We’re all witness to the significant boom of ecommerce in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. Due to the lockdowns that we all experienced, many businesses were forced to relocate their operations online. Some discovered that ecommerce was what they needed to grow and continued to operate that way even after they were able to return to normal, while others chose to sell their online businesses or simply return to the offline world.
Statista conducted research in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, France, and Germany before, during, and after the pandemic. In the United States, for example, prior to the pandemic, the share of ecommerce as a proportion of total retail was 11%. At the peak of the pandemic, it was 22%; and currently, it is 17%.
Although the percentage is lower than it was at its peak, ecommerce is still thriving, and there is more competition and innovation in the industry than ever before. The burning question now is: What new trends can we expect in 2022? Well, let’s dive into some answers and talk about the six trends that will define ecommerce in 2022.
1) Diversity of Payment Methods
Payment methods are usually the last step in the shopping process, and if a platform doesn’t offer payment methods that suit its customers, they’ll mostly be upset and likely never return. Previously, an ecommerce store could offer only two payment options and be fine, but as more people shop online, the demand for more options is increasing.
And it’s not just about different payment options – there’s also a growing trend toward purchasing in installments. ShopPay is one of the options, and with them, you can pay everything at once or in four interest-free installments for orders ranging from $50 to $3000.
2) Mobile Commerce
With people using their phones for almost everything, it’s no surprise that mobile commerce sales in the United States are expected to double between now and 2025. Your ecommerce platform should be prepared for this.
If you don’t already have a mobile app for your online store, it would be best to get started on creating one right away. You will be ahead of some of your competitors, and you’ll be able to engage people who prefer to shop with their mobile phones wherever they go.
3) Social Commerce
Everything happens on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok for businesses that go that route and put their products on social media. Customers can read each other’s reviews or contact the store with any questions before deciding whether or not to purchase a product. If you decide to engage in social commerce, you will gain access to your customers’ time spent leisurely scrolling. You can use that opportunity to create stories, elicit emotions, and, of course, get valuable feedback.
4) Sustainability
With more people becoming environmentally conscious, your environmental responsibility as a business is becoming more important. That means you’ll need to pay more attention to the materials you use in your products and the eco-friendliness of your delivery processes. A special emphasis is placed on the amount of waste produced by packaging used to deliver products to customers. Customers are more likely to buy products that are made and delivered in a sustainable manner, according to the European Ecommerce report for 2021.
Considering all of this, it’s no surprise that some ecommerce companies list the origins of their materials next to their products and offer sustainable shipping and packaging. They also began sharing information about their carbon footprints, which is definitely a smart practice you can adopt.
5) Same-Day Delivery
There was a sense of urgency among people to get their purchases as soon as possible during the pandemic. Even after everything has been reopened, there’s still a demand for packages to be delivered quickly and conveniently to the consumers’ doorstep. As a result, some businesses have begun to offer same-day delivery, which was made possible after forming a partnership with a delivery service. Ultra Beauty and Doordash are one example of such a collaboration.
6) Return Policy
Your return policy can be the deciding factor between you and your competitors. According to Forrester’s research conducted in France, the United Kingdom, and the United States, “customers prefer online retailers who offer free return shipping, as well as retailers who refund the original form of payment.”
Consider upgrading your returns procedure by offering new locations for physical returns, streamlining processes, improving refund issuance and internal returns processing, and so on. But, aside from upgrading, the best approach is to consider how not to get returns in the first place.
In Closing
There are numerous new ecommerce trends available, many of which rely on advanced technologies and AI in particular. However, we have dedicated this article to small and medium-sized ecommerce businesses that want to improve and grow in 2022. The trends we’ve listed here are something you can work on. Consider them next time you discuss with your team what you can do to be more profitable and useful to your customers.
