The eCommerce landscape is changing rapidly these days. Reports by Statista forecast that revenue from retail eCommerce in the United States will exceed 1.3 trillion dollars by 2025. Nevertheless, the pandemic accelerated the way eCommerce processes are being implemented at an extremely fast pace. This is because the pandemic ushered in the need for social distancing. In turn, this triggered the rush for businesses to find ways in which they could continue conducting business, carry out transactions uninterrupted, and ensure customer engagement stays sustainable.
Almost 40 percent of US households shop online and in-person for consumer-packaged goods. According to research reports from the year 2021, the pandemic accelerated the digitalization decisions of businesses. The research also reveals that companies are investing in new technologies, assets, and personnel to optimize the digital experience for the customer.
Increasingly, technology is driving purchase decisions online with the help of eCommerce websites. Technology enables consumers to look up product or service details, understand the product or service being sold, and, more importantly, help them make the connection between their requirements and a particular business offering. Embracing technology relevant to eCommerce is essential for businesses to reach out to more users and convert them into customers.
Technology brings products and services closer to customers, as they do not need to step out to shop. Whether through advertisements or well-strategized email and communication plans, technology has helped bridge the gaps.
Personalized user content is a great way to reach out to more visitors and help conversions. It supports the business’ efforts to reach out to more customers online. Studying user behavior while browsing is an effective way of developing or building user-driven or personalized user content. The aim is to identify and provide users with relevant information through your website.
Personalized user content can be better understood by identifying:
Action item: Choose professional assistance, such as outsourcing partners, to support your business with technical capabilities and the infrastructure for designing and deploying plans or campaigns that can help engage visitors, map traffic, and help you determine customer-centered communication.
Investing in the right technology is central to optimizing digitalization efforts. Technology advancements are usually rapid, and businesses must keep pace with them. Implementing the latest technology comes with multiple benefits for a business:
Artificial intelligence (AI) can help eCommerce businesses determine user needs better. As the technology grows by leaps and bounds, AI can support business needs by building algorithms to read visitor requirements and make relevant recommendations. An effective AI algorithm in place can help eCommerce websites makes suggestions; for example: If the visitor is looking for rock-climbing equipment, the website can also suggest purchases for the right shoes, apparel, and other gear associated with rock climbing.
Effective deployment of AI can also help send relevant recommendations even after the customer has completed a purchase from the eCommerce website. For example, someone who may have purchased a camping tent may receive requests for other related items such as portable chairs, etc.
Action item: Choose expertise insights to determine AI assistance and deploy it optimally. This can help prevent the needless expense of effort and money or loss in time and business opportunity.
Given the evolution of interactive technologies, customers can conveniently receive engaging, relevant content on their mobile phones or laptops. They no longer need to step out or even call stores to check for merchandise or prices and offers. Special, attractive offers that promise a good savings deal or a suitable combination of recommended items based on user profiles can prove helpful to even casual visitors. When combined intelligently with the use of reminder communication, including push notifications, interactive technology can help users choose their own convenient time to shop or even simply browse and add items to their shopping cart for a later purchase.
Leveraging social selling is also an intelligent utilization of technology to reach customers better and more speedily. Choosing the right social media platform can better help the business align with its target audience.
Action item: Review and choose a technical partner with proven expertise in eCommerce capabilities to help your business study, research, and build effective social selling campaigns and actionable content.