2020 is quickly winding down and eCommerce is still winding up. This year has forced many companies into the eCommerce industry, which has sparked innovation and trends that make it easier to advertise and sell online. Although the year is nearly over, these trends seem to be here to stay. Here are some of the top continuing eCommerce trends of 2020 that your company can invest in to improve online shopping trends in the future.
Automated Marketing
One of the leading trends that is growing steadily is automated marketing. Companies are stressed for time and resources when it comes to marketing. This is especially true for small companies that are just getting into digital marketing. Driven by machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI), automated marketing can relieve some of the stress by handling the marketing processes automatically.
Automated marketing systems are still limited in what they can do, but they can handle many of the repetitive tasks that can still help companies with their workloads. For example, marketing emails are more effective when they have been tailored to the recipient. Automated marketing systems are able to customize emails given specific parameters and send them to the correct recipients. For companies that have large email lists, this can save a lot of time and effort while letting the company focus on other things.
Mobile Commerce
Online shopping trends are changing eCommerce substantially because of the use of mobile devices. Because of this, mobile commerce (mCommerce) is becoming one of the leading eCommerce trends of 2020. mCommerce is just like eCommerce, but it is focused on mobile devices.
Mobile devices have more functionality than any other eCommerce device. Plus, most people have them and use them. Mobile devices are the preferred method of shopping for electronics users, so capitalizing on the unique features and qualities that they can provide can open up a lot of options for companies.
The drive to use mobile devices is so strong that many companies are designing their websites to responsive with a mobile-focused foundation. Doing so makes websites and apps perform better on smaller devices. With a strict focus on improving the customer experience and coordinating services through smart devices, mCommerce initiatives are making it easier for customers to shop online.
Augmented Reality
Augmented Reality (AR) is a relatively new technology that is gaining momentum because of its ability to help customers visualize products before they buy. AR uses the abilities of a smart device to lawyer 3D images over real world footage in real time. A customer that wants to buy a specific sofa but wants to see what it would look like in a room first. Instead of buying it, trying it, and returning it, an AR-enabled device can show the customer what the couch should look like in their home without having to move the couch around first.
AR is already being used in multiple ways. Grocery stores use them to help customers find what they are looking for. By scanning a package, an AR-enabled device can overlay information about a product directly on the screen. Customers can use this information to inform their purchases. In some stores, the information being overlaid can be used to show customers where specific products are. For elderly customers, this can be a major benefit.
Voice Search
Perhaps the most recognizable eCommerce growth trend of 2020 and beyond is voice search. The vast majority of shoppers use some type of search method to find what they are looking for online. While text searchers are still common, the introduction of mobile devices is making voice search more popular. It is easier to use voice search when on a mobile device, which is likely a large part of the reason that voice search is gaining in popularity.
Because of the changing preference in search methods, SEO for voice search is also becoming more popular among digital marketing companies. The SEO techniques are slightly different than that of regular SEO, and the keywords that are being used are different. Companies will have to adjust slightly if they are planning to take advantage of this eCommerce trend.
Image Search
Smartphones almost always have cameras in them. Using powerful AI and image recognition software, companies are developing systems that let customers take pictures of products and find them online automatically. Search engines are unable to search the content of an image, which is why image search is such a major improvement. It makes it much easier to find the exact item that you are looking for without knowing anything about it.
Working with Ecommerce Firms
Companies are discovering the benefits of working directly with eCommerce firms to develop their new features and systems. At KitelyTech, we work with companies to help them develop eCommerce systems that will withstand the tests of time. Call our office at (800) 274 2908 to schedule an appointment so that we can discuss how to grow your eCommerce performance in the coming years.
