By 2024, the e-commerce website development market will not only have overcome the challenges caused by the pandemic, but will also have grown considerably and become even more robust. The growth rate predicted for the e-commerce sector for the period 2014 to 2021 has materialized, and the market has reached a volume of 4.9 trillion US dollars. This is a significant increase from the 1.3 trillion US dollars in 2014, representing a remarkable growth of 265 %. The industry's upward trend shows no signs of slowing down, underlining the continued importance of online retail.
Global e-commerce sales continue to dominate the retail market, and online sales are expected to account for around 17.5 % of total global retail sales by 2024. This data highlights the huge growth potential for the development of e-commerce platforms in the coming years, making it an opportune time for businesses to establish an online presence.
We are here to give you an exclusive insight into the most important trends in e-commerce web development for the future and beyond. Our goal is to inspire you and awaken new ideas in you. Prepare yourself for a successful business in the years to come.
Top eCommerce website development trends
1ST PWA
Progressive web apps are a trend that needs to evolve as they are more profitable and beneficial than native apps. The use of devices and websites has fueled the rise of eCommerce. PWA combines mobile and web and offers business owners benefits such as a higher average conversion rate, more mobile traffic, better customer engagement and a better customer experience.
2. IT outsourcing
While it may seem out of place in this list of trends in ecommerce web development, COVID has led to companies placing more emphasis on improving the customer experience rather than wasting time and energy on backend data. It is undeniable that outsourcing your e-commerce web development project to experts guarantees you a feature-rich, highly functional and efficient application.
3. AR/VR
As COVID-19 reduces the number of visits to physical stores, customers miss the real experience of seeing the products. The combination of AR/VR is the order of the day if you want to effectively bind your customers to your company.
In the world of optics, for example, it is no longer necessary to visit a store. You simply go to the online store and with just three clicks you can view the glasses of your choice. The situation is similar with virtual reality, where the user is immersed in the digital world. With a virtual reality headset, which is used in the real estate industry, you can move through your future home without it already being real. This is a major technological achievement and will be one of the top trends in mobile commerce in 2021.
On e-commerce websites, companies use augmented reality much more frequently than virtual reality, as virtual reality requires a VR mask to fully immerse yourself in reality, while augmented reality only requires a camera and a screen.
We believe that augmented reality will be used much more frequently on websites and in e-commerce than virtual reality due to its accessibility and user-friendliness.
4. voice search
Voice search has been around since 2011 and has never been as popular on the internet as it is today. More than 30 percent of search queries on the internet are now made verbally. No wonder, because people speak an average of 140 words per minute, while they do not write an average of 40 words. With Alexa and Google Home, which can now be found in many homes and offices, using voice search has become even more convenient.
In the world of e-commerce, shopping by voice search is becoming increasingly widespread. The advantages of this new trend are
- Speed
- Time saving
- Facilitate searching in complex environments (in the car, at home, etc.)
- Immediate response
If you adapt to these e-commerce technology trends when developing your mobile or web application, your website will be of higher quality, more visible and attract more visitors.
5. virtual means of payment
In recent years, the e-commerce market has evolved with the proliferation of different payment methods. One in two people have already shopped online, and any business with a website or marketplace could benefit from the new payment methods that are popular with users.
The new payment methods on e-commerce websites are diverse and varied, making shopping easier, more efficient and more secure:
- Mobile payment (Apple pay, Android pay, Samsung pay, etc.)
- Wallets (digital wallet)
- Payment by e-mail or SMS (this method is used together with authentication in your bank's mobile application)
- Biometric identification (Touch ID)
- In-app purchase: online purchase without leaving the original application (YouTube, Snapchat, Instagram)
6. chatbots
This technology uses artificial intelligence to better understand what the customer is looking for. It is increasingly being used by companies to create an interactive space with their customers. Without the need for a human to sit behind the screen, the chatbot offers suggestions and advice to customers shopping online to assist them with various processes and transactions.
The use of chatbots - one of the best trends in eCommerce web development - offers a number of advantages:
- Constant availability: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week;
- Immediate response: Quick answers to frequently asked questions;
- Sales dynamics: Provide your customers with offers that are perfectly tailored to their needs;
- Better targeting: Gather information to better understand customer preferences.
7 Mobile websites vs. mobile apps
The world is experiencing an increase in mobile shopping for a number of reasons. These include the fact that most people take their mobile devices with them everywhere, from the office to the restroom. In addition, frictionless shopping experiences via apps are making mobile shopping easier, as is the proliferation of mobile wallet solutions such as Apple Pay and Google Wallet.
Mobile is particularly important for newcomers, as it has been found that small retailers have up to 30 % higher mobile conversion rates than large retailers.
Not taking mobile devices into account when developing your eCommerce platform can be detrimental to your business.
Mobile shopping has a bright future by 2020 - 66% of Americans believe mobile payments will replace card payments and 61% say the same about cash. And that's not all: by 2021, 54 % of online sales will be made via cell phones.
Conclusion
These eCommerce web development trends will prepare you for the near future. You can integrate them into your current practices and include them in your eCommerce platform development strategy for better results. Not only will these trends prepare you to meet consumer demands, but they will also give your eCommerce portal a competitive edge.
Need help implementing these eCommerce technology trends? Contact our team of experts to integrate these latest technologies into your eCommerce website or application.
