Today we will be talking about the latest e-commerce trends So in this blog, we are going to share seven trends that we see happening in e-commerce for 2021 and things that you can implement in your store today to make sure that you are ahead of the curve so stay tuned
1. Facebook and Instagram Shops
In May Facebook announced its latest move into the world of e-commerce with Facebook shops.
A simplified version of an online store that runs across Facebook and Instagram apps.
This is said to be a huge asset to business owners who already have a significant social media following and those who want to venture into e-commerce but are not yet ready to invest in their own website.
These new features come pre-optimised for any device so you only need to customise the dedicated shop section on your Facebook page or Instagram profile, and customers will be able to browse, save, share and purchase your products.
It's set for rollout in the U.S. and should be available elsewhere in the coming months.
2. Off-line to online
Before the world was turned upside down by a global pandemic we were starting to see this new wave of traditionally online businesses shifting to a more experimental form of trade and setting up shop for the real all in a bid to establish a stronger connection with customers.
But as lockdowns were established across the globe brands were forced to reassess and many who relied on bricks and mortar were faced with a mad scramble to reposition their business online.
Brands like Glossier, who had been experimenting with London pop-up stores, pivoted again to invest in their online presence and announced they would be looking at new ways to connect with customers online by providing the consultations they would usually do in-store over FaceTime.
3. Video content to boost conversion
Video has been the hottest trend in marketing for a while now and it can have real benefits for exposing your brand, showcasing your product, and boosting conversions.
Headspace has created this beautiful animated explainer video that highlights the purpose and benefits of its meditation app and provides an overview of how it works (it's been viewed nearly 18,000,000 times on YouTube and has been viewed over 350,000 times).
Duolingo has created this bubbly and colourful video explaining its popular language learning app.
Learn over 30+ languages for FREE with Duolingo
4. New Technology
New types of technology are changing the way we shop online, and voice assistants like Alexa and Google Home can be used to buy items without even seeing them.
You can even ask your AI speaker to purchase a new pair of jeans that will provide options based on search results, prompting you to choose your size, brand and more.
Augmented reality allows you to visualise certain products on your body or in your living space.
And even delivery methods have changed with drones and robots gradually becoming popular, which is likely to gain more traction as a result of the current global crisis.
5. Chatbots and personalisation
Personalise your customer journey and your marketing by incorporating things like the weather, time of year and your customer's name into the user experience.
To connect more personally with your customers, consider using a chatbot on your site.
Starting a conversation with potential customers allows you to ask questions and qualify visitors.
With AI chatbots you can direct them to exactly what they want, upsell them on another product and incorporate their request into your product lineup if they are not part of it already.
Give your readers an easy way to contact you via the Facebook chat plug-in for WordPress that allows you to communicate with visitors to your site 24×7 and provide answers right from your Facebook page.
6.Diversity and Inclusion
Diversity and inclusion have moved beyond just being a social movement, and now disregard for diversity can have serious commercial implications for the brand.
Girlfriend collective-a women's fashion brand that makes a point of using women of all colours and cultures to model their beautiful products.
7.Sustainable E-commerce
It's becoming a good business to care for the earth and the environment. A lot of brands are moving beyond just lip service.
WearPanda creates stylish, handcrafted, bamboo and glass designs in a sustainable manner. They are eco-friendly and are growing in popularity.
Veja sneakers are environmentally friendly, producing their shoes from raw materials like organic cotton, wild rubber, vegetable-tanned leather and recycled plastic bottles in 2019 they sold 5,50,000 pairs of sneakers.
8. Mobile apps
Finally, this changing world has us flocking online to shop more often than not on our phones.
While shopping within the browser is still incredibly popular, mobile apps bring your brand and products a little closer to your customers.
In the US, Walmart recently saw sales jump 20% as people stocked up on essentials with monthly downloads of their app jumping 190%, according to data tracker app Annie.
Other brands like Nike and Lululemon have kept customers engaged during the lockdown - push notifications, immersive in-store showcases of their products and, of course, an intuitive, mobile-first sales experience that will keep customers engaged during the lockdown.
You can also create your own e-commerce app with AppScrip
That does it for the e-commerce trend we are seeing in 2020 and beyond.
Have your say and tell us what trends you would like us to profile next in the comments below and subscribe to the Appscrip blog for more trends and tips.