eCommerce Business Trends :

The first half of the year is already over, and if your eCommerce store has still not gained momentum, there might be some trends that you are missing out on in 2024. If your questions linger around what trends you should invest your time and resources on or which one will give the maximum ROI, you have come to the right place. 

The blog will explore the 6 key eCommerce business trends that received limelight at the beginning of the year and are expected to grow in the coming months. 

6 Popular eCommerce Business Trends of 2024

Let us help you with six eCommerce business trends you must keep in mind to expand your business in the complex web of the digital world. 

#1 Online shopping is here to stay for a long time

As per the recent data published by Shopify, eCommerce growth for 2021 to 2026 is only going upward. Several factors are responsible for this sudden spike, starting with the pandemic wherein users shifted to online shopping out of sheer necessity, and of course, the convenience encouraged them to stay online post-pandemic.

Various undeniable benefits such as easy on-time deliveries, secure checkout, safe transactions, and time-saving helped customers gain trust in the online shopping experience. 

While physical stores still have advantages of their own, there is no denying that online platforms have developed from being merely additional channels to becoming vital sources of brand value.

#2 Customization dominates the rising popularity of the eCommerce trend

As per a survey, 80% of customers are more likely to buy from an online store that offers them personalization. Just a year back, customization was optional, but today, it is what a user expects thus making it a necessity.

But, how personal are we talking about?

Very, but without invading a user’s privacy. You should have a thorough understanding of your customer’s needs and buying preferences without overstepping your boundary such as their health data. 

The majority of Americans value tailored content and product recommendations. However, it is crucial to strike a balance between this need and respect for personal space. 

You can use some of our recommendations to inculcate personalization in your eCommerce business marketing strategy:

1. Call each consumer by name whenever possible.
2. Product recommendations that are intelligently made based on the search history and preferences of the customer.
3. Offer complementary products at different points during the purchasing process.
4. Deliver customized SMS messages in response to consumer behavior.
5. Customize product recommendations based on past browsing and purchase activity.

#3 AI is now inevitable 

Like it or not, Artificial Intelligence is now a part of the modern world. Why do we think so? Well, it has helped companies like Amazon improve their product recommendations by cross-selling and upselling. It accounts for 35% of their revenue - and we are talking about 2019!

So, in which areas AI can help boost your eCommerce platform business store? Let’s discuss.

Improving search results - Artificial intelligence has made search functionality more intuitive and accurate. It helps to deliver a better user experience by learning from user interaction and natural language thereby delivering better search results. The integration of voice commands has also contributed to the growing trend of using AI.

Better recommendations - Artificial intelligence (AI) uses consumer data, including prior purchases and browsing habits, to make product recommendations that are tailored to each user's tastes. The customized strategy increases sales and improves client happiness.

Improved chat bots - Chatbots with artificial intelligence (AI) features provide 24/7 customer service. They can quickly resolve problems by intuitively understanding and responding to consumer inquiries. This reduces the workload for human representatives while improving client satisfaction.

Product descriptions that are auto-generated - Businesses can save time and money by using AI to automatically generate comprehensive, SEO-optimized product descriptions. To raise a product's visibility and search engine rankings, these descriptions emphasize its key features along with appropriate search terms.

#4 Rise in eco-friendly products and packaging

With the increased environmental consciousness, more and more people now demand eco-friendly products and packaging. Consumers want their purchases to align with their core values. Thirty percent of buyers take the environment into account before making a purchase.

Some of the popular genres where the green consumerism is popular are: 

• Food
• Cars
• Beauty products
• Packaging

What can you do to promote sustainability in your business? 

We would recommend you to start small. Introduce one product and check your customer's reaction. You can always tweak designs to suit their needs and introduce more products as per their demand.

#5 Social media will increasingly drive online sales

The term ‘Social Shopping’ refers to buying directly from a social media platform. Insider Intelligence predicts a substantial increase in U.S. social commerce sales to $45.74 billion in 2022, representing a 24.9% growth. Furthermore, we forecast that this sector will expand to a $79.64 billion industry by 2025.

Some of the social media platforms wherein you can launch your social shop are:

• Facebook: Since 2020, small and medium-sized businesses can establish an online store at no cost.
• Instagram: Businesses can sell their items directly on Instagram thanks to Instagram Checkout.
• Pinterest: Pinterest enables brands to stimulate customer buying behavior using visually appealing product discovery.

#6 Aesthetically appealing designs will bring in more sales

If a customer hesitates to purchase a specific item online, it is generally about a high-ticket item. While just the image of a product helps in doing most of the selling, some require a bit more convincing.

Enter Aesthetic pleasure.

Online shopping is being revolutionized by visual commerce, particularly for furniture and other things that are hard for customers to picture in their homes. By allowing users to virtually arrange products in their surroundings, features like "see it in my space" help customers feel more confident about their purchases and less unsure. When paired with user-generated content—such as images, videos, and reviews—customers are given a thorough knowledge of how well a product fits their needs.

Final thoughts

Rather than blindly adopting every new ecommerce business trend, focus on experimenting with a few to discover what resonates with your customers. 

Shopify, the leading ecommerce platform, offers a range of plans to suit businesses of all sizes. If you ne, ed expert guidance to navigate the evolving ecommerce landscape and maximize your Shopify potential, Crawlapps Technologies Pvt. Ltd. is here to assist you. As one of the best Shopify agency, we can help you enhance your business's full potential.