10 Jan‘25
The new year opens the possibilities for new technologies and opportunities for online sellers. The world of e-commerce is evolving fast, and businesses can benefit from adopting new tools and strategies that become more widely available. In this article, we discuss the tools and trends that might get more widespread adoption in 2025.
Increased personalization
AI-powered search engines aim to offer more relevant search results based on the context. Customer intent and preferences can be inferred from browsing history, language nuances, purchasing history, and many other details.
Customers can be more likely to get search results that match their interests. Sellers can take advantage of this by adding relevant keywords and tags to the items and highlighting the features and intended use of their products. Proper tagging goes a long way in capturing the right customers.
Sustainability and Eco-Friendly Products
Younger generations and today’s shoppers in general are increasingly conscious of environmental issues. Some prefer to support brands that they perceive as responsible. Consumers are also often willing to pay a premium for sustainable products, especially when the perceived value and quality are high. Offering sustainable options in the product lineup can give a competitive edge by attracting more customers.
Related: Sustainability and Sales: Navigating Eco-Attributes on eBay, Etsy, and Amazon
Circular Commerce
Resale commerce refers to the buying and selling of pre-owned or secondhand items. This model is especially popular in industries like fashion, electronics, and furniture. Instead of throwing away products that are still in good condition, customers can resell them to others through platforms like eBay.
Related: The Ultimate Guide to Selling Used Items on Top Marketplaces: eBay, Amazon, and Etsy
Circular commerce is a broader model in which products and materials are kept in use for as long as possible. The goal is to create a “closed-loop” system where products are reused, refurbished, recycled, and resold, rather than discarded. As mentioned earlier, the value of sustainability is increasing in the eyes of consumers.
With advancements in technology and government initiatives worldwide, even more businesses are more likely to contribute to the circular economy by offering trade-in programs and more repair options.
Expansion of AR Technologies
Augmented Reality (AR) went a long way in the past few years and is becoming more available as a tool for businesses and shoppers. Virtual fitting rooms for clothing, accessories, and even furniture placement in homes are still in their early days, yet some brands already offer it as an option. If you are looking to enhance the shopping experience for your customers, this technology is definitely worth following.
Related: From AI to AR: The Latest Technologies Driving the E-Commerce Industry Forward
Social commerce growth
More social media platforms are taking steps to become a shopping place. Shoppable posts, personalized recommendations, and frictionless in-app payment make social media shopping increasingly attractive. A large number of people use social media every day for an extended time, so an integrated shopping experience like this can be a great way to reach a wider audience.
Voice assistants
Voice assistants and search are becoming better thanks to the advancements in machine learning, so it may see more use for different applications, including shopping. This brings up some ideas to reach more voice shoppers:
- Alexa is tightly integrated with the Amazon marketplace, so listing the items on Amazon makes Alexa a powerful tool for businesses. To go a step further, consider creating custom Alexa Skills (essentially an app for Alexa) to let the customers interact with your brand directly. For instance, customers can use Alexa Skills to search your catalog and make a purchase directly through the voice assistant.
Related: Send Shopify products to Amazon - Google and Siri heavily rely on Google Search for shopping results, so optimizing your content for traditional SEO goes a long way.
- Because voice assistants are more often used on phones, focus on Mobile optimization for the storefront.
Globalization of e-commerce
Cross-border e-commerce opportunities are more frequent due to several factors such as advancements in technology and changing consumer preferences.
Better payment solutions allow customers to have a more seamless experience and use their preferred currency when buying abroad. Paired with the fact that international shipping is getting cheaper and faster, shopping abroad has become a great option for some product categories. E-commerce sellers who can effectively manage international customers can potentially get more sales.
Check the Salestio guides for international sellers below:
The future of e-commerce will be shaped by technology and a growing focus on sustainability. Personalized shopping experiences will be the key to capturing the most loyal customers. To succeed in a rapidly evolving market, businesses should keep an eye on new advancements and embrace the best changes.
