Read About 2022 eCommerce Personalization Trends
Two years have gone by since the beginning of Covid-19 and the rise of ecommerce shopping. Throughout 2020 and 2021, we witnessed unprecedented ecommerce growth with the rise in online shopping. We’ve put together an in-depth guide for 2022 ecommerce trends and how your business can prosper in the new year.
Consumer Based 2022 Ecommerce Trends
Voice AI
Voice assistants on personal devices such as smartphones, remotes, and smart speakers have come a long way since their debut back in 2014.
Today, nearly 90 million adults in the United States have smart speakers or some kind of voice assistant inside their homes. Because AI is continuing to grow in popularity, it makes sense that it will continue to have a big impact on online searching and shopping.
As voice AI continues to evolve, so will the marketing techniques of voice-activated shopping. Eventually, we will see sound-based marketing with a push towards personability and a more conversational buying experience for customers.
It’s projected that the voice-assistant speaker market will increase 55% and become a $4 billion industry during 2022.
How to Prepare:
- Optimize your website for voice search. Include information buyers will verbally use to find your brand/products.
- Create verbal ad promotions for popular music streaming services, podcasts, or include sound-focused add intervals for social media.
- Optimize your site for voice assistance and voice navigation.
Personalized Products
As time passes, technology advances. Prior to the pandemic, customers worldwide enjoyed their brick-and-mortar retail experiences and dabbled in internet buying here and there.
Now, in the aftermath of the pandemic, not only has internet shopping experienced extraordinary growth, but personalization has also become a rising expectation for buyers all over the world.
In 2020, as businesses quickly transitioned to an online storefront, customers wanted an alternative for the same personalized experience they had previously gotten in-store. This desire spurred the now growing popularity of customized packaging, personalized products, and a strategy other than the “one-experience-fits-all” digital approach.
To give you an example of a personalized shopping experience, let’s talk about Nike.
Customer loyalty is important to them, but they also understand that customers want to be treated as individuals. Nike’s “create your own sneaker” campaign was a response to this demand.
Customers may now create their own personalized Nike shoes in addition to purchasing their preferred Nike brand. This creates a personal buying experience for the shopper and encourages them to continue shopping with their brand.
Another great example is personalized quizzes. Chances are we’ve all either run into one or fallen victim to one.
While casually browsing the internet, you’ll come across an exciting quiz that will reveal which product best suits your needs.
Example:
- Which routine is best for you based on your skin type?
- Develop the perfect care basket based on your personality.
- Take this quick quiz and see which product is best for your hair!
Shopping is becoming more personalized. The more you can cater to specific customers, the more successful your brand will become.
AR (Augmented Reality) Shopping
Customers are increasingly eager to test or sample things before making a purchase. Previously only available in brick-and-mortar establishments, AR now allows buyers to “try” products before making a purchase by letting them experience products digitally.
With the rise of virtual and augmented reality, AR shopping is quickly catching the attention of shoppers everywhere. As AR is being integrated into ecommerce websites, it’s becoming easier than ever before to see, hold, and sometimes even view an item in your home before buying.
“71% of consumers said they would shop more often from brands with AR”
As VR and AR evolve and become more apparent in online shopping, it’s estimated that 120,000 stores will be utilizing these methods in 2022. Surpassing that, with the evolution of technology, we can assume that for 2022 ecommerce trends, AR shopping experiences could very well become a much more significant way to shop in the future.
Expert Tips:
- Familiarize yourself with the research of VR and AR technologies
- Look into potential VR or AR integrations to know your options
- Follow AR and VR shopping trends
- Set aside a budget for future integrations
Warehouse Based 2022 Ecommerce Trends
DTC Fulfillment and Omnichannel Selling
As online shopping continues to face unprecedented growth, brick-and-mortar stores and legacy brands alike are shifting towards direct-to-consumer (D2C) fulfillment as a response to the pandemic buying habits of consumers.
This not only keeps sales and profits up while people avoid physical locations, but it also allows businesses to give personalized products, better purchasing experiences and helps motivate customer loyalty.
With thousands of businesses putting emphasis on their D2C sales, DTC fulfillment is expected to bring in a profit of $151.3 million during 2022 – 15% more than what we’ve seen in 2021.
In addition to DTC, omnichannel fulfillment is equally hitting the ecommerce world by storm. During late 2019 and 2020, brick-and-mortar stores were hit with a quick realization that a digital storefront would determine their success through the pandemic, and forever after. With most stores making a collective switch to an online presence, some argued that this wouldn’t be enough.
As digital purchasing becomes more common, merchants must improve their digital methods of engaging with customers as well as the ways people interact with their ecommerce businesses. This includes utilizing both a digital and in-person storefront, social media, online retail platforms, voice AI, and much more.
“89% of customers won’t purchase an item unless they’ve seen it multiple times.”
By utilizing omnichannel fulfillment, you’re able to connect with your customers on a variety of different platforms, provide various buying experiences, and interact with customers multiple times across different channels throughout a single day.
It’s safe to say that as we continue to grow and invent new ways of experiencing online shopping, omnichannel fulfillment options will continue to rise in popularity.
Hybrid Fulfillment Goes Mainstream
Before 2020 and during, hybrid fulfillment methods such as BOPIS (buy online, pick-up in-store) wasn’t very popular. Now, contactless methods of delivery are on the rise as consumers want faster, easier ways of contactless shopping.
Hybrid fulfillment is making a comeback. With 60% of consumers stating they will use BOPIS methods more frequently during 2022, the spike in shipping costs is steering customers away from traditional shipping methods.
As prices continue to spike, wait times extend, and customers and businesses alike grow more desperate to receive their goods, it’s clear that offering hybrid fulfillment options will be a critical aspect for the upcoming year of 2022.
Embracing Automation
Automation was popular before the pandemic, but the labor shortages that have been caused by inflation have made it more important for stores, warehouses, and fulfillment centers to be run with automation.
By 2026, the automation market is expected to surpass a worth of $30 billion, nearly doubling since 2019.
“79% of companies say it’s likely they’ll invest in automation within 1-3 years.”
So, if the age of automation is here, what are companies to do with staff and what does this mean for employees around the world?
Automate the Dull and Dangerous
Robotic process automation (RPA), artificial intelligence (AI), and physical robots have the ability to automate existing activities that need human involvement. This will mainly revolve around repetitive, dull, and dangerous tasks that would better suit artificial AI.
Transferring these positions to automation will reduce on-the-job injuries, human error, and make processes more efficient.
Re-directing employees to more meaningful roles will offer more value-based rewards, allow staff to make genuine contributions, and motivate teamwork and collaboration. As more and more businesses, warehouses, and facilities become automated, the necessity for emotive, personal, and human-interactive professions will expand.
Expert Tip:
Partnering with a fulfillment company will expose you to advanced automation technology and save you from making the wrong purchases. By utilizing a 3PL, your ecommerce fulfillment process will be continuously fulfilled by up-to-date automation and managed by 3PL experts.
Delivery Based 2022 Ecommerce Trends
Premium Shipping Experiences
Another trend that we see moving into the new year is the rise of branded shipping experiences and more specifically, branded package tracking methods. On estimate, consumers track their package an average of 3.9 times after making their purchase.
Buyers are frequently redirected to carrier websites, subjecting them to website latency, misinformation, and other issues that might detract from their branded experience.
Throughout 2022 and the years that follow, it’s safe to assume that companies around the world will begin shifting package tracking information to their personal websites.
To learn how to provide a personalized delivery experience for your customer, check out our blog post where we go over how to create a memorable unboxing experience.
Drone Delivery
As delivery carriers and other means of traditional package transport continue to disrupt ecommerce stores, business owners are looking toward alternative and innovative solutions for shorter waiting times and more dependable delivery methods for customers.
Amazon has been testing the idea of delivering packaging by drones since 2014. Current supply chain issues are putting pressure on drone delivery.
Walmart began experimenting with drone delivery by providing Covid-19 self-testing kits to the homes of local customers throughout 2020. Customers in some parts of the US may order minor products like medication and infant necessities and have them delivered by drone in as little as thirty minutes.
We can safely predict that drone technology will become a key trend for 2022 as its potential benefits for both retail and ecommerce businesses are explored.
Eco-friendly Packaging
Customer expectations are shifting. Standards rise year after year as businesses around the world begin to offer eco-friendly packaging and sustainable ways to help the environment.
According to the 2020 Global Buying Green Report, 67% of consumers now consider themselves to be environmentally conscious and 59% said they are less likely to purchase a product that comes in hazardous packaging.
It’s important to keep up with ever-growing standards and shift your packaging materials to fit eco-friendly 2022 ecommerce trends
“Sustainability-marketed products grow 5.6x faster than conventionally marketed products.” – According to The NYU Stern School of Business
To learn more about sustainable packaging and how you can transition, check out our eco-friendly packaging guide.
Ecommerce-Based 2022 Trends
Subscription-Based Business Models
It’s no surprise that subscriptions are an ecommerce standard at this point. Consumers want personalized products quickly and easily. They want to be able to “set it and forget it” for consumable products.
That’s why we’ve seen a 90% growth increase in subscription sign-ups since 2019. The subscription-based business model is undoubtedly here to stay.
Subscription packages offer customers the ability to receive their favorite items without having to worry about placing an order every month. With an automated subscription, personalized products are sent to customers on an ongoing basis, increasing buyer loyalty and reducing the product anxiety of consumers.
“77% of consumers chose brands that offered personalized subscription services.”
Today, more than 50% of online shoppers are subscribed to an ecommerce subscription service. This number is likely to grow in the next year as more imaginative ways to offer recurring automatic purchases emerge.
Social Commerce
Social media has become a major selling channel as technology advances. Ecommerce companies are realizing that selling to customers on the platforms they use most is the best way to stay ahead of their competitors.
One of these options includes social commerce: the act of selling to your consumers directly through social media.
“51% of internet users ages 16-24 have used social media to browse and discover global brands.”
Did you know that 73% of businesses are already participating in social commerce and that 79% are expected to be participating within the next 3 years? Utilizing social media for online buying is crucial while entering this new age of ecommerce and digital shopping.
By 2025, social commerce is estimated to be a $79.6 billion industry, will your company be included in that figure?
Livestream Shopping
Livestream shopping, streaming ecommerce, or live selling occurs when a brand broadcasts new products to social media feeds. Buyers can bid on products or order directly from their screens while watching the live event.
Live-stream buying gives your consumers a sense of exclusivity and allows them to experience an item immediately from their smartphone.
Using live-stream shopping allows your company to build excitement for upcoming live video releases and entices your customers to tune in and watch the event. By using fun and captivating show hosts to introduce and review product launches, you can motivate customers to make a quick purchase before the live-steam ends.
Conquer 2022 Ecommerce Trends with Falcon Fulfillment
We’re headed into 2022 with the mindset that anything can happen and to expect the unexpected. If we’ve learned anything from the lessons 2020 taught us, it’s that things can change in the blink of an eye.
Falcon Fulfillment is ready to provide your brand with stability, security, and success for the times ahead. By using our scalable fulfillment services, you’ll be able to keep your ecommerce ahead of the curve and ready to take on anything the world may throw at us next.
What do you say, are you looking for 2022 success?
