In 2021, businesses primarily focused on their online presence while grappling with the re-opening of physical spaces. Last year was all about digital transformation, but 2022 will be about standing out from the fold and meeting customer expectations.

As eCommerce sales in the US approach $1 trillion, businesses must seek new competitive advantages and focus on improving customer experience to stay ahead.

We’ve compiled 5 eCommerce trends every business needs to look out for in 2022.

Voice Shopping and Conversational Shopping

Voice shopping refers to the way customers can buy online using only their voice and a compatible smart device, such as a phone, tablet, or smart speaker.

With this powerful technology, consumers can browse online stores, get product ratings, check prices, and order without having to browse the web.

Simply put, voice shopping is a form of conversational shopping. The experience is like having a dedicated salesperson guide you through the entire buying journey.

As a shopper, you have instant access to any supported store’s catalog in audio format, and you can browse items while doing other chores or commuting.

As a business, enabling voice commerce will allow you to grow your customer base, improve customer retention, and boost conversion rates.

Video Marketing

As the popularity of video marketing grows, we will see a strong emphasis on video marketing for eCommerce businesses in 2022. In fact, since 2018, the amount of online videos watched has doubled.

Customers want to see what they’re buying online. You may have invested in high-quality product images, written enticing product descriptions, and gathered product reviews, but nothing tells the story quite like an engaging video.

Video content not only receives plenty of traffic, but it can also help with conversions. Including a video on your landing page can increase conversion rates by up to 80%.

Video marketing enables you to tell a story about your products and engage potential customers in novel and exciting ways. Videos make your products come to life.

More Payment Options

Even as the world prepares for a post-pandemic future, the habits formed over the last couple of years are bound to stay with us for the foreseeable future.

Businesses must invest in an online shopping experience that is seamless, convenient, and personalized. It must be available throughout the customer journey, from pre-purchase to post-purchase.

And the investment in digital customer experiences includes how payment is taken. Businesses need to expand their payment options to meet customer preferences for digital payments, including contactless payment options in-store and flexible payment options online, such as Apple Pay and Google Pay.

In 2022, it is expected that 53% of merchants will accept more digital payment options over the course of the year.

Merchants will focus on three payment methods this year:

  • Digital wallets: Think of them as a virtual version of everyday wallets. They store various payment types, like credit cards, loyalty cards, bank account information, and others on an accessible app.
  • QR-code payments: QR codes are a secure, simple, and efficient payment method. It’s a kind of contactless payment method that involves scanning a QR code from an app to make a payment.
  • Pay by link and digital invoicing: These are personalized links that businesses can send to customers to make online payments. Customers can then pay using their preferred method.

Augmented Reality

One of the most challenging aspects of online shopping is that customers can’t have a full sensory product experience. In a physical store, you can try on clothes, inspect the phone’s design, or see for yourself how large furniture looks in a room.

Augmented reality is set to change all of this. It will allow customers to interact with and inspect a product in greater depth from the comfort of their own homes.

Most people associate augmented reality (AR) with the entertainment industry. But AR will become an important part of daily life in the coming years, especially in eCommerce. By 2022, we expect retail to account for 5% of AR usage.

Augmented reality experiences that allow shoppers to try on and personalize products ranging from clothing to furniture have the potential to increase sales and engagement.

Subscriptions and Loyalty Programs

High purchase frequency and high churn rates characterize the world of eCommerce. Many businesses believe that customer loyalty no longer exists and use deep discounts to differentiate themselves as a result.

But the constant price war has forced customers to seek the best discounts, making brand loyalty even more difficult to achieve. A strategy to combat this is to offer loyalty programs with exciting rewards.

75% of consumers prefer companies that offer incentives. We expect subscription and loyalty programs to grow in popularity and serve as customer retention tools, helping you keep and engage your customers so they will buy more products, shop more often, and engage with your brand more often.

Conclusion

The year 2022, will be a turning point in the eCommerce industry. Many new innovations and strategies are here to meet customers’ growing expectations and needs.

Keeping up with all these trends can be tiring – we know. Luckily, your team at Vonazon does the research so you don’t have to.

If you’re looking to revamp your eCommerce strategy for 2022, you’re in the right place. Contact us for a free consultation to determine how we can assist you.