Ecommerce Trends In 2020 and How They May Affect 2021
Due to COVID-19, the year 2020 has seen explosive growth in ecommerce. This sudden growth is partially due to the fast development of several trends that were previously at least several years away from becoming popular enough to affect financial trends. Now that these trends are thriving, though, there’s little doubt that they will affect ecommerce in 2021 and beyond. Understanding just what those trends are is key to riding the ecommerce wave of success. Here are a few of the ecommerce trends of 2020 and how they may affect 2021.
Continued Acceleration of Mobile Shopping
Although smartphones have already done quite a bit to decimate shopping on a computer, that trend has only intensified in 2020. Given that shoppers want to do all they can to stay safe, the trend of consumers shopping on their phones from the parking lot of a store has never been stronger. Moving forward, it’s vital to take advantage of this trend by continuing to optimize your website for mobile platforms to ensure that your customers are treated to a great experience every time.
Augmented Reality
With people less willing to shop in physical stores, augmented reality has seen a meteoric rise in popularity. Therefore, if you’re looking for a single way to quickly improve your ecommerce, one of your best bets is incorporating augmented reality components on your website. These components allow shoppers to experience products virtually so that they can better determine if they will work for them or not. In 2021, as this trend continues, the fall of brick-and-mortar retail may accelerate even further.
Multiple Payment Platforms
Considering how few payment platforms were available even five years ago, the proliferation of various platforms in the modern environment is truly something to behold. In order to appeal to as many customers as possible, it’s vital that your website is equipped to accept most or all of these new payment platforms. In the future, you can prepare for even more payment platforms, resulting in more complexity on your end and a greater need to stay on top of the latest payment trends.
Back to the Basics
In a world that seems to be constantly changing, another trend in 2020 has been the return of basic things that seem familiar and comfortable to customers. Nothing illustrates this better than the ink-and-paper holiday wishbook that Amazon released in the fall. To capitalize on this trend, both now and in the future, it’s key to give your customers a wholesome and uncluttered experience even when you’re offering them new items. This sense of comfort and connection will make them more likely to purchase your products.
What Lies Ahead?
Of course, as dramatic as 2020 has been, 2021 could be even more transformative. Depending on the development of the COVID-19 pandemic, things may look completely different by the end of next year. By detecting current trends, though, you’ll be much better prepared to pick up on changes that are occurring so that you can respond to them during the early stages.
