In recent years, more and more companies have been involved in the development of e-commerce. Undoubtedly, this is an industry of interest, so let's take a look at the biggest trends in e-commerce and see in which direction they are heading.
1. Augmented reality improves the reality of online shopping.
Augmented reality has completely changed the rules of the game in e-commerce. With this type of technology, buyers really see the item they are buying, which helps them make a purchase decision. This perspective changes the way people shop in specific industries, such as fashion and interior design, because the customer can better sense the item without seeing it in person. We can already see that AR is used in larger companies, however. However, we expect to soon start seeing it become mainstream for businesses of all sizes. Many more companies will use AR in their products and businesses — so much so that it will become more of a standard in e-commerce and social media platforms.
2. The amount of voice search will increase.
More and more people not only own smart speakers, but also rely on voice assistants to perform everyday tasks. As more and more homes use these amenities, more and more consumers will use voice search to shop online, order food, and manage their time. The development of voice search creates opportunities for e-commerce companies in terms of keywords and content.
3. Artificial intelligence helps stores get to know shoppers
Artificial intelligence enables customers to have personalized shopping experiences. It constantly collects data about how the customer makes purchases, when he buys and what he is looking for in the product or service. It's a technology that really can't be duplicated in the store. People want to know that brands care about them, that they know their needs and adapt to their requirements. However, we can see the opposite behavior on social media, however, that in social media, if bots learn to form sentences to convey emotions, companies can soon learn them to offer comfort and products based on customer sentiment.
4. Chatbots improve the shopping experience
Once it was only the seller in the store who interacted with the buyers, now chatbots play a similar role. Today's buyer wants to be able to find and buy a product with just a few clicks, and if not, he gets upset and sooner or later gives up on the purchase. This is where a chatbot can step in and save sales. Chatbots have already become popular when it comes to customer service. It is possible that they will become one of the most important marketing tools. In the retail space, self-service kiosks are likely to become the norm, and in-store marketing will increase.
5. Big data plays a big role in creating personalized experiences.
Today, many consumers are more aware that e-commerce sites collect personal information, putting them at risk. For this reason, experts have mixed feelings about the benefits of big data and their impact on a personalized shopping experience. However, we expect that as the tech giants continue to grow and introduce more services in-house, we will also encounter personalization on a daily basis. In addition to displaying the suggestion in search engines or trading platforms, we will also see it on our thermostats and bell cameras. However, after the adoption of some regulations, we will be able to abandon them. This will create an interesting dichotomy — people who have ultra-personalized experiences and those who don't. This will have an interesting impact on how marketers will be able to reach new users.
6. Mobile shopping still on the move.
Mobile shopping enables customers to make purchases from anywhere, which is crucial in today's world. However, if your e-commerce website doesn't respond to mobile phones or web apps, you'll lose a lot of opportunities. Buyers who are mobile users want the added convenience and ability to pay digitally. More and more e-commerce sales take place via mobile devices.
7. Customers respond to the video.
Creating videos for your website is a great way to immediately attract and engage a customer and inform them about your product or service. Using podcasts and short video content to increase the chance for shoppers to learn how an e-commerce brand's products and services provide a solution to an opportunity, challenge, or problem that the buyer wants to respond to. Thanks to these two forms of content development, the technology of microtracing viewer engagement appears.
8. More ways to pay.
Customers have individual needs when it comes to payment methods, but they can cancel a potential sale if they can't pay the way they want on an e-commerce site. Offering a wide range of payment methods is a good way to increase conversion rates on mobile devices. Plus, if customers can save their payment information to your website, they'll be able to pay even faster the next time they buy.
9. Subscriptions keep customers coming back.
Nowadays, there are all sorts of subscriptions, and their convenience is attractive to consumers. For businesses, subscription services allow you to schedule inventory and sales that are already locked.
10. B2B is growing and constantly changing.
The times when orders had to be placed only using fax order forms or telephones are coming to an end. More and more companies are beginning to see the value of serving their customers online. By automating these tasks through their e-commerce site, teams are moving away from spending most of their time processing order entries from email spreadsheets or paper forms. Instead, they focus on what matters most: connecting with customers, providing them with excellent customer service, and establishing ongoing customer relationships.
11. Sustainability is becoming increasingly important.
Both consumers and businesses are becoming increasingly aware of the environment. For this reason, consumers are more aware of where they shop and what impact it has on the environment and the associated effects. For this reason, it is worth looking for new ways to be more environmentally friendly, for example – reducing paper consumption when possible, using biodegradable packaging and using recyclable materials. 
12. Companies should optimize their digital strategy for conversion
Attracting potential customers to your website is one task, but getting them to convert is another. In 2020, companies want to improve their conversion rates by optimizing their product pages. Omnichannel sales are also another way to get converts, whether through Facebook ads or shopping ads on Google. More and more brands are competing for the same eyes. Facebook's algorithm rewards video and motion creatives that are more likely to quickly grab the attention of your audience. And customers are also more demanding, impatient and curious than ever before. Make sure you know the ins and outs of effective advertising that not only looks cool, but also generates conversions. Using these channels intelligently is the best way to make sure your brand stands out in the ever-changing digital marketing landscape.
