The retail eCommerce industry has come a long way from the 90s when the first-ever online store was created to today where everyone is striving to get online to catch the consumer’s attention on those tiny, sleek screens.
In 2019, the eCommerce sales were US$ 3.53 trillion worldwide which are projected to grow to $6.55 trillion by 2022.
This spells the successful evolution of the online retail industry which is as lucrative as competitive. But is it that easy to gain your consumer’s eyes and be in their good books?
The market has long shifted from the business-centric to the consumer-centric approach and so should your business tactics. Here are 5 tips to help you get an on-point eCommerce development in 2021.
5 Trends for a successful eCommerce website development in 2021
Whether you are in the process of launching your eCommerce business or have long been the player in the virtual arena, here are five eCommerce development trends in 2021 that you should consider.
1. Mobile-first Approach
As people worldwide have got comfortable with the idea of online shopping, the dependency on mobile devices for accessing the internet has increased too.
According to Statista, mobile has now become the most widely used channel for internet access worldwide. Almost 91 percent of total users access the internet via mobile.
Besides, mobile sales will contribute to approximately 75% of the total eCommerce sales. Thus, developing an eCommerce website that works seamlessly on desktop and mobile is essential not only to stay connected and competitive but also to derive high revenues.
Moreover, search engines like Google are biased towards mobile-friendly sites. If your eCommerce website isn’t mobile-friendly, your website will rarely show up at the top of the SERPs.
Mobile-friendly website development will continue to be one of the most prominent eCommerce website trends in 2021.
2. Artificial Intelligence
You’ve most probably heard of AI which has witnessed exponential growth over years. Artificial Intelligence is the way ahead for eCommerce websites to sustain evolving consumer behavior.
There are 3 primary elements of Artificial Intelligence (AI): Data Mining, Natural Language Processing (NLP), and Machine Learning (ML).
This empowers a web application to make smarter and personalized recommendations to consumers based on their search and purchase behavior, etc. Thus, enhancing their overall experience.
While plenty of businesses (like Amazon and IBM) are already utilizing AI for their business websites, this trend will only grow aggressively in 2021.
Some ways in which AI can be utilized for eCommerce businesses are:
- Provide virtual assistance and personal touch through Chatbots. A survey by Drift revealed that around 50% of people say they’d purchase something from a website’s chatbot. Need we say more?
- Identify your target audience
- Improve recommendations for the customers
- And so much more.
3. Voice Commerce
Voice Commerce is taking the world by storm. People are addicted to voice searches and assistance like Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant stand testimony to this.
It is safe to say that voice search is the next battleground for eCommerce businesses.
Moreover, 70% of users prefer voice search because of its efficiency and convenience, which makes this one of the vital eCommerce development trends in 2021.
This is the strategy to get started with for a better ROI. Here are some tips to optimize your website development for voice commerce:
- Revamp website content for voice queries
- Make the navigation of your website or application voice search-friendly
4. Progressive Web Apps (PWAs)
Businesses are constantly on the lookout for ways to improve user experience and increase online sales. PWA is one of the key trends that can help them meet both of these objectives!
PWAs are the next big thing in the eCommerce universe. They are developed using web technologies but render the smooth experience of a mobile application.
So, instead of developing a high-cost native mobile application, eCommerce owners take advantage of PWAs, which are highly secure, quick, convenient, and browser-agnostic.
Here are some intriguing findings on PWAs to help prove their efficiency:
- Pinterest witnessed a growth of 40% in the average browsing time and 44% in the ad revenue after revamping its website into a Progressive Web App.
- PWA effected approximately 280% increase for Petlove in conversions and average time spent on the website.
PWA can render a host of benefits for your business and is going to be one of the fastest rising stars from our five trends for eCommerce website development in 2021.
5. Social Media Integration
Social media integration is another important trend that you shouldn’t miss in your eCommerce website development.
Social channels like Facebook and Instagram are constantly optimizing their platform for eCommerce shopping. In addition, social media marketing is the most opted method of advertising today.
Hence, it becomes cardinal to take a holistic approach and provide an integrated experience to consumers. Link your website to social walls and vice-versa. Omnichannel presence is what sells.
Final Say
A study says that almost 95% of the shopping will be done online by 2040.
Based on the current trends, it won’t come as a surprise to see this happening earlier. However, to survive the cut-throat competition that is only going to increase further, it is better to stay a step ahead.
Your eCommerce website will define how successful you are going to be in the online world. Be sure to implement the latest and avant-garde eCommerce development trends to keep your consumers coming back.
If you are a business owner waiting to make the mark in the online world, our web developers can help.
We can design a sticky and aesthetic eCommerce website from the ground up or translate your existing non-functional website into a relevant and effortlessly running revenue tool.
