COVID-19 has resulted in consumers taking the eCommerce industry by storm. As lockdown and social distancing measures were erected, many consumers found themselves unable to pop down to the store for every small purchase. It’s now become the norm to have your shopping delivered directly to your doorstep.
The convenience and options of online shopping are unrivaled, and before the outbreak of the pandemic, eCommerce was already on the rise. Spurred by COVID-related demand, the industry exploded — “COVID-19-related boosts in online shopping resulted in an additional $174.87 billion in ecommerce revenue in 2020,” according to one analysis.
However, with a booming industry comes increased competition and the need for strategies to increase and maintain financial returns. Let’s explore ways to strengthen cross-border eCommerce through analyzing its trends, optimizing the customer experience, and implementing successful marketing campaigns.
Know the Trends
In a rapidly changing consumer landscape, it may seem impossible to stay on top of the trends. Fortunately, you can analyze consumer habits and shopping patterns to better predict and capture your target demographic. Click here for more mind-blowing data on eCommerce for 2021.
Some of the top eCommerce trends this year include:
- Using video or virtual reality to bring the in-store experience to the computer monitor.
- Integrating loyalty programs into the online landscape.
- Taking advantage of social media for ads, shopping platforms, and more.
- Adding more payment options, like Apple Pay.
- Emphasizing ethical and sustainable commerce.
- Making use of creative advertising strategies.
By staying on top of industry trends, you can provide a better shopping experience for consumers and enhance your online shop. As in-person stores dwindle in number, finding a way to translate the experience virtually is paramount in keeping current customers and locating new ones. Expanded payment options and out-of-the-box advertising can also help you find customers you never would have otherwise.
How to Optimize the Customer Experience
Of course, those leads won’t go anywhere without the optimal customer experience for eCommerce. Whether you have your own eCommerce platform or are using a third-party service like Shopify, you should ensure your site search is user-friendly, your product pages detailed and easily navigable, your payment options flexible, and your store optimized for the mobile shopping experience.
A sleek, efficient web design is the most desirable user interface, especially for the quarter of the American population living with a disability. Therefore, it makes sense that decluttering your pages, using targeting copywriting, and investing in superior product photography are some of the best practices for Shopify product pages.
Other tips to help your eCommerce store flourish include analyzing in-depth customer research, incorporating video content, and improving the user experience through chatbots. By automating as much as possible, the consumer finds what they need at a click of a button, and you don’t have to waste money and time on unnecessary personnel.
Improved Logistics
By the end of 2021, eCommerce is expected to account for 15% of all retail sales. Given the rise in cross-border eCommerce, the industry is now bigger than ever before, making enhanced logistics essential to achieving international success.
It all starts with the manufacturing process, and top eCommerce trends are constantly shifting to cater to the individual consumer’s needs and whims. This year, trends focus on improving the customer experience through direct sales (D2C), payment streamlining, and overall, constant evolution. With order errors being one of the largest challenges faced by eCommerce businesses, real-time data integration is also stepping forward to take the place of human personnel.
Besides the impact of cross-border eCommerce on manufacturing, there’s also the supply part of the chain to take into consideration. Cutting costs and improving efficiency are the names of the game, and careers in driverless trucking and technology allow you to do just that. Amid a truck driver shortage, IT specialists and big data can rise to the challenge. Driverless automation also means products can be delivered more quickly, with less risk of breakdown or accident due to human error.
Marketing for Future Success
The customer is king, and marketing is your chance to connect with consumers through relevant messaging, promotional offers, loyalty programs, and more. Making use of social media platforms and improving your email campaigns are both ways to make big differences without breaking your marketing budget. Sustainability efforts are also valued by today’s consumers, many of whom prefer to pay more for ethically sourced products. The key is to cater to consumer desires, even as they’re constantly altered.
One thing is for certain in today’s modern world: change is inevitable, and not even the eCommerce industry is immune. Over the past year, eCommerce has benefited greatly from pandemic-related booms, but as consumer habits regain some sense of normalcy, businesses must find ways to manage cross-border eCommerce smoothly and efficiently if they wish to stay in the game for the long haul.
