The e-commerce industry is evolving at a rapid pace and this year is no different. More and more merchants are shifting to e-commerce or improving their existing online business to meet customer needs. It is anticipated that until 2040, about 95% of all purchases will be made through e-commerce sites. That means e-commerce is here to stay, and if you don’t keep abreast of industry e-commerce trends and technologies, you may lose potential business opportunities.
Hence, having a top-notch Shopify storefront should be the first priority for retailers looking to boost their online sales. Let’s dig into the latest e-commerce trends that will help you shape your business in 2022.
#1 Mobile commerce will help you target more prospects
Smartphones have taken our lives by the storm. Nearly everyone today owns a smartphone, and its number of users is only growing. That means mobile commerce offers new business opportunities daily. Therefore, it is essential to optimize your store for mobile devices.
Powering your e-commerce site with Shopify means your website comes mobile-optimized right out-of-the-box. With mobile commerce, shoppers can make purchases from anywhere. If your e-commerce site is responsive on mobile devices, you will automatically leave some of your rivals behind in the organic search results. Furthermore, a mobile optimized site also plays a crucial role in reducing bounce rate and cart abandonment rate.
#2 Artificial Intelligence is getting everywhere
Artificial Intelligence (AI) isn’t a new trend, but it has made a big impact on the e-commerce industry over the past few years. Integrating AI into your Shopify store can help you deliver personalized shopping experiences, such as offering product recommendations, product discovery, personalized marketing, customer segmentation and offering customer support.
AI will continuously collect data about what customers browse and buy, when they buy, how much time they spend in your store and what they look for in your products and services. Using these customer data and preferences, AI can provide tailored experiences that match their needs. This makes your prospects feel that you care about them and are willing to put all the efforts to offer personalized experiences.
#3 Augmented Reality for immersive online shopping experiences
Augmented reality is skyrocketing in popularity and it has been a complete game changer for e-commerce industry. One of the common problems with online shopping is the restriction of interacting with the product as you would do in a physical outlet. AR can create engaging and interactive experiences for users as they can see and feel the product in real-time, which helps them with their buying decision.
AR truly transforms the shopping experience, especially if you are running a Shopify fashion or home décor store. Users can try on clothes without having to visit the store or see how new furniture would look in their home before buying. Over 120,000 stores have already implemented AR in 2022 to give shoppers a greater level of confidence while shopping online.
#4 Voice Search is growing rapidly
Voice search has become a new normal and it has already transformed the way consumers search for products and services online. Using voice search in your Shopify store allows your customers to search for products without using a keyboard. It works pretty much the same as Alexa and Siri, but in this scenario you are using it to search for brand names or particular products.
Voice assistants use AI technology to understand the phrases that people speak. They are used to purchase products, book tickets, order food and much more. Since voice searches are easy to navigate, it makes easier for prospects to find what they are looking for. Voice search also offers an opportunity to boost search engine rankings through keyword and content.
#5 Chatbots are the new customer support executives
Chatbots are one of the most adopted technologies in the recent times. Powered by AI/ML, chatbots are extensively used to address customer queries and provide support at any time of the day without requiring human intervention. Chatbots interact with users much like an in-store sales executive would do and add a personal touch while interacting with them.
Moreover, using chatbots can give a boost to customer engagement. You can recommend products, make new product announcements or urge them to perform an action. Studies have shown that using chatbots can directly improve your sales. In 2022, we will continue to see chatbots delivering personalized customer support, and ultimately, more conversions.
#6 Personalize Experiences for better customer satisfaction and retention
Whether you run B2C, D2C or B2B online business, the importance of personalized shopping experiences prevails everywhere. Buyers of all sorts look for personalized experiences, and one way to make it possible is by using the data collected from AI.
Implementing personalized experience on a Shopify website or marketing channels has shown to have a drastic rise in the revenue. In fact, you can boost revenue by 20% by reducing cart abandonment and increasing user satisfaction through personalized shopping experiences.
#7 Multiple Payment Methods integration to let customers pay the way they want
Customers today have become very much conscious about making online payment. They might cancel placing the order if they cannot see their preferred payment method. Integrating multiple payment methods in your Shopify store is a good way to reduce cart abandonment rates and boost conversion rates.
Customers tend to trust and shop from your Shopify site more confidently when they see their preferred payment method listed. In addition, if they can save their payment details on your website, they can checkout even more quickly the next time they will buy from your site.
The Bottom Line
E-commerce is going a phenomenal shift because of the convergence of these technological trends. If you wish to shape your business for future success, the aforementioned trends cannot be avoided. These trends will not only help you set yourself apart from your competitors, but also improve customer acquisition and retention.
If you are a Shopify e-commerce owner and wish to benefit your business from these technologies, then get in touch with us today. Island Wizards have a team of Shopify development experts who can help incorporate these technologies in your Shopify store to fulfill your growing business needs.
