E-commerce is a constantly changing industry with rapidly evolving technologies, trends and a competitive environment. Online shopping has grown by $ 183 billion since the pandemic, according to a recent report released by Adobe. This report is from March 2020 to February 2021.

The numbers are clear, eCommerce is now mainstream for people of all ages. From toys to books to gadgets, we can have almost anything delivered to our door, we often click the “Order” button on our computer or smartphone on the same day.

It has revolutionized the e-commerce industry, and we’ve seen a significant change in the way they work. Even if this turnover reflects an outstanding potential, we are more excited about the trends that will help shape it.

This article takes a look at some of the trends that are likely to be key to ecommerce in the year ahead.

1. Increased use of voice search

Voice shopping is a great find for customers who are always on the run. Voice assistants on your phone, home smart hub, and even on your TV remote have come a long way.

Simply speaking on your voice-activated devices makes life so much easier no matter where you are. So it’s no wonder why voice search AIs like Apple’s Siri, Amazon’s Alexa and Google’s Assistant access it.

However, voice shopping has its drawbacks as users cannot see pictures of the products they are buying. Consumers therefore tend to buy more mainstream products like groceries, low-priced electronic devices, and housewares that don’t require much visual research.

Current statistics suggest that the voice-assisted assistance market will reach around $ 4 billion in 2022. Given the huge potential for voice shopping, with sales up 55% and revenue of $ 40 billion by 2022, it is expected that this will be a trend.

2. Hiring a virtual e-commerce assistant

Let’s get that straight. Running an ecommerce store is no joke and it needs to be run by someone capable and responsible enough to know the industry. Hiring a full-time employee may be a good option, but it turns out to be expensive and adds to the cost of the business.

Virtual ecommerce assistants are trained experts who are professionals in managing a large number of online stores. These virtual assistants work remotely so you don’t have to worry about running costs or paying for vacation or social benefits. In addition, you can hire a virtual eCommerce assistant for a certain number of hours or a project so you don’t pay anything extra.

Entrepreneurs have recognized the importance of virtual assistants and how they can prove to be key to the success of their online business.

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to set up a Wishup virtual ecommerce assistant.

3. Customized products and packaging

Personalization means more than just a newsletter that says “Hello, [name]! “for every customer who subscribes to your website. With this trend in the works since 2020, brands need to step up their online personalization game to stay one step ahead of the competition.

Personalizing the product makes a difference in customer satisfaction as the customer feels special and valued. With this feature, 22% of consumers are ready to share their data.

Fossil, for example, enables its customers to choose their preferred bracelet with the dial and to engrave their watches and accessories. More and more brands are implementing this practice, and in 2022 most ecommerce companies will be doing the same as personalization increases customer loyalty and improves the shopping experience.

4. Drone delivery

The delivery of drones will change the way deliveries are made. Nevertheless, in the initial phase, drone deliveries are rapidly gaining in importance worldwide. Experts predict a significant improvement in deliveries as soon as there are small deliveries locally.

If social distancing has become the norm, this delivery method is one of the best for achieving contactless delivery.

Where the infrastructure allows, we can expect e-commerce retailers to take over and facilitate the delivery of drones.

5. Use social media to build your brand

Instagram has seen a meteoric rise and became a digital shopping base for brands, companies and creatives in 2020. Therefore, of course, the Instagram shop caught all the attention – especially among tech-savvy generations, and COVID-19 gave online shopping the necessary boost.

Instagram created a convenient way to discover shoppable products, which gave users the opportunity to browse through shops and recommendations from the editors and many other attractive functions.

Instagram stories and stickers, creators shopping, live shopping, convenient checkout options and shoppable posts have become the ultimate e-commerce platform. So, if you’re looking to get your business skyrocketing in 2022, social media should definitely be on your list.

Given the success of the Instagram shop, it cannot be denied that other platforms such as TikTok, Snapchat and Pinterest could use social shopping.

6. Artificial intelligence inspired customer service

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning accurately predict shopping habits based on browsing and shopping history.

Customer service is vital for ecommerce businesses if you want to ensure a steady flow of customers. First you need to focus on handling customer inquiries and then on resolving them. Unfortunately, few companies can afford to hire thousands of customer service agents to do this.

Chatbots play a vital role in simplifying customer service in the modern market. Chatbots can perform a wide variety of tasks, so integrating with your customer service is the best step you can take right now:

• Gathering responses from customers
• Support cross-selling and upselling
• Informing about current sales offers.
• Answers to frequently asked questions (FAQ).

This allows thousands of customers to be contacted at once and receive personalized responses based on their inquiries.

7. Focus on sustainability

“Renewable” and “sustainable” are not just buzzwords. Consumers and governments are making significant shifts towards renewable energy, sustainable environmental practices and long-term sustainable thinking.

Green consumption is a trend that conscious customers and brands need to consider.

Many companies are looking for ways to become greener and greener by adopting practices such as biodegradable packaging, paperless working, and the use of recyclable materials. Therefore, green consumerism is increasing and brands have to adapt their business strategy accordingly.

8. Augmented and virtual reality for shopping

It feels good to browse an online store and purchase an item of your choice as it saves you time and effort. However, it’s disappointing when there is a gap between what you see online and how it looks when it ships.

It is not easy to make a big purchase when you have to guess what the product will look like at home. With augmented reality, you don’t have to.

Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR / VR) fill this void by demonstrating what a product looks like in reality and how it fits into your everyday lifestyle. With this technology, customers can, for example, watch a live video of the room with the newcomer by phone or laptop. The same goes for accessories, works of art, and home decor.

It is estimated that over 120,000 stores worldwide will be using AR by 2022 to provide their customers with a better shopping experience.

These numbers are a clear indicator of the industry’s great growth potential in the coming year. Additionally, these e-commerce trends point to a bright future for the industry in 2022.