It’s the end of the year!
2021 is more than a benchmark for the ecommerce scene. It’s a blooming season for the digitalization of the selling & buying process since 81% of shoppers discover new brands during the pandemic.
That means more customers are searching for shopping and more stores going online than ever before.
So what do you need to do moving forward to keep up with the raise? How can you capitalize on the newest direction that the commerce industry is shifting to?
We’ll answer that with our 11+ ecommerce trends to anticipate in 2022. But first, let’s run through some stat.
2021 Look Back – A Quick Recap
Table of Contents
We Must Talk About COVID-19’s Influence
The global e-commerce and online consumer behavior are still being impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
As millions of people stayed at home in early 2020 to prevent the spread of the virus, digital channels emerged as the most popular alternative to crowded stores and in-person shopping.
In June 2020, global retail e-commerce traffic reached a record 22 billion monthly visits, with demand for everyday items such as groceries, clothing, and retail tech items exceedingly high. COVID-19’s advancement will have a significant impact on online usage, purchasing habits, and the overall future of e-commerce and the global retail industry in 2021 and beyond.
Benchmarks & Growth
Tech-savvy consumers seeking quick, seamless purchasing options will continue to rely on ecommerce in the coming years, and more consumers will join them.
Business-to-business (B2B) ecommerce statistics show that it will continue to grow in 2021. During the pandemic, it appears that every aspect of business, including B2B communications, was moved or accelerated toward a digital structure. New B2B ecommerce trends enable businesses to reduce marketing costs, better manage suppliers and customers, and increase sales engagement.
Forecast report shows B2B ecommerce site sales will reach nearly $1.67 billion in 2022, a 12.2 percent increase from the previous year, as online business trends continue to play a role in everyday B2B operations.
How about the B2C Scene? Google does their researches and points out 4 insights:
- Customer demand is not static.
- People are searching for shopping.
- Shopper expects new and improved ways to buy things off the Internet.
- Shopping now required higher level of trust and authority back-up.
2022 Ecommerce Trends To Look For
Mobile Commerce Reign Supreme
Following an impressive 2020, mobile commerce has risen to the top of the e-commerce rankings this year. By the end of 2021, mobile is expected to account for 54 percent of total e-commerce sales, with global mobile e-commerce sales reaching $3.56 trillion, up 22 percent from 2020.
Marketers and developers must navigate this highly competitive space as a result. Scaling up and aiming for a convenient and seamless cross-device shopping experience is no longer a plus – it’s a MUST.
Social Commerce Is Promising – Yet Intimidating
As shopping and checkout capabilities improve, social commerce has established itself as a major player in the e-commerce and m-commerce industries. TikTok (main partner with Shopify), Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter have all new shopping capabilities were created to expose platform users to products and offer channels for them to make direct purchases.
TikTok, the undisputed leader in short-form video, is a major driver of social commerce growth. The platform, which has 1 billion active users, recently conducted a live streaming test with Walmart, in which viewers could click through to purchase any items mentioned during the stream. According to a recent 5W Public Relations report, 28 percent of TikTok users have purchased something advertised to them on the platform.
Web 3.0 Is Coming – Customers Take Longer To Buy
A Semantic Web is THE Web 3.0 goal. This means that, rather than simply searching for content, we can opt-in AI to understand the semantics (i.e. meaning) of web content. This would allow machines to read and interpret information in the same way that humans do (instead of like machines). The Semantic Web’s primary goal is to make it easier for users to find, share, and combine information.
It leads to one of the most terrifying parts of ecommerce – customers spend more time with their purchases.
The average session lengths for an ecommerce transaction gave grow steadily despite the advances of technology and fraction-free shopping.
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So what makes it longer? It’s user-generated content: Review, comparison, coupon support, group sharing, social media connections.
You should move your incentive for customers focusing on this content as a result!
Customer Experience that is Omnichannel and Hyper-personalized
We already know that the number of users and potential customers on social media will continue to grow.
However, this does not imply that they will vanish from other locations. Everyone has a preferred method of purchasing, and not everyone is comfortable purchasing goods through social media.
That is why it is critical to be visible in as many places as possible. Omnichannel selling is a method of selling that makes use of all available channels, whether online or offline. More locations imply greater reach, whether organic or paid.
Subscription Model Expansion – Even Module/Extension.
When you provide a subscription, the customer is much more likely to return again and again. Subscription models have proven to be successful online, and many astute businesses are devising new ways to turn products and services into month-based payments that will keep customers engaged and update with the content.
It is important to note that subscription success calls for a long-term mindset as well as a close eye on new tech available shift from “customer support” to “customer success.”
As the market for e-commerce solutions continues to embrace the subscription licensing model, several extension vendors have shifted their products to the subscription model.
Many well-known software ecosystems and marketplaces operate solely on a subscription basis.
Several Magento extension builders, including Amasty, Mageplaza, Aheadworks, Mirasvit, Mageworx, Meetanshi, MageComp, Magedelight, and Webiators, have also announced their impending switch to the annual subscription model. The majority of extension vendors are expected to announce or implement a similar approach soon, based on community feedback.
Visual Commerce and Live Shopping
We’re talking about interactive methods of selling products online in both cases. Instead of static images on the internet, sellers provide realistic visuals that show whether or not the product meets the needs of the customer.
Because it can take place on social media platforms, live shopping can be considered part of Social Commerce. It is based on the customer’s interaction with the seller or an influencer (as an ambassador of the promoted brand) who participates in live streaming. The promoter demonstrates the product, its design, and its functionality, and customers are encouraged to ask questions. There is also a link to the webshop as part of the Livestream. Because the method of selling is very direct and relatively new, we can expect it to grow significantly in sales.
New Marketplaces And More Rapid Distribution Channels.
Big marketplaces from retail behemoths like Amazon and Walmart are both a boon and a curse for smaller ecommerce businesses. They provide a new distribution channel to a large audience, but they also bind sellers to the additional fees and costs of competing in another business’s arena. However, this trend appears to be continuing, so ecommerce businesses should consider whether those marketplaces make sense for their products, as well as ways to beat the big guys at their own game.
Websites that are highly optimized to maximize conversions.
Modern web technology allows you to test two different versions of a web page to see which one performs better. A/B testing informs your marketing team about what works best, allowing you to continually optimize every aspect of your website. Changes in font, color, layout, size, and loading speed can have a significant impact on your sales.
Preferences for ethical and self-sufficient businesses.
Recent events have piqued the interest of many shoppers, and some actively seek to support — or avoid — businesses based on what they perceive to be a positive or negative ethical stance. Whether a company actively seeks out these customers is determined by a variety of factors, including the company’s target customer, mission statement, and appetite for engagement.
B2B And Urge For Automation
B2B is a significant business segment. More automation will be enabled by ecommerce trends in this area, including automated accounts payable, accounts receivable, reordering, and fulfillment. If you serve other businesses, make sure you’re utilizing cutting-edge technology to address their most pressing issues.
Here are some internet-based business-to-business marketing trends to look out for in the coming year, as well as how they can be effective when combined with an effective cold calling strategy:
- Brand Personalization Has Increased
- Measures to Improve Video Marketing
- Customer-Centered Content Promotion
- Increased Customer Service Efforts
- Advanced CRM Platforms are being used.
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Augmented Reality to Enhance the Shopping Experience.
Using augmented reality in your eCommerce store can give your company a competitive advantage. According to Gartner, 100 million consumers will use AR technology to buy online by 2020, and 35 percent of buyers will buy more online if eCommerce has that virtual solution to test a product. Furthermore, 71 percent of customers said they would spend more money in that store if they could try on the products using this technology.
This technology allows shoppers to better visualize the product they want to buy, giving them a more in-store experience. The retail industry is one of the industries that benefit from this technology.
It’s Always Coming Back to SEO!
In 2022, investing in SEO for your brand is critical to ensuring good performance and total success. It’s more than a requirement; it’s a top priority. It enables us to improve our website’s visibility in search engines, making it easier for our customers and potential audience to find us on the web.
Here are 7 notes you’ll likely see in the SEO scene in 2022:
- Artificial intelligence will have a greater impact on SEO
- Voice searches will become more popular
- Accessibility
- Video should be included in a good SEO strategy
- Semantically related keywords will be given more weight
- Social listening and SEO: Google’s EAT principle-compliant content will rank higher
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Final thoughts
It’s been a challenging year for the online merchant and shop owner. Knowing what trends to look for and how to use them to your fullest potential is more than important to be a successful business owner in the year 2022.
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