In this article, we’ll discuss Cybercrime, the Customer experience, overcoming growth bottlenecks, and Mobile commerce. But there are many other challenges ahead that will need to be overcome as well. Here are some suggestions to keep your business ahead of the curve in the following years.
Cybercrime
With growing online consumers and businesses, cybercrime is becoming a significant problem. Cybercriminals can steal customer data and other confidential information, resulting in substantial company losses. First-time online buyers are particularly vulnerable to cyber-attacks. Globally, there are an estimated six hundred million digital attacks a year. As a result, eCommerce companies are already struggling with the impact of Cybercrime.
One of the most dangerous forms of Cybercrime involves stealing financial and personal information from e-commerce websites. The attacks are highly sophisticated and involve the insertion of malicious code into e-commerce web pages. Cybercriminals use this code to access users’ information and steal credit card details. This type of fraud is expected to increase in sophistication in 2022. Businesses can mitigate the threat by hardening their e-commerce applications.
Cybercrime is a significant concern for e-commerce enterprises because of the sheer amount of data they have about their customers. Fraudsters increasingly leverage social engineering techniques to trick users into providing sensitive information. Many fraudulent transactions will also use the user’s device to send fraudulent transactions. This will lead to increased losses for organizations, and security leaders say that a significant number of fraud attacks will occur in the marketplace in 2022.
Cybercrime is a massive issue for big companies, which must protect trade secrets and other sensitive data. Cybercrime has also become a severe threat to supply chains. Moreover, cybercriminals are targeting e-commerce websites and exploiting their vulnerabilities to divert traffic or compromise servers. These attacks are costly to companies and significantly adversely affect their reputation.
Customer experience
While the growth of eCommerce is accelerating rapidly, it is also presenting new challenges for businesses. The customer experience is critical. It will determine whether your customers will return or not. Investing in customer experience can drive more sales. It is also crucial to create a seamless experience.
One of the critical challenges is payment methods. Payment methods vary in different countries, which can result in delays. The use of payment services can help companies avoid these issues and offer customers a more pleasant shopping experience. In addition, machine learning and artificial intelligence will improve business decisions and the customer experience.
To improve customer experience, companies must focus on three areas:
- They must provide excellent customer service. This includes providing the right product and service.
- They must be able to handle complaints quickly and effectively. An e-commerce store that can resolve complaints quickly can win back customers.
- An excellent customer experience will increase revenue for eCommerce stores.
Third, eCommerce companies should invest in personalizing the customer experience. In 2022, 90% of eCommerce companies will offer personalized content and services. Augmented reality experiences are also becoming more common, allowing users to experience products more realistically. Augmented reality experiences can personalize the shopping experience by suggesting complementary products for special occasions.
The customer experience begins before a purchase. Providing prospects with the correct information is essential in establishing trust in the brand and helping them make the right decision. Afterward, it is necessary to provide a smooth checkout process. The customer experience can be enhanced with social media and email support.
Managing growth bottlenecks
Managing growth bottlenecks is one of the biggest challenges for eCommerce businesses today. The report cites a recent study that finds more than half of eCommerce companies are experiencing growing pains. The findings are based on surveys of 350 decision-makers in global commerce. According to the report, the most significant bottleneck is competition. Additionally, privacy laws make it harder for marketers to target their ads, and consumers are becoming more adept at blocking them. Paid search advertising is also becoming more expensive, with some brands spending five times more than before to get the same amount of traffic.
Despite the many challenges eCommerce companies face today, the industry is still growing. There are several promising trends in the industry that can help brands thrive. Facebook, for example, reports that 63% of online shoppers use its platform for shopping.
The global pandemic presents many opportunities for eCommerce businesses but also brings new challenges. Warehouses play a massive role in eCommerce fulfillment, meaning that warehouse managers must rethink operational activities to keep up with demand.
New technologies are also posing challenges to businesses. For example, augmented reality and IoT commerce are quickly gaining momentum and affecting the eCommerce industry. While conversion margins are razor-thin, online business owners must focus on driving relevant traffic. In addition, eCommerce businesses must have a return policy to handle the high volume of orders.
Mobile commerce
With 96% of American consumers owning a cell phone, mobile commerce is growing exponentially. It is predicted that mobile commerce will hit $740 billion by 2023. This number is even higher than it is today. In the past three years, the mobile wallet market has tripled in value, and it will continue to grow faster in the future. The competition in the eCommerce market is heating up, and several new entrants will try to make a significant impact.
For the financial industry, mobile commerce is vital. The growth of mobile usage allows banks to gain more data about their customers, which helps them detect fraudulent activities. In addition, mobile commerce can help them better understand their marketing strategies. Consumers are increasingly shopping online on their mobile devices, and businesses can tap into this to create a seamless customer experience.
Mobile commerce apps are helping consumers make better decisions when shopping online. Over 79% of smartphone owners have placed an order using their device in the last six months. Moreover, augmented reality technology can help online shoppers experience products in real-life settings. Some stores have already begun leveraging AR technology to make their online shopping experiences smarter.
Mobile commerce is also helping retailers to improve customer service. It allows customers to access a wider variety of products, compare prices, read reviews, and make purchases even when they are offline. Mobile payment methods will continue to be a significant part of shopping experiences in 2022.
Data management
Managing data and customer information is one of the biggest challenges facing eCommerce businesses today. Data breaches have become common, and these incidents directly impact consumers’ trust in a particular brand. Phishing attacks, where hackers pose as a legitimate company and attempt to obtain sensitive information, have also become a severe issue. As a result, users have become increasingly concerned with the security of eCommerce websites.
Ecommerce business owners need to make internal work as easy as possible, and their eCommerce system should put their employees in the best position to help their customers. In addition to increasing customer satisfaction, it can help them stay competitive. Taking a positive approach to these challenges can go a long way in helping a business grow. Business owners can create new opportunities and enhance customer experience by overcoming challenges.
Product information management (PIM) will be a powerful tool in 2021 and is expected to continue to grow. It provides a collaborative solution that can be distributed across hundreds of channels, including online, print, and point of sale. It also helps a business establish a single source of truth for all product information. Companies can avoid common errors and streamline their marketing efforts by doing so.
In 2022, brands and retailers must listen to their consumers and adapt their products to meet their needs. This requires direct and indirect research. For example, chats and after-sale surveys can help eCommerce businesses understand the needs of their customers. They can also create dedicated teams to handle customer queries. Consumers increasingly demand buying methods and content, so retailers and manufacturers must work harder to deliver a superior experience.