Uncovering the Top Trends Driving the Ecommerce Industry
The way people shop online is changing. They want a unique and memorable experience when they shop, not just a simple transaction. This has caused the eCommerce industry to change and use new technologies like personalization and virtual reality.
However, these changes can be difficult for businesses to keep up with. Headless eCommerce platforms help businesses to use the latest trends and stay current. They provide a flexible and scalable system that can handle the changes in the eCommerce industry.
In this blog, we'll delve into the most exciting trends in eCommerce and how headless eCommerce platforms can support them, so you can take your eCommerce business to the next level and offer a seamless shopping experience that exceeds customer expectations.
Augmented Reality - Get a taste of offline shopping in the online store
Augmented reality (AR) is a cutting-edge trend in online shopping that is gaining widespread attention. With AR, customers can get a preview of a product before making a purchase. Virtually, they can examine its size, color, and other details up close, enabling them to make an informed buying decision.
For eCommerce businesses, integrating AR into their online stores has become easier with the use of headless eCommerce platforms. Headless eCommerce platforms can seamlessly integrate AR tools into websites using APIs such as ARKit for iOS, ARCore for Android, or WebAR.
This integration enables customers to have an engaging shopping experience that helps them visualize the product and make more informed decisions about their purchases.
Businesses have experimented with the ability of AR to create high-quality experiences. A real-life example of this is IKEA's Place app, which uses AR to allow customers to place virtual furniture in their homes and see how it looks before making a purchase.
Keyword and Content - Headless CMS can give the brand SEO support
SEO has become an important trend in eCommerce businesses because it helps businesses find more customers online. With more people shopping online, the goal is to be easily found by potential customers on search engines.
SEO makes the website appear higher in search results, making it easier for customers to find what they desire. This has caused a growing focus on SEO in the eCommerce industry.
Headless eCommerce platforms with a strong content management system (CMS) can help with SEO. Placement of the right keywords in the website with relevant content, and keeping the website clean and organized. These actions can increase your brand's visibility on search engines.
Levi's is a great example of a headless eCommerce store that effectively uses SEO to reach customers online. When you search for " jeans" on Google, their website appears at the top of the search results, bringing in more customers to find their products.
Machine Learning - AI understands the product preferences of customers
The trend of using machine learning in eCommerce has become popular as it helps businesses understand their customers' in-depth choices and preferences. Machine learning algorithms can make personalized product recommendations to customer shopping habits. As a result, a better shopping experience for the customers.
Headless eCommerce platforms can easily integrate with machine learning models because of their API-based architecture. Saas providers like Bloomreach and Algolia make it easy for eCommerce stores to provide personalized searches. Both service providers can integrate with a headless eCommerce platform.
Bloomreach uses machine learning algorithms to personalize the shopping experience for customers by analyzing their behavior and preferences. On other hand, Algolia uses advanced machine learning algorithms to understand customer intent and provide relevant search results.
A real-life example of this is Amazon's product recommendation engine. Amazon has been using machine learning technology to improve its customer experience for many years. One way the company has incorporated machine learning is through its personalized recommendation system.
On top of that, it uses algorithms to analyze customer data, including past purchases and browsing history, to create tailored experiences for each customer.
Chatbots that provide solutions to immediate problems of customers
Chatbots are a new trend in eCommerce. They help customers quickly find answers to their questions and make decisions about what to buy. If you are short on time and need to quickly locate a specific item on a website, chatbots can be a helpful tool to assist you with your search.
Chatbots are designed to provide efficient and accurate information. As result, allows you to quickly find what you need without having to navigate through the website You can save time and get the answers you need promptly.
Headless eCommerce stores can use chatbots to make shopping easier for customers, by giving them instant answers to their questions.
Types of chatbots used in headless eCommerce include:
- Product Information: Chatbots can answer customer queries about product details, pricing, and availability.
- Order Tracking: Customers can track the status of their orders and receive updates on delivery dates and times.
- Customer Service: Chatbots can handle customer service inquiries, such as order cancellations and returns.
- Recommendations: Chatbots can make personalized product recommendations based on the customer's browsing and purchasing history.
- Payment and Shipping: Chatbots can assist with payment and shipping inquiries, helping customers make informed purchasing decisions.
Creating a Memory of Customer Activity - Beginning of Personalization
Personalization has become an essential trend in the eCommerce industry. Tracking customer activities such as purchase history, browsing behavior, and preferences. Through this eCommerce platforms can offer personalized shopping experiences.
Headless eCommerce platforms make it easy to collect and store customer data. This data can be utilized to create a memory, which can be analyzed to create a unique and tailored shopping experience for each customer.
With this customer data, businesses can provide a more engaging and satisfying shopping experience, leading to increased customer loyalty and higher sales. Sephora, Adidas, Target, Walmart, Nike, Best Buy, Zara, H&M, Forever 21, and Macy's are the few brands that have successfully created maps for their customer behavior.
Mobile App experience increases Customer Purchases in the Store
The popularity of mobile apps in the eCommerce industry is on the rise, with a significant number of customers turning to these apps for their shopping needs.
A recent survey showed that 59% of customers who use mobile apps make purchases at least once a week, demonstrating the convenience and ease of shopping through these apps.
To stay ahead in the evolving eCommerce industry, businesses should consider investing in a headless eCommerce platform. As it offers a seamless mobile app experience for any customer base. Additionally, also helps in attracting and retaining customers, thereby boosting their overall sales.
Video Exploration on the User-friendly Nature of your Online Store
Videos are becoming increasingly important in the world of eCommerce. Businesses too recognize the potential, to promote their online store through videos.
Video in eCommerce has been shown to significantly impact consumer behavior. Research has shown that videos can increase conversion rates by up to 80%, making them a powerful tool for business holders.
Hence, they are leveraging video hosting platforms such as YouTube and Video in tandem with a CMS with products and showcasing them on their websites.
This approach empowers customers to get a closer and more detailed look at products in action, aiding them in making informed purchase decisions. Moreover, videos are an effective tool for building trust and forging a personal connection with customers.
Communicate more with Easy Navigation in an Online Store
Easy navigation is critical for creating a positive customer experience in an eCommerce store. A cluttered and confusing website can lead to dissatisfaction. Resulting in customers quickly leaving the site and searching for alternative options.
To mitigate this, businesses must invest in a comprehensive CMS that integrates with their eCommerce platform. This ensures that customers have an easy time navigating the site and can find what they are looking for quickly and efficiently.
Studies have shown that customers are more likely to make a purchase when they can easily find what they are looking for. A well-designed website with clear navigation improves the customer experience. This again helps businesses increase sales and conversions for the business.
Headless eCommerce platforms can support these exciting trends in the eCommerce industry. Thus providing a seamless shopping experience for customers. From augmented reality to machine learning, these trends aim to enhance the customer experience and offer personalized solutions. By using a headless eCommerce platform, businesses can easily integrate these trends and stay ahead of the competition.