Ecommerce websites will use more advanced technology. Machine learning, Augmented reality, Voice technology, and Payment options will become more widely used. Some of these technologies will revolutionize the way people buy and sell goods. Other advances include e-commerce sites selling their own branded products and offering more personalized services.
Machine learning
AI (artificial intelligence) is a technology that helps marketers better understand and predict customer behavior. These programs’ algorithms use customer information, third-party data, and context to make recommendations. For e-commerce, these technologies are already being used to create better shopping experiences.
E-commerce companies invest heavily in artificial intelligence, last-mile delivery optimization, and recommendation technologies. For instance, Amazon has implemented a recommendation engine powered by AI to recommend products to customers. These personalized suggestions account for up to 35% of Amazon’s annual sales. Machine learning-based AI can analyze large amounts of data to make better recommendations and decisions. The technology can also assist in pricing, an essential factor in customer decision-making. Across the web, over 47% of consumers make buying decisions based on price.
Artificial intelligence is also being used to identify potential customers. For example, the technology can recognize people’s phrases and keywords to search for a particular product. Moreover, artificial intelligence-based systems can also create accurate product descriptions. With machine learning, eCommerce platforms can optimize their content to increase conversions and click-through rates.
Artificial intelligence-enhanced analytics are transforming eCommerce as they make it more customer-centric. By integrating structured data with customer interactions, AI-enhanced analytics can identify the best channels and predict customer demand. They also use data from enterprise applications to provide a holistic view of enterprise operations.
Cognitive systems can analyze a customer’s location and suggest the most appropriate shipping method. This can save a company both time and money. It can even personalize the shopping experience. eCommerce platforms powered by cognitive technologies can also analyze customer responses and suggest the right shoes based on their preferences. Some brands, like North Face, already incorporate this technology into their product selection.
Technology is advancing exponentially, and it’s already impacting the business world. Its popularity is growing due to many factors, including the need for new customers, cost-effective personalized customer service, and compatibility.
Augmented reality
AR is a technology that allows customers to experience products without actually physically holding them. It lets retailers provide more product information, such as a 3D view. Using AR in your online store can help you avoid product returns and increase sales. You can even create an AR application to let your customers try on the product.
The technology uses multiple sensors to detect objects in the real world and overlay helpful information onto them. Most AR applications work on a smartphone screen. A camera on the device creates a live video of the scene, which is augmented with helpful information, such as service instructions or diagnostic data. AR is also used in entertainment applications, such as mobile games. For example, the mobile game Pokemon Go lets users place virtual creatures on their faces and capture them.
As smartphone penetration increases, augmented reality is becoming more common in stores. A recent study indicates that 34% of shoppers will use their smartphones for shopping in the next decade. This change in shopping habits is driving AR’s growth in the in-store environment. However, AR is not without its drawbacks. Its limitations include the limited availability of information about a product, as the packaging can only hold so much information. Augmented reality can solve this problem by allowing customers to try the product in a virtual setting, including a virtual product model.
AR is also transforming retail, as more retailers and brands are using technology to improve the digital shopping experience. One example is a collaboration between Kohl’s and Snapchat to build a virtual storefront on Snapchat. With the help of AR technology, consumers can step into an AR virtual closet and try on clothes and other products before making a purchase.
AR can also be used for training environments, such as simulations. Creating a 3D experience can make a long manual easier to understand. This will reduce the support burden on support staff. Additionally, 360-degree views of a product can be beneficial in component sourcing scenarios.
Voice technology
Despite its complexities, voice technology is poised to become the next big thing in eCommerce. Developed and deployed correctly, voice commerce has the potential to provide online consumers with a more personalized shopping experience and cut down on cart abandonment and checkout friction. Amazon Alexa and Apple Siri already allow online consumers to buy products and services by simply speaking the information they want to deliver. Meanwhile, Samsung Bixby and Google assistant also offer voice shopping capabilities. Although voice shopping is a relatively new concept in the eCommerce industry, its popularity is rapidly growing.
Voice technology will enable people to make purchases by just talking to a device, making it easier to browse online stores. Using voice search, consumers can find products, read reviews, check prices, and place orders. Voice commerce will allow businesses to improve warehouse processes and differentiate themselves from competitors. Consumers will feel more comfortable and relaxed during their entire online purchasing journey.
By 2020, it is estimated that more than 4.4 billion people in the U.S. will own smart speakers. In the years to come, the popularity of voice search will increase further. It will be used to make purchases, order food, and organize tasks, creating a massive market for eCommerce companies.
As voice technology becomes more popular, marketers must adapt to this new interface. They must consider their user’s behavior and develop content that addresses their preferences and speaking habits. By the end of this year, half of the internet searches will take place with voice technology. As a result, eCommerce marketers should start looking into voice technology today.
Voice technology is the next evolution of e-commerce. It will allow customers to search for products online simply by speaking to a device. The technology relies on speech recognition and uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to make this possible. It is already being used in devices such as the Amazon Echo, Google Home, and Samsung Bixby.
Payment options
In the next decade, payment options for eCommerce will continue to evolve. Multiple payment methods are expected to increase with more consumers using mobile devices to make purchases. In addition, a range of new open banking initiatives, such as PSD2, will allow merchants to offer more payment options to their customers.
While traditional methods such as credit card payment will continue to dominate, many consumers will be more comfortable using digital wallets. Digital wallets allow merchants to extend the benefits of physical cards to online shoppers and integrate loyalty programs and personalized financing offers. Furthermore, digital wallets are a natural fit for the younger generation.
Today, most current online payment services offer secure and fast methods to complete transactions. These methods remove the need to enter lengthy card details. They also use stored payment methods and third-party processing. PayPal is one of the most popular payment options used today. But in the future, payment methods will become more diverse, including alternative payment methods such as cryptocurrency.
In the next decade, payment options for eCommerce will continue to evolve. According to Grand View Research, the digital payments market will grow at 19.4% per year between 2021 and 2028. The growth will be driven by the development of eCommerce, as consumers and merchants increasingly want faster and more friction-free transactions. Moreover, digital wallets will also increase since fewer consumers use traditional credit cards.
Consumers increasingly prefer digital payment methods, so the retail environment is changing quickly. To stay competitive, businesses must offer fast and flexible purchasing options. They must meet the needs of all shoppers. E-commerce payment options will continue to evolve as top payment process providers look for ways to improve the customer experience. Furthermore, high-profile players are acquiring payment gateways and unifying their software across online and offline channels.
