Each year brings new trends and movements in the world of online retail, and eCommerce business owners need to adapt or risk being left in the dust by their competitors.
Keeping your finger on the pulse is the key to getting ahead, and in this article, we’ll explore the trends that are expected to continue dominating the eCommerce industry as we move toward the second half of 2022.
Read on to explore the biggest eCommerce trends of 2022.
Trend #1: Sustainable eCommerce
Studies show that there has been a 71% rise in the popularity of searches for sustainable goods over the past five years, and 77% of consumers are concerned about the environmental impact of the products they buy.
Going forward, we can expect to see even more of a focus on sustainable packaging, climate-neutral shipping, and environmentally-friendly order fulfilment.
Trend #2: Changes in consumer behaviour
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is still rippling through our everyday lives, and consumer behaviour continues to evolve rapidly as a result.
People are more selective about where they spend their hard-earned money, seeking out brands that are transparent about their labour practices and sustainability commitments. In fact, according to Shopify’s Future of Commerce report, people are four times more likely to buy from brands that resonate with them because of geography, company values, or sustainability.
Today’s consumers have high standards when it comes to their online shopping experience, and they expect to have multiple options when it comes to buying and returning items.
For example, they want to be able to order something online but have the option of returning it to their local store. They also want to be able to see and handle a product in person, go home and mull it over, and then buy it online.
Trend #3: Mobile commerce
The prevalent use of smartphones and social media represents a greater opportunity than ever before for eCommerce retailers. With mobile phones generating almost 60% of all web traffic, it is crucial that your website is optimised for mobile use.
By ensuring that your website is optimised for mobile, you’ll have a significant advantage over your competitors who haven’t bothered to do this.
Research by HubSpot shows that 50.3% of marketers leverage mobile optimization in their SEO strategies, and 45.4% say that optimizing for mobile is one of the most effective strategies for ranking highly on search engines. Having a mobile-optimised website also plays a crucial role in preventing website bounces and abandoned purchases.
Trend #4: Social commerce
Social commerce represents another huge opportunity for online retailers. The trend has exploded in popularity in recent years and continues to grow at an exponential rate. Global sales through social media platforms were estimated at $560 billion U.S. dollars in 2020, and forecasts suggest that the value of social commerce sales will reach around $2.9 trillion by 2026.
Social commerce is so popular because it offers a different kind of shopping experience, one that is based on trust, connection and community. People want to buy products and services based on recommendations from others, whether it’s friends, family, or influencers that they trust. They want to feel inspired, well-informed, and confident about their purchasing decisions.
Instagram, TikTok and Pinterest have all partnered with Shopify to make it as easy as possible for mobile phone users to purchase goods while browsing on social media.
It also simplifies the process for sellers, giving them a direct link to the people who are most likely to buy from them: millennials and Generation Z. Research by Accenture found that these two generations will represent 62% of all social commerce spend by 2025.
Trend #5: Voice Search
Voice technologies are a rapidly growing trend, with far-reaching implications for the eCommerce landscape.
A forecast by the U.K. based analysts at Juniper Research shows that voice commerce will grow to reach more than $80 billion per year by 2023.
Online retailers should focus on optimising their content for voice search and adapting their SEO strategy to include more long-tail keywords. These offer a more accurate reflection of the way people naturally phrase questions when using a voice assistant.
Trend #6: Video marketing
Video marketing is another area that has experienced consistent growth, and that is set to continue in 2022.
According to research by Wyzowl, 86% of businesses use video as a marketing tool, and over 85% of marketers say it has helped them increase traffic and generate leads.
Video content is important for the consumer too. 96% of people have watched an explainer video to learn more about a product or service, and 88% say that they’ve been convinced to buy a product or service by watching a brand’s video.
You can leverage this trend by creating tutorials and explainer videos, and by sharing user-generated content such as unboxing videos on your own social media channels.
Trend #7: Live shopping
Live shopping is a trend that originated in Asia and is expected to dominate the eCommerce landscape over the next few years.
Shopify reported that the number of app installs for livestream selling grew by 61% globally between January and September 2021, compared to the same period in 2020.
Taobao, Alibaba’s livestream sales platform, has amassed 240 million users since its launch in 2020. It’s catching on elsewhere too, with the US livestream market generating around $11 billion in online sales in 2021. By 2024, it is predicted to reach a staggering $35 billion.
The success of live shopping is due to a combination of factors. It allows brands to showcase their products while entertaining, engaging and interacting with customers in real-time. It makes it as easy as possible for people to buy the featured products and, perhaps most importantly, it builds a sense of community and authentic connection between the brand and its customers.
Live shopping is one trend that eCommerce businesses simply cannot afford to ignore.
Conclusion
ParcelPlanet will always strive to remain at the forefront of the eCommerce industry, keeping our watchful eyes on the latest trends and developments so you can stay informed and grow your business.
From industry trends to returns management and order fulfilment, ParcelPlanet gives you the platform to build a loyal customer base and remain at the forefront of eCommerce in 2022 and beyond.
To find out how we can help you stay one step ahead of the competition, contact us today.
