Key Defining Features of E-Commerce in 2015

Don’t allow your online store to be left behind in 2015. Know the important e-commerce trends and adapt accordingly. Here’s what e-commerce in 2015 looks like and how best to respond to it.
Mobile
Because more and more of your target customers shop and interact through Web-enabled smartphones and tablets, it’s mostly mobile e-commerce nowadays. By 2017, 87 percent of sales of Web-enabled devices will consist of smartphones and tablets, according to Forbes. No longer desktop-bound, many consumers are integrating their mobile devices with their day-to-day activities. So, if you want to reach them, you need a mobile marketing strategy.
Mobile-Optimized Web Design
In 2015, it is necessary to ensure that your e-commerce website–the bread and butter of your online business–displays seamlessly on a mobile user interface. To make your e-commerce site friendly for mobile shoppers, make sure that the pages load fast. If possible, a webpage should load completely within four seconds. Start by removing unnecessary design elements from your webpages. Also, consider implementing image-based tile navigation instead of cumbersome text boxes. A tiled “preview,” for example, prevents mobile shoppers from accidentally clicking away from their desired store items.
Multiple Screens
The modern consumer is exposed to advertising and non-marketing-related content though an expansive network of Web-enabled “screens.” Many people interact through their internet-connected smartphones and tablets while simultaneously watching television shows or movies on a separate screen. Add smart wearables to this growing interconnectedness. Your marketing has to take into consideration dwindling attention spans, as well as the need for ads that foster customer engagement and render properly on various platforms. In 2015, your e-commerce site should be viewable on multiple devices and platforms, most notably Android, iOS, Windows, Windows Phone, and Mac.
Digital Assistants
According to a Gartner study, by the end of 2015, mobile digital assistants will have performed the majority of mundane shopping-related tasks like filling out credit card information and shipping addresses, as well as replenishing groceries. Gartner predicts that by the end of 2016, mobile digital assistants will be doing over $2 billion in online shopping. Be on the lookout for this emerging e-commerce trend, so you can better position your online store offers to consumers who hire mobile digital assistants.
Same-Day Shipping
Amazon and Google (through Google Express), Asos or House of Frase already offer same-day shipping. In 2015, this immediate-fulfillment strategy will cascade down to small online retailers, because more and more consumers will see this as the norm. If you are looking into viable same-day shipping options for your valuable customers, check for local carriers first because they are likely to offer lower rates compared to their nationally-branded counterparts.
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