eCommerce has changed how we shop. It is no secret. Due to COVID restrictions, eCommerce sales saw a dramatic rise in 2020. This forced avid consumers to shop online rather than in-store.
Alexa & Google: Personal Shoppers
Most people are familiar with smart assistants. These devices can control everything from the lights in your living room to the radio in your kitchen. People have become more dependent on their smart home assistants to manage most aspects of their daily lives, including their shopping habits.
Recent research showed that 20% of homes with smart speakers use it for shopping-related activities. This includes reordering favorite items, checking delivery times and reminding them to buy.
Personalization: The Power of Personalization
A personalized customer experience is a great way to build strong customer relationships and retain customers.
To help build a stronger connection between your brand’s target customers and your brand, you can use personalised emails, discount codes that are relevant to your recommendations, and video content to engage with them.
Thinking Green
Consumers today care deeply about buying from brands that care about sustainability.
Millennials demand higher standards from brands when it comes to taking care of your carbon footprint.
To engage the eco-conscious customer, make sure your brand is aware of its impact on the environment. Your website and social media should promote your green business practices to demonstrate that you are meeting their expectations for what an eCommerce site should do in 2021 to protect the environment.
Shop Independently
Many small businesses were affected by the COVID lockdown. Some suffered irreparable losses and had to be shut down entirely. The modern consumer is driven to support independent brands and wants to buy from them.
Customers assume that shopping small or independently means they are supporting entrepreneurship and will purchase a unique product. Customers expect top-notch customer service when they shop directly with business owners.
This trend isn’t going away anytime soon. 37% of those who shop with independent businesses claim that they do it more often than before COVID-19.
AR Experience
Online shopping is becoming more convenient with the advancements in computer technology. Online shopping can be difficult for customers because they don’t have the ability to see the product in person. Augmented Reality technology allows brands to show customers a preview of the product and provide a richer shopping experience.
AR has been implemented by some brands, allowing customers to shop at their own pace. AR can help you stand out among your competitors and engage your customers.
Social Media Cannot Be Neglected
Social media is an important part of eCommerce. Platforms such as Shopify make it easier for brands to connect existing social media platforms, so customers can purchase directly from Facebook or Instagram.
Brands can reach their target audience through sites such as Instagram or Facebook. Customers check their social media and scroll through their feeds.