Knowledge of the trends that shape the industry are important for any business owner, CEO or Entrepeneur if there’s hope for gaining more traction for your eCommerce brand, driving more traffic and convert that traffic into buying customers.

The COVID-19 pandemic sped up changes across several verticals related to the eCommerce industry, and that acceleration is expected to continue in some capacity as we move into 2021 and beyond.

Here are 10 eCommerce trends that you need to be aware of in 2021:

Customers will shop in marketplaces rather than eCommerce stores

We have seen a massive influx in businesses undergoing digital transformation and many businesses started operating online in light of social distance restrictions. It’s important to note that consumers place high emphasis on convenience and many newer eCommerce business to not have the supporting backend infrastructure to deal with the increase in online traffic and shipping requirements demanded by consumers.

That being said, larger companies such as Amazon and Walmart have the experience and infrastructure required to satisfy today’s customers. Other niche marketplaces such as Etsy continue to grow to accommodate new digital entrepreneurs.

Online buying will not be limited to B2C products

Amid global changes, disruption was felt across all industries and consumers turned to eCommerce to buy every day products needed to continue living their life as close as possible to the way it was before movement restrictions were imparted. Fashion, beauty products, health and fitness products, groceries and much more became available for purchase online.

Disruption wasn’t merely a buzzword in 2020 as businesses accelerated their digital transformation efforts amid global changes. Consumers with no other alternative turned to eCommerce to get everything necessary for their daily lives. Even though a return to normal might slow these buying habits, the ease of shopping online for home delivery is here to stay.

The shift of eCommerce from something people became dependent on rather than a simple convenience will mean that brands need to adapt their strategies accordingly.

Self-service platforms will continue to rise in popularity

It’s become easier for small business and solopreneurs to scale their businesses online globally and we will continue seeing this in 2021.

Shoppable video ads on social media

We can expect a rise in social media selling, as brands have experienced the value from placing ads in stories on apps like Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat.

Omnichannel selling will be the norm

Brands are discovering new ways to sell their products through social media as consumers want to view content in multiple ways.

Amazon Pinpoint and Amazon Personalize are two products from Amazon Web Services (AWS) that enable brands to improve the customer experience and communicate with customers across multiple channels.

Analytics will flourish

We can expect brands to uncover greater data capabilities and get even more granular as consumer data continue to provide value, more than just the basic, but vital metrics provided to them, such as click-through-rate on specific campaigns and conversion metrics that indicate where the bulk of traffic and sales are coming from.

Influencers will become brand partners

Most eCommerce brands have tapped into influencers over the years to leverage their vast audiences. According to Influencer Marketing Hub, the influencer marketing industry was expected to reach $9.7B in 2020.

AI will get less artificial and more beneficial

As concepts such as machine learning and chatbots become more mainstream, brands can leverage AI to yield real business impact in 2021.

For example, AI can already be used to make recommendations for what customers should purchase next based on their history. Brands can also leverage concepts such as voice search to position their products in front of customers. AI will also be able to assist on the backend and help in making inventory predictions.

Personalization will go beyond making a purchase to making a bond

Customers much prefer when their experience is tailored to their unique needs. Smarter HQ has learned that 72% of customers only engage with personalized messaging.

While personalization was initially limited to email marketing, customer expectations and technology capabilities have changed what is possible.

Green consumerism will grow in popularity

Sustainability is no longer reserved for a few brands. In fact, changes in the economic, cultural and social landscape in many countries worldwide have shifted the focus towards making products that protect the environment.

Brands such as Amazon have taken the pledge towards sustainability, and other eCommerce brands are likely to be following suit as humans look for ways to reduce waste and preserve the earth for future generations.

Green consumers are also flexing their purchasing power, with 65% of buyers wanting to make purchases from brands that aim for sustainability according to the Harvard Business Review.

Align your brand with a charitable organization that gives back to the environment. Just like choosing an influencer, your brands can benefit from working with each other, provided that you’re ethically aligned.

Whether you want to increase conversions, traffic to your brand’s website, or both, we can help you design a digital marketing campaign that can help you reach your goals. Contact us on digital@catchthebeat.ca.

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