The eCommerce industry continues to grow steadily according to recent data released by the US Census Bureau. In fact, it is estimated that by 2020 the sales in this sector will exceed the $4 trillion mark. The future seems bright for most retailers with several opportunities to look forward to. In this article, we will discuss how online commerce is evolving in 2018 and beyond as well as the opportunities and challenges ecommerce retailers may encounter. There are quite a number of significant and potentially disruptive e-Commerce market trends that both marketers and consumers should expect in 2018 and beyond. These include the following:
1. Integration of Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Machine learning technologies are increasingly becoming popular in most industries hence it is almost inevitable that the ecommerce sector will adopt these technologies in 2018 and beyond. Most eCommerce systems have already integrated machine learning but 2018 is expected to see a dramatic increase in the adoption of machine learning technologies. This will allow eCommerce retailers to offer better services to their customers effortlessly. Also, one can get a good information about eCommerce as well as latest technologies on Zahipedia that has a lots of articles.
2. Mobile Check-out and Internet of Things (IoT)
The growth of mobile technology and internet connected devices has radically changed the way people shop. The mobile payment market has steadily grown over the past few years with over 10 mobile payments platforms available today that include Google Pay and Apple Pay not to mention Bitcoin one of the most common cryptocurrency in the market today. The adoption of mobile payment systems seems inevitable in 2018 and beyond which will lead to a significant increase in mobile shopping. The Internet of Things (IoT) is also expected to gain traction as the internet plays a critical role in the growth of e-Commerce businesses.
3. Voice Search
The eCommerce sector cannot afford to underestimate the contribution of voice search in 2018 and beyond. The adoption of voice-controlled smart home appliances such as Google Home and Amazon Echo has grown which means that more and more consumers are choosing these devices to make their purchases. Voice search is definitely the next big thing in 2018 and beyond as data indicates that sales completed via these smart appliances increases the upsell rates for ecommerce retailers.
4. Storefront Apps
Most retailers are shifting from desktop to mobile devices which means that eCommerce shopping will undergo a further transformation thanks to storefront apps. Using a dedicated storefront app to browse and shop from a mobile device offers shoppers great convenience. In 2018 and beyond, we expect to see more e-Commerce retailers using storefront apps to drive sales as well as customer loyalty. Recent data shows that dedicated storefront apps have a higher conversion rate than that of mobile sites which makes these apps a tempting proposition to eCommerce retailers.
5. Better Shipping/Delivery Logistics
Delivery logistics and shipping times are expected to improve in 2018 and beyond as this has been a major challenge in the e-Commerce sector. Some e-Commerce platforms such as Amazon seem poised to remain the best in eCommerce delivery but other Ecommerce retailers are also expected to improve their shipping times and delivery logistics as this is likely to be the game-changer on the eCommerce battlefield.
A lot more e-Commerce market trends are expected in 2018 and beyond since e-Commerce is more that just buying something on a website but it involve a series of interactions.