The Future of eCommerce
eCommerce - Where is it Headed?
It seems like second nature at this point to go on a website and just know what the “checkout” button leads you to. Ecommerce is so engrained in our lives and technological footprint, companies would never be the same without it.
Unless you live under a rock or have never picked up a phone or computer since 1994, ecommerce is any commercial transaction conducted online. With how much technology has evolved, that can be done from your finger tips on a mobile device, on your couch from your laptop, and even spoken out loud with voice-controlled smart speakers, such as Amazon’s Alexa.
With the process becoming so easy, where is the future of ecommerce headed?
Do we really need physical shopping carts anymore to sell and purchase products? In fact, shopping carts have grown in size at supermarkets and shopping malls because consumers are more likely to fill them up – even when they did not intend to buy so much product. So what happens now with all of eCommerce taking over how regular customers buy their groceries, clothing, and other supplies? Ecommerce must evolve as well.
Why Pay Online?
With all things in our lives nowadays, the goal for ecommerce is to make things easier and more personalized for its customers. See, people are not buying and spending less, it is that they are doing it in a way that is more convenient for them. With people having more than one job or a family to take care of or an education to attain, it seems like there is less time to go physically shopping for groceries or a dress at a store.
A perfect example of this is a day that might as well be its own standalone holiday. On November 28, 2005, Cyber Monday was created to fulfill this need. Why go crazy shopping and trampling people over on Black Friday when you could do it from the comforts of your phone or computer? Since its creation, Cyber Monday has been engrained in the minds of consumers for its deals all over the internet. In just 2017 alone, Cyber Monday made about $6.59 billion dollars, while Black Friday only made $5.03 billion. It is an ecommerce playground.
Essentially, ecommerce just makes things easier and, possibly more important, personalized. The more you purchase online, the more a website knows what kind of shoes you like or what book you should read next based on your purchases. With such personalization, it is like technology is guessing what you should buy next – and is almost always successful in making sure users do.
The Future of eCommerce Checkout Button
More and more people are using their electronic devices to make online purchases. Now, not only is an online checkout button is important, but so are the ways to get a customer to want to press it in the first place. Whether it’s a cute shirt a user saw on Instagram or you need to use an app to buy groceries on the way home, eCommerce is no longer what it was in 1994.
So how does eCommerce handle the change in culture? It becomes more simple and accessible. Here are a few ways that eCommerce has continually evolved, almost as fast as technology has.
"1-Click" Phenomenon
You’ve seen this button on Amazon and other retail websites and may or may not have accidentally clicked on it. Suddenly, you’ve got a confirmation email for something you never intended to purchase. Or maybe, if you already know what you want, you purposefully click on it and go about your day. Either way, the customer has their order in a matter of minutes, maybe even seconds. With this button, eCommerce succeeds in being both quick and successful. If you did click on the button by accident, the website still made a purchase and at the very least, lets you know how quick and effective it is.
Credit Cards and Cash Back
While it is not a direct transaction, companies that have credit cards with cash back also help boost eCommerce. For example, a credit card at BB&T will not only help its customers use cash back to pay off their credit card, but also gives them the option of getting a gift card to a restaurant or store. If food or clothing isn’t what they want, users can also use that cash back to purchase items such as a GoPro. Amazon has a similar program with its own credit card, but the cash back can only be used on their website. With its growing inventory catering to all people, if a user frequently uses Amazon, an Amazon credit card would be the perfect fit.
Social Media Shopping
If you own a store or a clothing company and you are not advertising on Instagram, you’re missing out. A picture of a dress isn’t just a picture anymore, click on it and the price for it comes up. Suddenly you’re paying for the dress straight from Instagram – and you haven’t even left the app!
Started only in March of 2018, both Instagram and Pinterest offer these click-to-buy options that are revolutionizing how businesses show off their product – and increase eCommerce as a result. While it is only a start, perhaps this will pave the way for how many more in-app purchases are available to customers and how that’ll impact the world of online businesses as we know it.
The Delivery Gods
Whether it’s Instacart, Uber Eats, or Postmates, these apps are revolutionizing how customers get things delivered to them. With an app, you can order your groceries while you’re at lunch and have them at your house by the time you get home from work. You might even stop going to the grocery store all together! No need to drive anymore to McDonald's at midnight for fries when you can just have it delivered. Suddenly, your apps and delivery people are your new best friends without even stepping outside of the house.
Do You Want to Get into eCommerce?
The future of eCommerce is, quite literally, in our hands. If you need help breaking into the world of online transactions for your website, social media, and mobile apps, look no further than Perfectly Optimized. With our knowledge of how businesses, websites, and SEO works, they will be sure to bring customers to your site, and leave with a confirmation number for a purchase. You too can be a key player in the eCommerce world, with some perfect optimization.