It’s hard to believe it, but 2022 is here – and halfway through at that! That means it’s time to start thinking about the eCommerce trends that will dominate the next few years. Here are five eCommerce trends for 2022 that are likely here to stay.
Top eCommerce trends for 2022
As the eCommerce landscape continues to evolve, businesses need to stay ahead of the curve to remain competitive. Here are a few eCommerce trends that are trending for 2022.
Chatbots to improve shopping experience
Chatbots are artificial intelligence (AI)-powered software that can mimic human conversation. They’re already being used by some businesses as a way to provide customer service, and they’re expected to become even more prevalent in the next few years. businesses can use chatbots to handle simple tasks like answering FAQs or providing product recommendations.
Chatbots can provide a more personalized and interactive shopping experience for customers. By understanding a customer’s preferences and needs, chatbots can provide recommendations and customized product suggestions. In addition, they can also answer questions and resolve issues in real-time.
Chatbots aren’t the only artificially-powered trends that are expected to take hold in 2022 and beyond. Augmented reality (AR) is expected to become more widely used in eCommerce, allowing customers to “try on” products virtually before making a purchase. This could be particularly helpful for fashion businesses, but it could also be used for things like furniture and home décor.
Growing adoption of voice search
Voice search is expected to become more popular in the coming years as people look for ways to simplify their lives. With voice search, customers can easily find what they’re looking for without having to type out keywords or navigate through menus.
Sustainability
As consumers become more conscious about the environment, sustainability is expected to become a key factor in purchase decisions. Businesses that focus on sustainability will be better positioned to win over eco-conscious shoppers.
Optimized mobile shopping experience
The growth of mobile commerce has been one of the most talked-about trends in recent years, and it is only set to continue. Customers are becoming more comfortable making purchases on their mobile devices, and businesses need to ensure that their eCommerce platforms are optimized for mobile. In particular, responsive design, fast loading times, and easy navigation will be key elements of successful mobile commerce sites in the future.
With more people shopping on their smartphones, it’s essential for businesses to provide an optimized mobile shopping experience. This includes a user-friendly interface, fast loading times, and easy checkout process, to name a few key components.
Social commerce
In recent years, social media platforms have increasingly been used as a sales channel, with customers using them to discover new products and make purchase decisions. This trend is only set to continue, with more businesses using social media to sell their products and services. In particular, Instagram and Snapchat are likely to be key platforms for social commerce in the coming years.
Personalization
With the increasing availability of data, businesses will be able to personalize the shopping experience for each individual customer like never before. This could include everything from personalized product recommendations to custom-tailored emails and ads.
Customers increasingly expect businesses to tailor their products and services to their individual needs and preferences. As a result, personalization is set to be a key trend in eCommerce in the coming years. Businesses will need to use data such as customer purchase history and demographics to personalize their offering and create a unique customer experience.
Biggest challenges eCommerce businesses face
One of the biggest challenges that eCommerce businesses face is building trust with potential customers. eCommerce businesses must prioritize cybersecurity for the protection of customers and their reputation. A breach of security can not only risk customer information but it can be costly too. As a consumer if a website appears unsafe or illegitimate in any way, they may immediately lose confidence and make their purchase elsewhere.
Another challenge that eCommerce businesses face is competition. With so many businesses selling similar products online, it can be hard to stand out from the crowd. Finding unique selling points and marketing strategies is essential for attracting and keeping customers. Making information about returns, quality of product, and other encouraging selling points easily accessible can help keep customers on your site. Customers can easily compare products, prices, shipping, and company policies online, so make sure yours are competitive and attractive to customers.
Next, eCommerce businesses must excel at customer service. This is easier said than done with no human interaction. You must find ways to engage the customer and make them feel important without human interaction. You’ll also need to provide them with the help and support they need online. Chatbots can be helpful, but personalize them as much as possible. With an obvious computer interaction customers can become more irritated and quickly look for a better online shopping experience.
Finally, fulfillment is always a struggle. With such a huge marketplace, you may be overwhelmed with more orders than you’re prepared for. Therefore, it’s important for eCommerce companies to stock plenty of inventory. In addition, they should also have efficient inventory tracking methods in place. Lastly, they’ll need to find a way to deliver orders as quickly and efficiently as possible. Be sure to invest plenty of time into setting up inventory systems before launching.
Will eCommerce continue to grow in 2022?
The eCommerce industry has seen unprecedented growth in recent years, thanks to a combination of factors such as the advancement of technology and the commitment of companies. With some of the best shopping processes being delivered online, customers are taking advantage of eCommerce shopping. This trend looks set to continue in 2022, as more and more consumers embrace the convenience and flexibility of online shopping.
In addition, the ongoing pandemic is likely to accelerate the shift to eCommerce, as people increasingly turn to the internet for their shopping needs. With all of these factors considered, it is safe to say that e-commerce should continue to grow at a healthy pace in 2022.
How Kickfurther can help
In order to stay ahead of the curve and meet ecommerce trends 2022, consider using Kickfurther fund inventory for your eCommerce business. For companies that sell physical products or non-perishable consumables and have revenue between $150k to $15mm over the last 12 months, Kickfurther can help.
So who is Kickfurther?
Kickfurther is the world’s first online inventory funding platform that enables companies to access funds that they are unable to acquire through traditional sources. We connect brands to a community of backers who help fund inventory on consignment and give brands flexibility to pay that back as they receive cash from sales. With Kickfurther you can fund millions of dollars worth of inventory at costs of up to 30% lower than the competition. Compared to traditional lending methods such as bank loans, Kickfurther is much more eCommerce business friendly. As we mentioned earlier, stocking plenty of inventory will be critical to survive in the eCommerce marketplace. However, inventory can deplete cash flow. Inventory can also be expensive to hold. For these reasons and more, using Kickfurther to secure working capital for inventory can take your business to the next level. All the while, satisfying customers along the way.
Interested in getting funded on Kickfurther? Create a free business account, complete the online application, review deals, and get funded in as little as minutes!
