While the future of eCommerce is always hard to predict, there are some trends that we can be sure will affect the way we shop. The way people use their smartphones and computers to buy products is changing and will continue to do so in the years ahead. With more and more people accessing the internet on mobile devices than ever before, businesses can no longer ignore this growing trend when it comes to their marketing plans.
Mobile commerce is now a massive industry with millions of people buying products every day on their phones or tablets. One company that has made significant changes as a result of this growing trend is Amazon which recently announced plans for two new buttons on their website which would let users scan barcodes using their camera rather than searching for specific brands or items online first. This may seem like an insignificant change but it actually represents one of many ways technology has reshaped our lives in recent years.
Mobile Commerce
Mobile commerce will continue to gain momentum in eCommerce in the Caribbean. The popularity of mobile devices makes it more convenient for consumers to shop online and pay on the spot.
Mobile devices can also be used to enhance their experience when shopping online by delivering information about products and services, allowing them to compare prices, track their orders and receive order confirmation notifications via SMS or email.
Subscriptions
Subscriptions are one of the fastest-growing eCommerce trends and allow users to pay a set fee for a service, such as monthly access to content or digital products. Subscription boxes like Birchbox and Loot Crate have become extremely popular in the US and are no longer considered just a passing trend. While they haven't yet taken off in the Caribbean market, they may prove successful if offered as part of a bundle package. This can be done by offering customers access to different services at discounted rates when purchasing multiple items from one company or by partnering with other businesses that offer complimentary products or services (i.e., buy one get one free).
Personalization
The ability to personalize the user experience is a central part of e-commerce. It’s no surprise that the most successful companies are able to provide it, and it can be done in many ways.
Some of these include:
- Personalization based on user data (i.e., their shopping history)
- Personalization based on user behaviour (i.e., what they click on during the checkout process)
- Personalization based on user preferences (i.e., what products they tend to buy together)
- Location-based personalization
- Social Media Is A Key Tool For Customer Engagement And Retention: The most obvious benefit of using social media as part of your eCommerce strategy is that it will allow you to communicate directly with customers at any time and from anywhere in the world. This means that you don't have to spend money on expensive advertising campaigns or hire an expensive marketing team in order to get their attention; instead, all you need is an internet connection!
- Social Media Can Be Used To Help Drive Sales: Another great thing about using social media as part of your overall marketing strategy is how easy it makes connecting with potential buyers who may not know much about what they want yet but could still end up buying something online if given enough incentive (i.e., discounts).
