10 E-Commerce Trends We’re Seeing in 2022

03/05/2022 | Share:

Since people started buying online, a lot has changed. In this post we take a look at some of the most recent design and feature trends of 2022.

1. Mobile-first design

In response to the majority of web traffic coming from mobile devices, many eCommerce stores are now designed primarily for mobile users. This means a focus on simplicity and easy navigation, as well as larger images and buttons.
The way we shop and browse online has changed dramatically in recent years. More and more of us are using our mobile phones and tablets to do everything from checking the weather to ordering a new pair of shoes. This shift has had a big impact on the way businesses design their websites and apps.
Traditionally, businesses would start by designing their website for desktop users and then create a separate mobile version. However, this is no longer the most effective approach. With the majority of internet users now accessing the web via mobile devices, it makes sense for businesses to start with a mobile first design approach.
Mobile first design is all about creating an experience that is optimised for mobile users. This means starting with the small screen and then working up to larger devices. By thinking about mobile users first, businesses can create websites and apps that are easy to use and navigate on all devices.
There are a number of benefits to using a mobile first design approach. One of the most important is that it helps businesses to reach more customers. With more people using their mobile phones to go online, it’s essential that businesses cater to this audience. By starting with a mobile design, businesses can make sure that their site or app is accessible to everyone.

Another benefit of mobile first design is that it can help to improve conversions. Mobile users are typically looking for quick and easy answers. If they can’t find what they’re looking for quickly on your site, they’re likely to move on to another. By starting with a mobile design, you can ensure that your site or app is easy to use and navigate, helping to keep users engaged and reduce the chance of them bouncing.
Mobile first design is changing the way businesses approach website and app design. By starting with the small screen, businesses can create experiences that are optimised for all devices. This helps to reach more customers and improve conversions.

2. Social media integration

With social media being such a big part of people’s lives, it’s no surprise that more and more eCommerce stores are integrating it into their design. This can be anything from making it easy to share products on social media platforms to incorporating social media feeds into the store itself.
The trendsetting eCommerce website builders are now offering social media integration as a standard feature. This is because social media has become one of the most important aspects of online marketing, and eCommerce website owners are realising the potential it has for driving traffic and sales.
There are many benefits to integrating social media into an eCommerce website, such as increased exposure, more traffic, and improved SEO.
Increased Exposure: When you integrate social media into your eCommerce website, you are essentially giving your products and brand more exposure to a wider audience. This is because people who use social media are always looking for new things to discover and share with their friends and followers.

More Traffic: Social media integration can also lead to increased traffic to your eCommerce website. This is because people who see your products and brand on social media will be more likely to click through to your website to learn more about what you have to offer.

3. Personalisation

In an age where customers are bombarded with choices, many stores are now personalising their offerings based on customer data. This could include anything from showing recommended products to customising the overall look and feel of the store for each individual user.
Personalisation can be a great way to increase customer engagement and loyalty, but it’s important to make sure that you’re not overdoing it. Too much personalisation can come across as intrusive or even creepy, so it’s important to strike the right balance.
If you’re considering adding personalisation to your eCommerce store, here are a few things to keep in mind:
– Make sure you have enough data: Personalisation requires data, so you’ll need to make sure you have enough information about your customers before you start. This could include data collected from web analytics, surveys, customer interviews, and more.
– Be thoughtful about what you’re personalising: Not everything needs to be personalised. In fact, some things should be left alone. It’s important to think about what would actually be helpful for your customers before you start making changes.
– Test, test, test: As with anything, it’s important to test your personalisation efforts before you roll them out to your entire customer base. Try A/B testing different approaches to see what works best for your store.

4. Augmented reality

Thanks to advancements in technology, augmented reality is now being used by some stores to give customers a more immersive experience. This can be anything from being able to “try on” clothes virtually to seeing how furniture would look in your home before you buy it.
The rise of digital technologies has revolutionised the way businesses operate and interact with customers. Among the most disruptive of these technologies is augmented reality (AR). AR allows businesses to overlay digital information on top of the physical world, providing a new way to engage with customers and prospects.
AR is already being used in a number of industries, from retail to manufacturing, and it is starting to make inroads into the world of sales. Here are some ways that AR can help sales organisations boost their performance:
AR can provide instant product information.
When customers are considering a purchase, they often have questions about the product. With AR, salespeople can provide answers in real time, without having to go back and forth between the customer and a computer screen.
AR can help close more deals.
By giving customers the ability to visualise what they’re buying, AR can help salespeople close more deals. In fact, one study found that using AR during the sales process can increase close rates by up to 30%.
AR can create a more engaging sales experience.
Digital technologies have made it easier for customers to shop around and compare products before making a purchase. As a result, salespeople need to find ways to stand out from the competition. AR can help sales organisations create a more engaging and memorable sales experience that will make customers more likely to buy from them.
So who’s doing it?
IKEA
IKEA has been using augmented reality for a while now, starting with their 2014 app that allowed users to see how furniture would look in their homes before they bought it. In 2016, they updated the app to include even more products, and today you can use it to preview over 2,000 items from IKEA’s catalogue.
Lowe’s
Lowe’s is another retailer that has been early to adopt augmented reality technology. Their Lowe’s Vision app allows customers to see how appliances and other products would look in their homes before making a purchase. The app also provides product information and pricing, making it a valuable tool for shoppers.
Wayfair
Wayfair is an online retailer that specialises in furniture and home decor. In 2016, they launched an augmented reality app that allows users to see how furniture would look in their homes before buying it. The app is currently available for iOS and Android devices.

5. Chatbots

Chatbots are increasingly being used as a way to provide customer support on eCommerce websites. They can answer basic questions, help with troubleshooting, and even handle more complex tasks like returns and refunds.
Chatbots are becoming popular with online businesses as a way to improve customer service and engagement. A chatbot is a computer program that can simulate human conversation, usually through text chats or voice commands.
Businesses use chatbots to communicate with customers in a more natural way, providing answers to common questions or helping customers complete tasks such as ordering products or making reservations.
There are many advantages to using chatbots for businesses. Chatbots can help reduce customer support costs by automating common tasks that would otherwise require human intervention.
They can also improve customer engagement by providing fast, responsive customer service and offering personalised recommendations or recommendations based on past interactions. In addition, chatbots can help businesses gather customer data and feedback, which can be used to improve products and services.
Despite these advantages, chatbots are not without their challenges. One of the biggest challenges is ensuring that the chatbot understands the customer’s intent and responds accordingly.
Another challenge is providing a consistent user experience across platforms, as different chatbots may be built on different technologies. Additionally, chatbots need to be updated regularly as new customer service issues and tasks arise.
Overall, chatbots offer businesses a way to improve customer service and engagement while also reducing costs. While there are some challenges to implementing chatbots, the advantages outweigh the challenges for many businesses.

6. AI-Powered Search

Using AI to power search functions on eCommerce websites can be a great way to improve the customer experience. By using AI, eCommerce businesses can provide more accurate and relevant search results to their customers. This can help customers find the products they are looking for more easily and make it more likely that they will make a purchase on the site.
There are a few different ways that AI can be used to power search functions on eCommerce websites. One way is to use AI to analyse customer search queries and match them with the most relevant products.
This can help to ensure that customers are seeing the most relevant results for their search. Another way is to use AI to analyse customer behaviour on the site and make recommendations based on what they have previously searched for or viewed. This can help customers discover new products that they may be interested in and make it more likely that they will make a purchase.
Using AI to power search functions on eCommerce websites can have a number of benefits. It can improve the customer experience by making it easier for customers to find the products they are looking for. It can also increase sales by helping customers discover new products that they may be interested in.
If you are considering using AI to power your eCommerce website’s search function, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, you will need to have a good understanding of how AI works and what it can do. Second, you will need to consider how you will implement AI on your site. And third, you will need to make sure that you have the necessary resources in place to support AI-powered search.
If you are looking for ways to improve your eCommerce website’s search function, using AI is a great option. It can help you provide more relevant and accurate results to your customers and increase sales on your site. However, before you implement AI on your site, there are a few things to keep in mind. Make sure that you have a good understanding of how AI works and what it can do. Also, consider how you will implement AI on your site. And finally, make sure that you have the necessary resources in place to support AI-powered search.

7. Voice search

With the popularity of voice-activated assistants like Alexa and Siri, it’s no surprise that voice search is also becoming more popular for eCommerce. This allows customers to search for products using natural language, making it easier and faster to find what they’re looking for.
Voice search is particularly useful for mobile shoppers, as it can be difficult to type on a small screen. This convenience is one of the reasons why voice search is expected to grow significantly in the next few years.
According to a report frombusinessinsider.com, “by 2020, 50% of all searches will be voice searches”. This suggests that if you’re not already using voice search, now is the time to start optimising your eCommerce site for this growing trend.
If you’re not sure how to get started, here are a few tips:
Use natural language
When optimising your eCommerce site for voice search, it’s important to use natural language. This means using long-tail keywords that are more conversational in nature. For example, instead of using the keyword “shoes”, you would use a phrase like “where can I buy shoes online”.
Optimise for local search
Another way to optimise your eCommerce site for voice search is to focus on local search. This is because people often use voice search when they’re looking for something nearby. So, if you have a brick-and-mortar store, make sure your address and phone number are prominently displayed on your website. You might also want to consider creating location pages for each of your stores.
Use schema markup
Schema markup is code that you can add to your website to help search engines understand your content. This can be used to provide additional information about products, such as pricing, availability, and reviews.
Make sure your site is mobile-friendly
Since people often use voice search on mobile devices, it’s important to make sure your eCommerce site is mobile-friendly. This means having a responsive design that adjusts to different screen sizes. You should also make sure your pages load quickly, as people are less likely to wait around for a slow website.

8. Progressively loaded pages

In an effort to improve website speed, some stores are now using progressively loaded pages. This means that only the necessary content is loaded initially, with other elements being loaded as needed. This can help to improve page load times, especially on mobile devices.
There are a few things to keep in mind when using progressively loaded pages. First, it is important to ensure that all of the necessary content is available upfront. This includes things like product images and descriptions, as well as any other essential information.
Additionally, it is important to consider the user experience when implementing this technique. Users should still be able to easily navigate your site and find the information they are looking for, even if some content is not initially loaded.
If you are considering using progressively loaded pages on your site, there are a few things to keep in mind. However, if implemented correctly, this technique can help to improve your page load times and provide a better experience for your users.
Sources:
https://webmasters.googleblog.com/2018/01/improving-loading-performance-on.html
https://www.machmetrics.com/speed-blog/progressive-image-loading/
https://varvy.com/pagespeed/defer-loading-javascript.html
https://developers.google.com/web/tools/lighthouse/audits/progressive-image-loading
https://www.thinkwithgoogle.com/marketing-resources/experience-management/progressive-web-apps/?guccounter=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIhKjvmsLn4wIVCbTtCh1xcA8OEAAYASAAEgJ9d_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

9. Single-page checkout

In an effort to streamline the checkout process, some stores are now using single-page checkout. This means that all of the necessary information is collected on a single page, rather than spreading it out over multiple pages. This can help to reduce abandoned carts and improve conversion rates.
There are a few things to keep in mind when designing a single-page checkout:
– Make sure the form is easy to understand and use. All the fields should be clearly labelled and the overall process should be straightforward.
– Use positive reinforcement throughout the checkout process. This could include showing a progress bar or providing reassurance messages (e.g. “We’re almost there!”).
– Allow customers to save their progress so they can come back later if needed. This could be done by creating an account or using cookies.
– Have a clear call-to-action (CTA) on the page so customers know what to do next. The CTA should be prominent and easy to spot.
– Include customer support information in case they need help. This could be a phone number, live chat, or email address.
By following these tips, you can create a single-page checkout that is user-friendly and helps to improve your website’s conversion rate.

10. Geo-targeting

Geo-targeting is becoming more common as a way to personalise the experience for customers based on their location. This could include things like showing different products or offers depending on where the customer is located, or providing localised customer support.
There are a few different ways that eCommerce websites can implement geo-targeting. One is to use IP addresses to determine the location of visitors. This can be done either by looking up the IP address in a database, or by using a service like MaxMind’s GeoIP2 Precision Web Services.
Another way to geo-target is to use cookies, which can store information about the customer’s location. Finally, some eCommerce platforms have built-in geo-targeting features that use the customer’s shipping address or billing address to show relevant content.

Geo-targeting can be a great way to improve the customer experience on your eCommerce website.
By showing relevant content and offers, you can create a more personalised experience that is more likely to lead to a sale. If you’re not already using geo-targeting, it’s worth considering adding it to your eCommerce website.
These are just some of the trends we’re seeing in eCommerce right now. As technology continues to evolve, we’re sure to see even more fascinating innovations in the years to come!