5 E-Commerce Trends
to Watch For in 2020

2020 – the year hard to forget. Whatever forecasts, plans and aims we all had for it, all of them are being changed and all we can do is just to adjust. Most of the e-commerce trends predictions were made long before things went sideways, so we are going to rank them by the relevance and value they carry within these uncertain times.

It goes without saying that right now while stuck at home, consumers lack their physical shopping activities more than ever. They do miss experiencing the whole process as closer to reality as possible. By 2022 over 120,000 stores will be using Augmented Reality (AR) technologies, offering more affluent buying experience. This is a real game-changer for both online customers and e-commerce brands. It will take some time for the technology to become an absolute perfection quality-wise, so shoppers can better visualize the products they are interested in. However, withing the use of AR, they will be able to learn better about their actual needs and demands, save more time & money.

With all social distancing situation, this can be probably the best and safest way to deliver purchases. We all know that some big companies (e.g. Amazon) have already experimented with this technology. Obviously, not everyone has the same capability to implement this technology, however, what we can learn out if it is that contactless and quick delivery is something consumers are and will be expecting to receive. If you feel like you are ready to 'take off', you can learn more about it here.

Now is a good time to actually start using all these smart home & voice recognition assistants, while staying in self-isolation. Especially if you feel a bit bored or even lonely. According to statistics, 13% of US smart speaker owners say that they were making purchases by voice already at the end of 2017. That number is predicted to increase to 55% by 2022. This kind of shopping experience deprives any visual ability to select an item, which means that it is normally used when the decision is already made by a customer. Or it can be used on a regular basis to fill-up the fridge.

Today's consumers are literally challenging companies to create high-quality content. Yet, in current circumstances, with less budget, people and opportunities, it might be useful to consider this exact trend. The whole point of re-purposing content is to allow your audience to receive the information you have for them however they are willing to 'consume' it. And that doesn't mean to just copy-paste things. Every customer has its own favorite type of format to receive any data. So, what you can do is to use one piece of content as a framework for another piece of content, reused in a different format (e.g. PDF, Infographic, GIF, video, podcasts, etc.). Don't let a content crisis get you down.

The idea of this one is quite similar to the previous trend and involves crafting platform-specific messages. Each platforms holds its standards, formats & even particular audience, so make sure you are being at the right place, at the right time and sending the right content.

With all advancements in technology and changes in consumer behavior, you have to watch over for digital trends, especially when it comes to e-commerce. And remember, when deciding which one you are willing to adopt, do it with the aim of improving the user experience, thus building loyal & long-lasting relationships with your consumers.