15 eCommerce Trends to Watch Out For in 2022

Every new year offers a chance to examine e-commerce trends with a more analytically-driven eye. Looking back at past trends, we can make informed predictions based on what we’ve learned, combined with a bit of intuition, about the future of e-commerce. We can assist businesses in making the most of their e-commerce platforms to increase sales by creating a great shopping experience. 

The global retail industry has become increasingly dependent on e-commerce in recent years. The e-commerce industry has also experienced dramatic changes since the COVID-19 pandemic spread. A Shopify study shows that, during the peak of the pandemic, e-commerce sales grew by 10 years in just 90 days. Online sales reached over two billion last year, according to Statista.

Because of this, online retailers have never faced such fierce competition. With e-commerce constantly changing, brands need to stay abreast of the latest trends and updates in their respective areas and incorporate them into their business models in order to remain competitive.

In this blog post, we’ll dive deep into the top 15 e-commerce trends of 2022, and what awaits us in terms of online shopping habits this year.

1. Chatbots

In the near future, brands will leverage AI and automation to improve the customer experience as machine learning technology becomes more sophisticated. A good example is the use of chatbots, which are software applications that can communicate with shoppers via a live chat interface. You can use chatbots as a resource to guide shoppers to the right pages and encourage them to come back frequently to your business.

2. Voice Shopping and Conversational Shopping

In 2023, sales of voice e-commerce will reach $19.4 billion, so businesses will continue integrating voice shopping to make it easier for customers to purchase products. Voice shopping allows for live customer interaction. To enable customers to engage with your business, get recommendations, and even buy from you, experiment with chat apps such as Facebook Messenger and voice technology such as Alexa and Siri.

3. Diverse Payment Methods

We want to give our customers the option to choose their preferred payment method during checkout. Payment technology diversification in businesses builds trust, reduces cart abandonment, and encourages more spending. With interest-free financing solutions like buy now pay later as well as 1-click payment options, the online shopping experience will continue to become more flexible and appealing to shoppers.

4. Video Marketing 

A video, like a variety of content marketing approaches, is a powerful tool for marketing your products and attracting new customers. Think about creating and posting videos on both your social media and on key sections of your website, like your homepage, about page, or the product page. Examples of videos that can be engaging for customers are unboxing videos, tutorials, explainers, and user-generated content. 

5. Augmented Reality, New Tech, and Future of Ecommerce  

To stand out from the competition, businesses will continue to experiment with new technology in 2022. Customers can visualize, explore, and “try out” your products in augmented reality using tools such as product visualizers, product builders, and 3D mapping. With elevated product merchandising, consumers get an engaging and easy buying experience while also recreating the offline retail experience they crave. 

6. Subscriptions and Loyalty Programs

It should be obvious that e-commerce will only grow more competitive in the future. Keeping customers happy is a top priority for many businesses. Subscription and loyalty programs will continue to grow in popularity, providing shoppers with convenience, exclusive benefits, and discounts. Customers will be encouraged to become your brand advocates as a result of these efforts. 

7. Omnichannel Customer Experience

Omnichannel is expected to continue to expand in 2022. Shoppers today place a high value on convenience. By creating a seamless experience, an omnichannel approach gives customers that convenience, whether they are browsing items on a mobile device, shopping on a desktop computer, or even picking up items via pick-up services in a store. In today’s competitive marketplace, businesses that invest in their omnichannel strategy have a greater chance of maximizing sales and spurring customer loyalty.

8. Mobile Commerce

Within the next decade, mobile commerce sales in the US are expected to double. You need to offer a seamless mobile shopping experience to stay ahead of your competitors. You can ensure your business continues to grow in years to come by ensuring your customers have an excellent mobile commerce experience. You might want to consider things like push notifications, SMS, mobile content, a mobile e-commerce app, and mobile-optimized websites.

9. Buyer Journey Optimization

Businesses are increasingly turning to e-commerce as a primary method of customer purchase. To remain competitive, sellers must improve every customer touchpoint. You should focus on improving your product search, providing a streamlined mobile experience, merchandising your products well, and nailing your order fulfillment and return process in order to optimize your buyer paths. 

10. Conversion Rate Optimization

As an e-commerce business, you must capture your customer’s attention and remove any friction in the course of the conversion process in order to thrive. One of the many evergreen trends in e-commerce, conversion rate optimization will help online sellers achieve both immediate and long-term results.

11. Social Commerce

Social media is being increasingly used for people to browse for new products and brands, and brands are responding by reaching out to shoppers where they are. By 2025, social commerce sales will reach $79.6 billion, giving merchants another channel for marketing and sales.

In preparation for businesses to increase their social media budgets, you will need to develop a social media strategy. Consider sharing user-generated content to engage followers, partnering with influencers to expand your audience, showcasing products through Livestream shopping, and leveraging paid advertising and in-app shopping for sales.

12. Sustainability

Eco-friendly products and brands are not the only ones that practice sustainability. Customers are increasingly purchasing purpose-driven brands, which will lead to more companies incorporating sustainable practices. Materials such as changing products and giving to organizations focused on sustainability will be part of these practices.

Make sure your values align with those of your target customers in order to reach today’s conscious consumers. Building trust and growing your business will be easier this way. 

13. Selling Through Marketplaces and New Channels 

Online marketplaces have become increasingly popular among consumers, from big-box retailers like Amazon and Walmart to industry-specific, curated sites. It is evident that people are shifting their preferences toward convenience, speed, and ease of use offered by these marketplaces. Instead of focusing on one channel exclusively, we will see Amazon selling alongside your own website – they will maintain control over the customer’s experience and maintain the wide reach of Amazon. 

14. B2B Ecommerce Trends

With the advent of self-service shopping experiences, streamlined back-end processes, and enhanced customer service, the era of paper catalogs and complicated phone calls is ending. In 2022, businesses will upgrade their e-commerce technology and capitalize on e-commerce trends.

Your B2B company must invest in an online catalog, offer a customer experience similar to a B2C business, and respond swiftly to orders. An effective B2B e-commerce strategy will lead to higher sales volume, increased average order values, and greater customer satisfaction.

15. Personalized Products and Marketing

There is no denying the fact that 80 percent of consumers want retailers to offer them more personalized services. By providing a higher level of personalization, companies can cater to visitors based on where they are in the customer journey, encouraging them to move down the funnel. 

The key to satisfying customers is to create a personalized shopping experience. A personalized experience catering to the customer’s needs is often in demand by shoppers wishing to find the right products.  The e-commerce sites that adopt this trend invest in technology that delivers personalized pop-ups, follow-up emails, and relevant marketing offers to strengthen the relationship between them and their customers.

Conclusion

From 2022 onward, consumers will expect seamless, convenient, and memorable shopping experiences. Your ability to adapt to these rapidly changing needs and preferences will depend on investing in the right e-commerce trends. When building a better online experience, you’ll want to identify which e-commerce areas are growing so you can invest in those areas.

We recommend that you conduct a thorough analysis of any particular trend before deciding whether it will fulfill the expectations you have for your e-commerce business. Through surveys, online interactions, etc., you can gain insights directly from your customers.