Ecommerce Trends 2024

People from different cultures, geographic areas and backgrounds are now able to communicate with one another on a regular basis - thanks to advances in technology like social media and video calling.

In essence, the world has shrunk to the size of a global village! As a direct consequence, the practice of purchasing and selling goods online has also become commonplace. Ecommerce is one of the most time and money-efficient ways to conduct commercial transactions, making it one of the most coveted business techniques. Building an Ecommerce business branch can help you sell more products, reach a wider audience and save your operational costs - regardless of the type of business, the product you sell, or the size of your company. Having said that, to make the most of it, you are aware of the recent happenings in Ecommerce, right?

Last year, the latest Ecommerce trends included the metaverse, User-generated content, subscription models, green consumerism and cryptocurrency adoption. Read on for the five most significant Ecommerce Trends for the year 2024. Ready?
 

Trend 1: Putting The Custom In Customer With Hyper-personalization

Hyper-personalization is already here – but the future holds even more promise! Consumers today are increasingly looking for tailored shopping experiences and personalized solutions, right? Studies by Twilio say that 62% of consumers expect personalization and a brand will lose their loyalty without it. Naturally, hyper-personalization is a major recurring trend in Ecommerce in 2024!

There are more than 6 billion smartphone users, actively browsing and having access to the internet. Now creating personalized content and offers for each one is uniquely challenging for brands that walk the walk in Ecommerce. However, retailers match up to this by using a combination of customer data and predictive analytics to decode online shopping trends and customer preferences. Moreover, AI-powered personalization makes it possible to create custom and targeted experiences using data, analytics, AI and automation.

For instance, companies like Netflix, Amazon and Mastercard are heavily leveraging customer data to create customized experiences for them. We will see more businesses adopt this in 2024!

TechDogs’ Takeaway: We bring you three easy ways to personalize your user’s experience today! First, leverage demographic information such as gender, age, geographical location, etc., as experiences personalized using such data go a long way in gaining your client’s trust. Second, deploy AI/ML to identify and automate search results to create dynamic experiences for consumers. This will mean investing in automation tools and replacing them in places that would otherwise need manual intervention. Third, customize experiences using clickstream data and create relevant product recommendations. To create truly personalized experiences, you must begin right from the start of the consumer journey and use clickstream data to generate personalized suggestions based on the user’s real-time journey on your site.
 

Trend 2: Everything Is Live With Social And Livestream Commerce

Social commerce has existed for a while but soon, it will merge with social media live streaming. This will create a real-time environment that does not take the user out of the social platform. So, live commerce will become the modern version of those old TV shopping ads – only now they will be led by your favorite influencers and stars to leverage online platforms to sell products in real time!

“In the beginning, Ecommerce was really about getting commodity products online as cheaply as possible. Now, we’re moving into the more exciting phase of ecommerce, where it’s about emotional products – the things people really cherish.” – Jason Goldberg, founder of Fab.com said about the trend of consumers being upsold products through live commerce on social media. Today, more than 74% of people use social media to make a purchasing decision and your brand cannot ignore this trend any longer.

Today users want everything live and interactive. With video-format consumption growing and customer engagement on social media rising each year, livestream commerce will be a prominent trend to invest in. The trend is already huge in China and India and is slowly picking up pace in the US. Ecommerce leader Alibaba is leading this trend and is tying up with various brands to sell products on its social networking platforms Weibo and WeChat.

TechDogs’ Takeaway: To leverage the power of live commerce and social commerce, our first advice would be to identify your business goals and target audience. Based on your plans, choose the right social commerce platform ranging from Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest and others as each platform has its regional and demographic strengths and weaknesses. Next, the most crucial piece is to optimize, optimize and optimize your strategy to ensure visibility for the right audiences. Finally, understand the user journey to make the UX and UI of your social platforms mobile-friendly. This will enhance the customer experience and streamline purchase times, leading to real-time Ecommerce.
 

Trend 3: Ecommerce Businesses Will Leverage The Power Of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Today, 84% of Ecommerce businesses are either actively working on adopting AI solutions into their business or have it as a top priority. Hence, safe to say, that the adoption of AI and maybe even generative AI, will be in the books in 2024.

There are multiple ways AI will be making its mark in Ecommerce. Amazon, the Ecommerce leader, has long recognized the benefits of AI and is a glowing example of its capabilities. For instance, Amazon’s recommendation engine uses AI to analyze information and incentivizes users to buy more relevant items, turning the online store into an active sales channel. It also uses AI chatbots to enable two-way communication with customers and make online shopping a breeze!

If you want to do the same, AI will help you with targeted marketing, allowing your brand to have personalized messages and one-on-one conversations with your clients by analyzing data from purchase histories, user journeys and customer interactions. AI will also help you zero down on what your customers really want!

This will also enable customer retention, as McKinsey’s research says there’s a 10-15% uplift potential in revenue and retention from omnichannel personalization strategies using artificial intelligence. AI can also help automate repetitive tasks such as scheduling emails in CRM, managing your loyalty program, etc., that take up productive time in the Ecommerce pipeline.

TechDogs’ Takeaway: To leverage AI-enabled Ecommerce try these tips! First, dynamic pricing using AI will help change your product pricing according to supply and demand or predictive sales spikes. With access to the right market data, your AI tools will predict when and what to discount, dynamically calculating the minimum discount necessary for customer engagement. You can also take logistics to the next level by introducing "smart logistics” or intelligent logistics that use AI/ML for better inventory management. Finally, leverage third-party AI expertise that can help you build a strategic roadmap and make the most out of available resources.
 

Trend 4: Ecommerce Leaders Will Up The Ante For Supply Chain Optimization

Supply chain optimization is the process of adjusting your supply chain to operate at peak performance. With the growing demand for faster Ecommerce and online shopping, brands must match the supply with a robust supply chain and optimization. This will be a major concern and Ecommerce businesses will look to optimize supply chains in 2024.

In fact, 79% of companies surveyed say that using supply chain optimization techniques improves revenue significantly and more than 45% of businesses see automation as a vital component in the supply chain management sector. Moreover, with omnichannel fulfillment, supply chain visibility and sustainability typically becoming the top three priorities for retail CEOs, this trend will be critical for success.

However, the focus will also shift to resilience and stability of supply chains. With higher input costs, increasing demand, product shortages and disruptions, retailers and Ecommerce organizations will focus on optimizing their supply chain to meet customer demands – no matter the situation.

With a high-performing supply chain, businesses can boost efficiency and responsiveness, so customers get what they want, when and where they want it in a way that is both profitable for the organization. Moreover, it will contribute to the supply chain’s sustainability in the long run. Another aspect is that such optimization will reduce manufacturing, transportation, distribution, fulfillment and customer service costs. So, in 2024, brands are investing in supply chain optimization more than ever!

TechDogs’ Takeaway: To transform supply chain optimization, technologies such as AI, IoT, Blockchain, Intelligent order management, quantum computing and digital twins will be significant. Exploring the effective use of these technologies in inventory control and supply chain optimization can achieve a major reduction in operational costs and stockouts. Next, use RFIDs and real-time tracking technologies to gain real-time visibility into inventory location and status. Along with this, IoT sensors can monitor temperature, humidity, stock, location, etc., so the management can act on this information early and implement corrective actions. Lastly, you can optimize performance by automating replenishment systems that automatically trigger replenishment orders and even contact alternate suppliers when the primary source is disrupted. By leveraging such advanced algorithms and data analytics, in combination with AI/ML, businesses can enhance the accuracy of demand forecasting, reducing excess stock, minimizing stockouts and thus optimizing their supply chains.
 

Trend 5: Loyalty Will Be The Name Of The Ecommerce Game

Did you know that acquiring a new customer often costs up to 25 times more than retaining an existing one and increasing customer LTV (lifetime value) and retention by just 5% can boost your organization’s earnings by 25% - even 95%? With this in mind, Ecommerce retailers are looking to shore up customer loyalty in 2024 through various approaches.

Rising customer acquisition costs and cut-throat competition make it important for brands to focus their efforts on retaining a customer once they have converted. The digital landscape will soon change as brands will opt for an omnichannel approach to loyalty programs, allowing retailers to design, build, manage and analyze their customer loyalty and rewards programs much better than before.

Customer loyalty will no longer be limited to just promotional discounts but also engaging them in a holistic approach. Customers want smooth and intuitive experiences but more importantly, they want personalized engagement and offers based on shared values and trust. This will lead to brands leveraging zero-party data and focusing more energy on gathering this data from customers to offer customized, personalized and channel-agnostic experiences.

For instance, Starbucks has a brilliant, personalized retention program right from writing your name with a sharpie, to perfecting their loyalty program through rewards. It’s no fluke they are massively successful in retaining customers and even eating into their competitor's share of consumers. Hence, to be successful in 2024, Ecommerce retailers need to focus on customer loyalty initiatives!

TechDogs’ Takeaway: To ace customer loyalty, closely monitor data analytics to detect shopping trends and gauge how receptive customers are to your marketing efforts. Find out what they’d like you to do better and make the necessary adjustments to optimize their buyer journeys throughout. Next, leverage AI/ML to decode customer-centric big data to understand trends and consumer behavior. Once you have insights, take it to the next level with personalized rewards and coupons to incentivize loyalty to your brand. Finally, we cannot emphasize enough a robust reward or loyalty program to retain and keep shoppers coming back. There are several routes for reward programs such as a points-based system that allows customers to earn redeemable credits when they make a purchase or a membership to a premium tier.
 

Wrapping Up The Ecommerce Trend Train

As the world becomes more connected and digital, Ecommerce continues to grow at an unprecedented rate. Incorporating these trends as they strategically fit into your brand’s vision can help you be more competitive, acquire new customers, retain the old ones and increase sales revenue!

With the ever-changing landscape of Ecommerce, it's vital to stay ahead of the curve and understand the latest trends shaping the industry. These were the five main trends that will dominate the ever-evolving industry of Ecommerce in 2024.

So, are you ready to gain a competitive advantage and better serve your customers with these magical trends?