There is no doubt in the fact that smartphones have been instrumental in making the internet an integral part of our lives. Given how rapid the development of mobile technology is, it is only obvious that the world of mobile e-commerce trends will move forward at the same pace.
Just a few years ago, smartphones were predominantly used for messaging and casual entertainment. Now, they have enough processing power to be capable of doing everything that a normal PC can when it comes to surfing the internet and using e-commerce platforms.
The trends that follow the chain of advancement usually involve using the additional capabilities that mobile devices come with. From advanced augmented reality to searching for items using voice commands, let us explore what the current trends for e-commerce apps are.
AR Technology
Augmented Reality (AR) is an emerging technology that has truly turned the tide for businesses that deal in physical products. It bridges the gap between brick-and-mortar stores and online e-commerce sites by allowing users to experience products virtually at any time and place.
The use of AR has been the most prolific with furniture retailers to help consumers see what furniture would look like in their environment. Because AR only augments the real world, it is more accessible when compared to VR, where you need a dedicated setup to immerse yourself in the virtual world.
Being able to get a feel of what products would be like in person goes a long way in helping prospective customers make a buying decision. Having AR to demonstrate the functionality also builds initial trust with the consumer about your products, as it gives you an edge over the competition.
Payment Options Integration
Integrating as many payment options as you can puts customers at ease and gives them peak flexibility to buy your products. It is no secret that the biggest stage of cart abandonment is the checkout stage, where users tend to cancel the transaction if it turns out to be cumbersome.
When there is a lack of payment options, customers tend to abandon the purchase entirely as they are barred from making the transaction happen. While having so many payment options on your app is a monumental task, it is one that is increasingly becoming essential for e-commerce.
Making the whole process of checking out is also beneficial as it reduces the chances for customers to be fed up with entering details so often. Allowing users to save transactional information can reduce the process of purchase to mere seconds.
Advisory Chatbots
Ever since the advent of ChatGPT, the integration of web chatbots on sites has become very prevalent. The utility of such chatbots extends beyond customer support, as they can be instrumental in helping customers navigate through your selection of products.
Even using a simple large language model is a massive leap over menu-based chatbots that limit the functionality of the chatbot. Giving users the freedom to consult a chatbot regarding inquiries about the products and their functionalities can help you get more sales through the interactions facilitated.
Using chatbots in this manner makes the whole process of doing business easier for the customers and the vendors alike. The successful implementation requires the chatbot to have enough data about the products to safely deliver the required information.
Social Commerce
Social commerce has been an effective strategy to generate leads ever since mobile activity has been amplified by social media platforms. Knowing the number of active users on social media, social commerce offers businesses a sales arena like no other.
Because users can share details about your products with just a couple of taps, referral sales are also more common with social commerce. Leveraging social media for sales also helps you build a consistent audience by having them follow your business profile to know more.
Users on social media also share a lot of information, which helps you advertise your products in a more targeted fashion. This makes it very easy for you to reach out to your target market with your range of products without a lot of trouble.
Omnichannel Strategy
More and more companies have been following an omnichannel retail plan to cover all fronts of business as time goes on, and for good reason. The omnichannel business model allows you to give your customers an all-encompassing experience with your brand.
Promoting your physical stores through web platforms is also a great way to drive business to different avenues. You may even be able to persuade customers better when they are invited to experience your products physically.
Either way, the omnichannel approach gives customers and businesses greater flexibility to operate. The omnichannel approach can also remedy any fulfillment troubles that a business may be facing, leading to better customer satisfaction.
Voice Search
Searching for items is often very tiresome on mobile devices for the majority of users due to the cramped UI and smaller keyboard. This is why there has been an overall increase in users using voice-based commands to navigate through apps and websites.
Not only is using the voice to navigate faster, but it is also more convenient for users to find exactly what they are looking for. Almost all online platforms, including e-commerce sites, have been integrating the ability to use voice search for this very reason.
Conclusion
The latest mobile e-commerce trends keep the end-user at the forefront of its objectives as it should. These trends are fixated on enhancing the customer experience and making the entire shopping journey a lot faster and effortless.
Trends like preset payment options and AR technology are great examples of how mobile e-commerce is moving forward at an unprecedented pace. There is also a shift of e-commerce moving away from traditional web platforms to mobile apps to integrate better features.
These shifts in e-commerce standards present a tremendous opportunity for new and experienced businesses alike to capitalize on and expand their businesses. As time passes, new trends emerge and yet again change the landscape of e-commerce as a whole.
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