2022 is going to be an interesting year for the e-commerce sector. The pandemic has ushered in urgency for business owners to get their stores online. Increasing competition and innovation have delivered some truly inspiring e-commerce trends. Some businesses have already integrated them into their online e-commerce store.
Many businesses are still on their upgrade journey from websites to mobile apps. Cost is a hindrance and this can be addressed by converting the website to an app with anb e-commerce store builder. Swipecart is one such tool with a powerful in-built app builder tool to create an engaging mobile app from an existing e-commerce website. This gives an opportunity for business owners to stay relevant in the competition. Moreover, it gives them the power to utilize and integrate the top e-commerce trends into their mobile apps and leverage them to get more customers and conversions.
So, what are the top e-commerce trends for business owners to watch for in 2022 and the coming years? Let’s find it out here.
1.Web 3.0 and e-commerce
While Web 1.0 focused on owned content, Web 2.0 was aimed at sharing content. Web 3.0 is the latest in internet technology that focuses on content being collectively owned and shared. Blockchain technology is one of the finest examples of Web 3.0. Content and e-commerce will come together in a big way in the future to provide custom content to each user. The same content will be displayed differently for different users bringing in a more personalized touch. The focus will be on connectivity, content relevance, outreach, and performance.
2.Block-chain technology in e-commerce
Blockchain technologies along with e-commerce are forming an ecosystem that is viable to both the consumers and retailers. Blockchain helps in improving customer experiences. For instance, smart contracts facilitate inventory management. Store owners use blockchain to monitor the supply chain thus fostering transparency from vendors. It also helps customers and online retailers to store their receipts and warranties of products. Online store owners can use digital tokens to pay content creators each time they promote any product of the store. Also, this technology can be used to verify reviews on products and services generating genuine feedback.
3.Non-fungible Tokens (NFTs) in e-commerce
Non-fungible tokens are a public record of ownership of products or items that cannot be changed. It uses blockchain-based verification mechanisms to reflect ownership of anything intrinsically unique and limited. It could be artwork, a soundtrack, a limited-edition sneaker, couture fashion, or real estate. They have the potential to reshape e-commerce and the digital economy. Shopify now allows e-commerce customers to sell NFTs directly on their platform. NFTs will allow buyers to experience digital purchases in new ways to generate exclusivity.
4.Cryptocurrency in e-commerce
The debate around the use of cryptocurrencies as a payment form is going to get more intense in the coming years. Its decentralized control and distributed ledger technology is something that has wide ramifications and is attracting more and more people to invest and transact in it. A growing number of businesses are turning to digital currencies as a form of payment. Paypal recently launched Checkout with Crypto, a feature that allows US customers to use popular crypto coins to pay online retailers. It allows users to convert their cryptocurrency into fiat currencies with no additional transaction fees. A number of retailers like Expedia, Lush, Wake, Tesco, and Marks & Spencer are either accepting payments or gift cards through crypto-wallets.
5.Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) in e-commerce
How about sitting on the couch at your home facing a wall, wearing the AR headset, and flipping through an online artwork catalog to see if your favorite piece of art looks good on the wall? Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) offer real-time simulation to overcome physical location limitations and provide access to every product ultimately drawing in more customers and conversions. A popular example of AR is the filters you use on Instagram Stories and Snapchat. These are fun to use and boosts audience engagement. The virtual try-on solutions, preview placement, interactive user manuals, and social media filters are all perfect instances of AR/VR increasing customer engagement and customer acquisition for your e-commerce store builder
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6.Sustainability in e-commerce
The waste produced by the supply-chain network like the cardboard boxes and plastic packing puffs has rendered it necessary for online e-commerce stores to think of sustainable solutions within the industry. So, more and more companies are moving towards green business by adopting eco-friendly packaging and opting for delivery options that reduce carbon footprint. E-commerce giants like Amazon and Apple are donating towards environmental causes to achieve their sustainability goals.
7.Social commerce in e-commerce
Social commerce is using social media platforms as vehicles to sell products and services. It is a process where the buyer completes the entire journey from discovery of the product to buying it on the social media platform itself. Social commerce is large and about eight in ten of the online e-commerce stores expect to sell their products and services via social media apps. It is a game-changer for small businesses that hesitate to invest in mobile apps due to the high costs involved. But they can use any reliable e-commerce store builder to create their own mobile app from their existing e-commerce website. This is affordable and allows them to cash in on the emerging social commerce trend to boost sales and conversions.
8.Gamification in e-commerce
Have you ever observed how e-commerce stores use the ‘Spin the Wheel’ game to offer you discounts and deals? This is a fine example of gamification in e-commerce. Similarly, there are many brands such as Nike and Karl Lagerfeld that have taken gamification to the next level. Nike lovers can launch a virtual world called Nikeland, design their own mini-games, and buy Nike gear for their gaming avatars on the popular gaming platform Roblox. In e-commerce, gamification offers many benefits. The consumer interaction content becomes more meaningful and increases the likelihood of purchase. It also makes the brand more trustworthy and approachable. The gaming strategies like reward and loyalties spark a real-time personal connection with the consumers.
9.Live streaming in e-commerce
You might be familiar with Home Shopping Network which is the live selling of products on TV. Something similar is happening on social media platforms where brands hire influencers to do live streams of product promotion and offer a link in the description. Brands live-stream the content on various social media platforms, their website, and mobile app too. Amazon has launched a standalone live-stream platform called Amazon Live where influencers post product videos along with special offers. Similarly, Facebook is experimenting with live shoppable videos which allow brands to feature product demos for users to watch and place orders simultaneously. Business owners can latch into this emerging e-commerce trend by creating their own mobile app. A good e-commerce store builder helps them to create mobile apps with ease at affordable rates without writing a single line of code.
10.Metaverse and e-commerce
There is no correct definition for metaverse since it does not exist in reality and is only a vision. For the uninitiated, it can be termed as an extension of several technologies- AR, VR, cryptocurrency, blockchain, and social commerce. It is an expansion of 3D-rendered real-time virtual spaces or networks that function as an independent entity in its own right. In e-commerce, it is expected to provide real-time experiences to shoppers to enable them to walk around a virtual store, purchase items with cryptocurrency, store payment receipts in blockchain, and get ownership of exclusive items through NFTs. It is providing greater bespoke virtual experiences by allowing customers to participate in the brand’s culture and provide much more than just the product catalog. It is too early to know what and how much impact metaverse can have on e-commerce but it is definitely something to watch for in 2022 and beyond.
Conclusion
E-commerce is ever-evolving. Online retailers need to have a keen eye for trends and integrate them to their online e-commerce stores.
Turn trends into reality by integrating them into your e-commerce mobile app. If you are yet to start your mobile app journey, Swipecart can help you in this transition. Our powerful e-commerce store builder tool easily converts your website into an engaging mobile app. It is easy to use, costs less, and requires no coding knowledge. It is much more viable than building an app from scratch. Try it and let us know if you need any assistance.
