In 2022, will eCommerce be a lot different than it is was in 2021. In this blog we take a look at some of the important things happening to ecommerce from around the world and see how it could impact our shopping habits and our businesses. Technology is always advancing significantly and the way we shop online could change drastically as a result. Here are some predictions about what eCommerce might look like in the near future.
Shopify
Shopify is planning to open up their own fulfillment centers so that they can handle the shipping for their merchants. This will help to speed up the delivery process and ensure that customers are getting their products as quickly as possible.
Shopify provides finance to all of their stores and as such controls much more of the ecosystem, tying in users for longer with financial terms. You don’t have to choose Shopify but you may want to keep your finances in one place.
2022 will see the launch of even more finance start-ups willing to give you money for your stock without taking a stake in your business. We have previously written about how to finance your stock and marketing based on the data from your Shopify store performance. Go here to read more about eCommerce finance.
Facebook and the Metaverse
As a result of some very bad publicity, Facebook has changed it’s name to Meta and launched the metaverse. But what is Metaverse? Metaverse is an immersive, persistent virtual environment encompassing all of your digital life. If Facebook is heading this way then we know that they might be on the right track, nothing is certain of course, but they do know what a majority of the world is thinking.
No-one is entirely sure how it will work, but it will be a virtual world accessible from your playstation or a pair of VR goggles according to Business Live. Facebook will not be the only player and there will be several metaverses from different providers (thank god). You will be able to step into this virtual world and interact with others of course businesses. No need to go online in a traditional sense to shop. We imagine you will be shopping in virtual shops, letting you try virtual clothing on and see what it looks like on your avatar. This will work but surely depends on what your avatar looks like.
We surely need to keep an eye on the metaverse but not throw all our eggs into one basket. Identify where your target customer hangs out and then make a decision. Whole new industries are sure to spring out that will deal with your meta verse presence.
Augmented reality is starting to become more popular, with companies such as IKEA releasing apps that allow you to view their products in your own living room. Change the colours of the products and make sure they fit into the space you desire.
Amazon
Amazon is experimenting with drones, robots, and other ideas to make it easier for you to get what you want. They are also trying to make home deliveries possible at all hours of the day or night by using mobile phones as a tracking device.
It pays to keep a close eye on Amazon to see what they have planned next. They are after all one of the worlds leading pure-play e-commerce operations. Customer service is still their number one priority and as we have discussed before, putting the customer first is something we should all be doing all the time.
Businesses that rely on keeping their customers happy and always shopping at their stores will need to innovate or they may go out of business.
Deliveries and Fulfillment
Deliveries are one of the major headaches of today’s society and new solutions will hopefully crop up for smaller businesses. Covid has meant we have seen a reduction in the number of available drivers even for the larger delivery companies. This has led to some disruption through 2021, let’s hope this disappears in 2022.
The supply chain has been nothing short of a disaster for most companies towards the end of the year. Accorind to the Guardian newspaper, it could last for another 2 years. We all saw it coming but couldn’t mitigate it fast enough. The dominance of China as a manufacturing haven has meant smaller countries couldn’t turn the ship quickly enough and begin to manufacture at home. 2022 might see some more manufacturing return to the UK and US but it is unlikely given that the last 2 years have not produced much in the way of change.
Our own e-commerce operations were slowed down in the lead-up to Christmas because one supplier could not find enough filler for their product. It didn’t just affect us, it affected whole industries.
-Mobile shopping has surpassed desktop shopping – The future of retail lies in augmented reality rather than virtual reality – Social media channels play an important role for brands to reach customers.
Tik Tok and Social Media
Tik Tok is a social media app that was first released in September 2016 by ByteDance. It is a video-sharing app where users can create and share short videos with others on the app. In February 2019, Tik Tok was the most downloaded app in the world, ahead of Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp and Messenger.
The app has been criticised for its content which includes challenges and pranks that have gone viral on the platform. However, it has also been praised for its ability to empower young people to be creative and expressive.
TikTok is particularly popular with teenagers and young adults who use it as a way to communicate and express themselves. The app has also been used to raise awareness about social issues such as mental health and suicide prevention.
According to the BBC, Tik Tok overtook Amazon as the most popular website in the world at the start of 2022, so you know where you should be considering putting your advertising spend.
In summary
The future of ecommerce has never been more uncertain. E-Commerce giants like Amazon and Facebook are making moves that threaten to upend the entire industry, while retailers large and small scramble to keep pace with new trends in digital marketing strategy. Now is the time for retailers big and small to take a step back from their day-to-day operations and consider how they can stay competitive in this rapidly changing landscape. Have you partnered with an experienced agency yet? If not, contact us today at before your competition gets ahead of you!
