7 ecommerce trends we will see more of in 2014

7 Ecommerce Trends we will see more of in 2014ı

by: Joey Plunkett

What You Need To KnowıIn 2014 new ecommerce tools will tear down old barriers that previously gave physical high street retailers their last advantages. High street will need to shift its role from selling to creating experiences as online first retailers start to build their own physical locations.ı

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This will all be expedited by a huge jump forward in the way companies use data, a jump that will make online shopping more personal and more

customizable.ı

7 Ecommerce Trends we will see in 2014ı

#1 Reduced Delivery Time ıOne of the biggest problems people have had with ecommerce is its lack of immediacy – the fact that you have to wait for that awesome product you just ordered. In 2014 this problem will be largely negated through a growing trend of companies adopting rapid shipping methods to cut down on shipping time. ı

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Companies like Shutl will work with local shipping networks to get you your online order in minutes. ı


“Imagine ordering something and having it show up to your door or office in a few hours.”

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Humayun Khan @HumayunNKhan, Content Crafter at Shopifyı


Amazon Prime registered 1 million new customers in December 2013. There are now 20 million Amazon users who are

eligible to get next day or two day shipping.ı

andıAmazon Prime customers spent 53%

more per year than those who are not signed up.ı


#2 No More Home Delivery Problems ıMany online shoppers use ecommerce as a way to get shopping done despite their busy schedules. However, this same busy schedule doesn’t always allow for those same shoppers to be at home during the day to receive their ordered goods. ı

Seeing this problem, companies like BufferBox and Amazon have started services that allow shipping to secured lockers where customers can pick up their orders at their convenience.ı

This may not seem like the worlds biggest innovation but it removes one of the biggest online shopping dilemmas, and will lead to higher conversion rates for online retailers.ı


Buffer Box - www.bufferbox.comı


#3 End of Impersonal EcommerceıBefore 2014 the customer service representatives were largely missing from the online stores. This year they will be plugged into the online shopping experience and your business needs to take advantage of this trend. ı

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Live chat services like Olark offer you the chance to interact with your customers in a friendly and informative way, at the precise moment they need your help. Live chat has been shown to increase conversion rates and it provides a service that was, until this point, missing from ecommerce – real, responsive customers service. ı


#4 Easy CheckoutıIn 2014 Amazon Checkout is going to gain prominence in the world or ecommerce. If this is news to you and your online business, make sure to read up on Amazon’s recent move to challenge PayPal and establish its own payment option. It’s a big deal!ı

According to the Baymard Institute 67.75% of shopping charts are abandoned- a main reason for this is customers’ security concerns over businesses handling theircredit card information. ı

Piggybacking off of Amazon’s strong brand could significantly reduce this rate for your business. ı

This service, which is available to partner websites, makes it trivial for customers to checkout, pay, and enter theirshipping information for online purchases ı


“My answer: Adoption of Amazon Checkout”

– David Cheng @davidpcheng, CEO and

Cofounder of Shareblocı


#5 High Street TransformedıWith the previously mentioned changes to online business coming in 2014, smart high street retailers need to make several changes to stay ahead of the curve and maintain a competitive edge on their competition. These businesses need to envision what the role of their physical store is when many of the remaining barriers to shopping online are stripped away. ı

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With B2C ecommerce increasing every year it is inevitable that the role of tradition retail outlets will change. The best ones will work to become destinations for their fans and customers, places to interact, learn, and explore, while concentrating on maximizing online sales.ı


“Physical retail will transform to serve more as showrooms where customers come in to experience the product in person, but the order will be placed at a kiosk

and delivered to their home.”

Humayun Khan @HumayunNKhan, Content Crafter at Shopifyı


Bonus – In Store Comparison ShoppingıIt has been reported that 63% of shoppers have used their phones to price compare while shopping. ı

We are moving towards a world where your in-store shoppers can price check against your products, order from your completion, and then have their order arrive at their house before they return home.ı


econsultancy.com/blog/62918-63-of-smartphone-owners-use-their-device-to-search-for-information-while- shoppingı


#6 Omni-Channel RetailingıSurprisingly, many retailers that were born online will start seeing and benefiting from the advantages of having physical locations this year. ı

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This is ultimately a manifestation of online-first retailers seeing an inherent advantage their more traditional high street competitors have, an opportunity to interact with their customers in person and a chance to create an experience around their brand.ı

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Two Good Examples

www.warbyparkerclasstrip.com/ı

www.bonobos.com/guideshopı


#7 More Personalized Experience For CustomersıWith the advent of real-time analytics you will instantly have the data you need to view and understand your sites performance. This will be paired with an unprecedented level of data on your customers, allowing you to create the best experience and improve conversion rates. ı

Smart retailers will use ultra personalized data to quickly customize online experiences for their customers – think more than just providing a couple recommendations based on what they

previously viewed – to provide a truly unique shopping experience. ı


Thank you for reading!


7 ecommerce trends we will see more of in 2014

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