E-commerce is a very challenging and competitive environment with continuously changing technologies. Buying and selling goods on the Internet refers to a wide variety of systems, data, and tools, such as online payment encryption, mobile shopping, and more. According to Statista, retail e-commerce sales are going to grow by 50% over the next 4 years.
Therefore, if you want your strategy to be effective, you need to know what is trending in the e-commerce technology infrastructure and development today and why. To keep you informed, we decided to explore the industry closely in this article and help you understand which innovations to go for.
Types of E-Commerce Models
Before diving into the e-commerce trends of 2022, you need to first understand that the decision of which innovation to follow depends on many factors, including the type of the e-commerce model you use.
- Business-to-Consumer (B2C)
This is a traditional retail model, which makes it so popular among the businesses. It encompasses transactions made between a business and consumer.
- Business-to-Business (B2B)
This e-commerce model has a similar function but directed towards another business. It combines sales made between businesses. For example, business relationships between a manufacturer and retailer or wholesaler fits under this type.
- Consumer-to-Consumer (C2C)
As for this model, it includes buying, selling, exchanging, and trading products or services between customers on the specially created platforms, like Amazon or eBay.
- Consumer-to-Business (C2B)
When a consumer makes products for business buyers, it is known as a C2B model. In other words, this is a reverse version of the B2C model.
- Business-to-Administration (B2A)
There are also the types that involve government or public administration conducting transactions with consumers or businesses, and B2A is one of them. In this case, the transactions are made between online businesses and administrations, while products and services are connected with social security, legal documents, etc. Businesses are intended to provide government agencies with services and contractors.
- Consumer-to-Administration (C2A)
Talking about this model, customers take the place of businesses, while the approach is the same as in the B2A type. It means that consumers sell their products or services to an administration. Such examples as online consulting for education, paying tuition to universities, or online tax preparation fall under C2A.
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E-Commerce Website Solutions and Development in Conjunction with New Trends
E-commerce development is a complex process, which requires you to consider various factors, including user experience and platform performance. That is why many businesses work with the outsourcing companies that can provide them with the turnkey offers and manage the whole e-commerce mobile app development or web development process according to the chosen e-commerce model. You can do the same if you want your model to work the way you need.
Whether you do it alone or decide to get help from a company with great experience, you will need to follow the options that are popular nowadays. You need to determine the right features for your project, understand which e-commerce framework will work best for you, and know how to match the innovation you chose with all the requirements. To find out which latest innovations can enhance your business, it is recommended to check if implementing one to your platform will not only correspond to the basic requirements but also will move them to the next level.
Thus, first of all, you should not forget about the full customer view. A client must have a full understanding of all the transactions and operations within your platform. If a trend can influence this factor in a positive way, you need to consider implementing it. Also, you need to pay attention to design and how much the visual presentation of your platform is attractive for consumers. Platform should not only ensure a responsive interface but also be flexible for modern design solutions.
Besides that, think about the integration of third-party solutions. While implementing a chosen innovation, you should still be able to integrate other third-party applications that improve your SEO, client management, marketing, and so on. It is even better if the choice has a positive impact on these features and factors. Security is something you should not forget as well. You need to make sure that your platform has all the required fraud prevention measures while using one of the new technologies.
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Which Technologies Affect E-Commerce
The industry in its current state continues to be invaded by new technologies, and the future of e-commerce looks promising. To maintain the satisfaction and engagement of a client, the e-commerce trends of 2022 offer the following:
M-Commerce
Also known as mobile commerce, m-commerce is a big part of e-commerce, and a great deal of companies follow the changes to allow customers to use their platforms from anywhere. It has already become more usual for businesses to use, which is why it can be considered not so innovative nowadays. However, not everybody understands the idea of going mobile and readily available on any device. Besides, it is always important to improve what we have now to be able to invent something new.
AR and VR
In contrast with already familiar m-commerce lie augmented reality and virtual reality. Implemented in e-commerce or m-commerce, these technologies can greatly change our image of shopping online. Thus, with AR, a customer can see if the couch they like fits the interior of the room by checking it through the camera on their mobile device. While with VR, you can create a whole separate virtual universe with your online shop to let the clients choose their products by touching them with the help of haptic gloves. These two innovations can be also combined with other technologies, which is why it slowly becomes progressively popular, totally transforming existing e-commerce.
AI and ML
Artificial intelligence and machine learning are growing trends among e-commerce businesses that are meant to provide clients with automated and instant customer service. AI analyzes the information about a consumer, including its gender, age, search and purchasing history, and other details, to suggest relevant product recommendations and provide them with a personalized shopping experience.
Gamification
Today, it is another trending solution that is used in many apps and in various spheres. When you give your customer a reward for certain actions they made on your platform, it improves their experience with your platform and makes it more entertaining. Different gamification elements with gaining points, sense of achievement, and getting rewards that grant discounts, vouchers, or other options encourage your clients to visit your platform frequently.
PWA
Outsourcing development companies with years of experience can offer many e-commerce web development services, and progressive web app is one of them. Simply speaking, this is a website that looks like a mobile app, which is why it is popular in e-commerce as well. A PWA (Progressive Web App) offers improved mobile experience, so going for this option is a smarter move than deploying an expensive native mobile app.
Voice Assistants
Having an assistant who can help in online shopping 24/7 and can find anything in a few seconds upgrades the experience of a customer into another level. A client no longer needs to be distracted with searching for your platform and typing the name of a product they want, while they can continue their work or home cleaning and ask a voice assistant to spend time on the Internet surfing. This technology is really convenient, because it can be used with many other innovations.
Conclusions
Choosing an e-commerce technology that will be used daily and for a long time is a crucial step for business. Your choice should be built on the size of your project, budget you have, possible integration with other software and apps, as well as round-the-clock technical support. If there is a technology that caught your eye, and it fits all your needs and requirements, there is no reason to reject the idea of implementing it into your business strategy.
