Modern day consumers are becoming enamored with online shopping. In turn commercial web resources have been in operation long enough to start implementing niche technological trends, which are focused on innovative ways to showcase products and provide optimal user experience. Online stores have evolved considerably these last years and technology has unlocked capabilities like virtual reality experiences, AI powers and complex 3D assets.
This is the future of eCommerce – defining trends and making them usable for millions of users. In our ideal future world, this will translate to custom functionalities adapted to each user within parameters that mimic their habits and tastes; interfaces we will develop for better interactions, conversions, profitability and a way of product. So without further ado, here are 7 eCommerce trends worth adopting.
Gamification We are avid gamers. Gamification brings excitement to the online shopping process. There are many technological strategies at play here, but they all fulfill a single purpose – to engage users and lead them towards targeted actions. Running a promotion on your site for a free giveaway is a great first step into the realm of gamification. One of the most popular methods to enact gamification for online retailers is the Price is Right style spinning wheel. The visitor inputs their email to receive a coupon code for a discount, which will then be applied to their cart.
Video
Video has become a well–oiled vehicle for an inbound marketing strategy. Statistics solidify the notion that visual, motion information is better perceived by the human brain than written or typed text, which is not necessarily a new or surprising fact. You can use this to your advantage by adding a small, short video review of a product to the description. An online store that includes convenient and informative product descriptions enhances user experience. Websites are no longer static brochure sites. Successful businesses are using their website to create a compelling experience around their brand by placing video backgrounds. Lush Cosmetics is a great example of utilising video to opt for an interactive and intuitive interface.
Artificial intelligence AI-powered technologies have great potential in optimising search through millions of similar-format pieces of data on websites. Obviously, the UX enhancing tool that guides users through the marketplace's assortment is the intelligent search feature which is considered to be one of the major e-commerce trends of 2019. A successfully implemented example can be seen at Amazon. Additionally, AI can help create insightful product recommendations. This is the way Netflix and Spotifyuse AI for their resources.
Augmented Reality The augmented reality concept began taking over the hearts of mobile users several years ago. Today, commercial developers grasped this opportunity to use the hyped-up tech trend for the expansion of a target audience.
The ready-to-wear clothing label ZARA, known for always being one of the first to adopt the new trends, launched an augmented reality collection. The fashion house invited users to download the app ZARA AR and point their phones at designated spots such as windows or delivery boxes to see models Léa Julian and Fran Summers walk, pose, talk and dance. This enabled customers to shop the clothes directly through the app.
Similarly, World-renowned furniture and domestic interior provider IKEA launched their dedicated smartphone app back in 2013, with which users can see how furniture items fit their home interiors in the virtual mode. The AR capabilities are unlikely to be sufficiently integrated with the desktop, but an AR-based mobile app is a pretty efficient business solution. Don’t forget to place the link to your app somewhere on the homepage.
Chatbots
In the current, highly-versatile, and functional market conditions, chatbots have become vital for buyer journeys. The response time of these bots and automated dialogues, will enable you interact with your customers on a personal level. Chatbots are often based on AI and are able to replace live support staff, as they provide 24/7 virtual assistance.
Cryptocurrency Payment Gateway In 2017, there was a rapid and sudden growth of the price of bitcoin, beating the 20,000 US-dollar mark. You profit with digital currency by offering to pay your online store customers with crypto. This way, you’ll provide a more flexible and convenient means of payment for your users. But in order to implement it, you will require a payment gateway API with cryptocurrency support, like BitPay, PayCoiner, SpicePay.
Personalisation This isn’t a new solution in the eCommerce realms, but it is still extending its scope of application. Multi–brand platform ASOS launched a new fit finder app feature Fit Assistant akin to a personal shopper to help customers across the world discover the right size. ASOS Fit Assistant, which is available on the marketplace’s app is designed to work out shoppers’ exact clothing size. The fit finder works by using machine learning that analyses shoppers’ height, weight and fit preference to identify an individual size. Shoppers across the globe can now advantage of personalised size recommendations based on shoppers’ history of purchases, returns and browsing.
To help you understand your online exposure and more importantly, position your business to be resilient in the face of this digital shift, contact us right now using the form below and let us bring your idea to life.
