New trends in ecommerce for 2023
Taking into account that it has become almost essential to have an online store, since more and more consumers prefer to buy online, knowing the trends in ecommerce for 2023 is essential:
Inflation and greater attention to prices
The increase in prices affects the world, which is causing concern in the consumer. This means that before making a purchase the user could meditate much more, even not making it if they do not trust the brand or the product or service for, among other reasons, lack of information.
For brands, on the other hand, this inflation implies an additional expense in the development and production of a product, as well as in its shipment or return.
All this forces brands to pay more attention to prices, as well as to offer all possible information to the consumer and a return process that is as easy as possible to generate a feeling of greater confidence and security.
Whenever possible, and in order to further adjust prices, products or services may be offered in a more basic version. This is a way to attract the attention of new customers and it is a way to retain existing ones.
Promote omnichannel
One of the trends in ecommerce is to prioritize or promote omnichannel. This is because there are more and more users who like to be able to interact with a brand from different channels and obtain their products or services through different means. This can be achieved by being present on different social networks, through WhatsApp or another messaging system or behind email, among others. It can also be done by offering the possibility of purchasing through different online platforms and, in the background, from different physical stores or points of sale, which may or may not belong to the brand in question.
Showrooming can also be put into practice, where the products are shown in a physical store so that the consumer can later buy them online knowing exactly what they will receive.
What must be taken into account is that online sales continue to represent the majority of a brand’s sales since the pandemic, which means that the more presence you have on online platforms, the better.
live shopping
Another of the ecommerce trends for 2023 is to make live videos to show a product, interact with the audience and thus increase sales. This has been proven to be one of the best ways to reach your target customer, as it allows them to view the product in real time, see how it works, and ask questions. In addition to creating a much more personalized sales experience.
These types of videos can also be made on different channels, such as YouTube, Instagram or Facebook, among others. So you just have to find the place where the audience you want to reach is located.
Generalization of social shopping
Until relatively recently, social networks were used, above all, in content marketing strategies. However, some of these social media, such as Pinterest, Facebook or Instagram, incorporate technology that allows users to buy directly through them without leaving the application.
With this functionality, social networks become a powerful sales channel, in addition to being a platform where the product can be displayed and information, advice and comments can be provided.
Without a doubt, it is worth applying social shopping, especially considering that omnichannel is being sought, as mentioned in a previous point.
custom search
Personalization is going to play a much more relevant role, since more than half of consumers value that the shopping experience, even online, is as personalized as possible. It is expected, then, that there will be a significant change towards personalization, especially with regard to search results, where each client should obtain as a response what is closest to their interests based on their behavior on the site. That is, offer the user as a result of a search what best suits him based on his behavior or his previous interests.
In general, it is about showing the customer that the brand knows them and knows what they need and what they are looking for. And not only offering or showing you products that can meet your needs, but also giving you content that answers your questions.
re-commerce
Recommerce consists of buying and selling new or used things and it is a practice that has become popular, especially since there is some concern with the environment and more environmental awareness.
Although many brands, especially within the textile sector, have begun to use organic, sustainable and recycled materials to make their products, more and more consumers are opting for second-hand purchases. In addition to being a much more environmentally friendly action, it is also a way of buying at more affordable prices.
These new consumption habits and this new mentality mean that one of the trends in ecommerce for 2023 is to give products a second life, offering them at lower prices on platforms such as ThredUp, Poshmark or eBay, among others. In addition, recommerce does not only apply to retailers or small businesses, as there are large brands that have begun to include it in their sales strategies.
Subscription e-commerce
Another trend within electronic commerce is to implement subscriptions in order to lengthen relationships with customers. Acquiring new customers can be very expensive both financially and in time, which is why more and more brands are opting for retention through subscription plans.
Although until relatively recently subscriptions were more related to brands that offered content, such as Netflix or Spotify, it is also possible to offer it on sales platforms. For example, free shipping can be offered if you pay for an annual subscription, as Amazon offers; or you can offer a product or service that is bought on a regular basis cheaper through a subscription. In addition, the latter also serves to facilitate the process for the consumer, since they will not have to carry out any manual process to have that product or service at home or active again.
metaverse
There are many brands that have set their sights on augmented reality or AR. It is a technology that uses 3D mapping to allow customers to test the product or have a much more real view of it. In other words, it offers a much more visual, intuitive and attractive shopping experience, since it is a totally immersive way of interacting with products.
Although using AR in an e-commerce may be too expensive for some brands, it is a way to ensure that customers will have a much more accurate view of the product, so the online shopping experience will be much more successful. For this reason, the creation of a metaverse is very common, which is a virtual world where users can interact with a digital world and buy products, as well as live experiences as they would in the real world.
BOPIS or pick-up model
The BOPIS or pick-up model has also become popular, which consists of making a purchase over the internet and picking it up in a physical store. These types of deliveries are very useful, especially for those consumers who will not be at home when the order arrives. But, in addition, it allows companies to reduce shipping costs. In addition, it has been proven that it is a way to improve the relationship with customers, especially among those who value personal relationships.
If this sales model is a trend within e-commerce, it is because it also favors cross-selling, which would lead to an increase in profits.
voice shopping
Many brands already make use of AI through intelligent chatbots, search engines capable of recommending products in a personalized way or voice shopping. This trend will increase because more and more is being pursued to be able to offer customers a good shopping experience, which the more personalized it is, the better.
In addition, there are more and more users who, if they have the possibility, buy through voice search. In fact, around a quarter of the population with a mobile device performs voice searches and this number is expected to increase throughout 2023. This means that having e-commerce adapted so that it can be found through a voice search it becomes fundamental.
After Sales Experience
And finally, customer service should be as impeccable as possible. Consumers expect the service received to be good, especially when it comes to after-sales service. This is mainly due to the fact that customers do not want to feel that, once they have made the purchase, they are no longer important to the brand.
Customers should have as many options as possible to contact the brand and quickly resolve any type of incident, as well as make the return process as easy as possible. The simpler and faster this part is, the more users will trust it.
And these are the ecommerce trends for 2023, focused above all on offering the customer as many options as possible and more personalized attention.