retrieve the answer from the system and provide it to them. 

Voice Search

Voice search is another trend that has been waiting in the wings for quite some time. Alexa, Siri, Google Assistant, Cortana, Amazon, etc. Voice assistants have long been a part of our lives, serving as (nearly) invisible roommates in our apartments and houses. The use of this technology has an impact on e-commerce that should not be overlooked. According to Juniper Research, voice search, or searching through voice assistants, is expected to generate $80 billion in sales by 2023.

What does the increasing use of voice assistants for online shopping mean for e-commerce? 

For SEOs in particular, it has a number of implications that can help them stay one step ahead of the competition. This is because the increased searches via voice are also changing the relevant keywords. 

As a result, more questions are asked and there is a chance to win with so-called long-tail keywords. 

Encourage Mobile Purchases For Customers

Launching mobile apps to encourage users to shop on their phones is another 2022 e-commerce trend. 

The majority of e-commerce businesses have their own mobile apps which they actively offer to their customers. 

Since the majority of customers shop on their phones, these e-commerce apps are more convenient for them. 

The app will enable them to have an even more tailored user experience and they can place orders easily via the app. 

You can also leverage push notifications to inform customers about promotions, discounts, sales, new products, etc.

Conclusion

A word of caution: Not all trends are worth following.

While some of them can add significant value to your business, others could cost you a fortune. 

Knowing your potential customers and getting constant feedback can help you choose the strategies that are right for you. 

It’s also important to make sure that you keep the end goal in mind and ensure that whatever trends you follow are in line with the goals and direction of your business.

Technology is constantly changing. Consumer behavior is also constantly changing, so, we’ll always be on the lookout for new trends.

What other eCommerce trends have you seen this year? Let’s know in the comment section.