The eCommerce market is something that brands of all sizes are constantly keeping an eye on, especially because there are consistent changes and upgrades within the online shopping industry. Platforms like Shopify have revolutionized the eCommerce game, allowing one-man shops to easily build an online store and start selling relatively quickly, proving the point that it's an ever-changing vertical that will only continue to expand as new technologies and tactics are developed.
When things do progress as quickly as eCommerce, it can be difficult to keep up with the changes and predict what's going to happen next, but the great people at the chat shop put together this infographic that aims to predict where the eCommerce market is headed. And if you're in this industry, you'll be smiling by the time you finish reading this.
Let's start with the most important aspect of eCommerce, which is customer experience.
One area that immediately stands out is the fact that brick and mortar stores still have a pretty big impact on customer experience, as 56% of the shoppers surveyed said they're less likely to purchase an item online if they can't pick it up in store, while 62% reported that they're more likely to buy from an online shop if they know they can return their item in the store. Clearly, having an eCommerce shop and a standalone store provides the best customer and shopping experience, and it makes sense. It's quicker-and usually cheaper-to pick up or return an item at the brick and mortar store than it is to have it shipped.
In terms of social media, the infographic shows that there's certainly intent coming from Twitter, but what stands out is the fact that brands using Shopify are flocking to Facebook to open up their social media stores on their brand's Facebook page, providing them with another channel to drive sales and increase ROI. And with Instagram opening up their advertising platform and allowing advertisers to incorporate "Shop Now" buttons as a call to action, you can bet that the social eComm realm is primed for expansion.
Finishing up, it should be to no one's surprise that 30% of shoppers abandon websites that aren't optimized, which further highlights the need for a mobile responsive website so that brands can provide a great user experience to shoppers. And once customers do checkout, they could be seeing their items being delivered by drones, led by Amazon's charge. Roughly 400 million of Amazon's Northeast orders will be eligible for delivery via drones this year, with the criteria being that the packages weigh five pounds or less and are within a 10 mile radius of the shipping location.
So there you have it. If you're an eCommerce brand and you're looking for the latest trends and insight on where the market is going, check out the rest of the infographic and start preparing your strategy for 2016.
Infographic via the chat shop
Thumbnail image via Shutterstock