The History of Ecommerce: A Timeline
The Future of Ecommerce
According to Statista, ecommerce revenue is expected to show a yearly growth rate of 14.56%, resulting in a projected market volume of $1,365.00 billion by 2025 — which goes to show that ecommerce is no passing trend.
Especially with the rise of omnichannel shopping experiences, digital buyers should expect to be able to research, browse, shop and purchase seamlessly between different devices and on various commerce platforms.
Other trends to watch for in the future of ecommerce include:
- Robust customer journeys and personalization.
- Artificial intelligence-enabled shopping.
- Social shopping.
- Mobile commerce.
- Digital currencies, such as mobile wallets and cryptocurrency.
Overall, we have to remember that ecommerce is still fairly new in the big picture of retail. The future holds endless opportunity, but its success and continuation will depend largely on buyers’ preferences in the future.
What are the main features we should look for when evaluating an ecommerce site ?
Many customers may look for a few key functionalities when evaluating an ecommerce website. These are elements that improve the overall shopping experience by making it highly functional and user-friendly.
- Easy-to-use features: Simple navigation tools, easy checkout flows, etc.
- Multiple payment gateways: Allow customers to pay with a credit card or using a payment processing service, such as PayPal or Apple Pay.
- Mobile compatibility: Compatible and functional on all mobile devices, including tablets, smartphones and smartwatches.
- Discount codes and promotional capabilities: Allows shoppers to use discounts on-site.
- User-generated content: Reviews, ratings and photos that add to the ethos of offerings.
- Integration with social channels and online marketplaces: BigCommerce, for example, integrates with some of the world’s largest marketplaces including Google Shopping, Amazon, Facebook, eBay and Instagram.
- Around-the-clock customer support: Provide personalized customer service. BigCommerce offers 24/7 live agent support, as well as a dedicated help center and active community of merchants.
