E-commerce Tech Trends to Improve Your Online Store in 2022

The year 2022 is when we all anxiously await to see what the future will hold. The current global instability is just another issue snowballing since the COVID-19 pandemic, which is, according to Shopify, the major disruption for the e-commerce supply chains.

Some market players have already quit the game under pressure, while others managed to survive — and even generate profits. Such successful examples have become trendsetters in the e-commerce industry during the current year.

Got an online store and want to get more traffic and improve your online sales? You need to recognize how the COVID-19 pandemic, economic issues, and other factors impact e-commerce tech and how customers shop — and find a way out of these difficulties.

In this post, we’ll discover key e-commerce technology trends that will cope with the major things that will impact the industry in the near future.

Impact of social media

Since its appearance, social media has changed how people do business: companies now attract more sales while promoting goods and services to their followers and attracting influencers with a huge follower base to advertise. With the global pandemic, we have started social media even more — and in 2022, we won’t stop doing that.

Generally, people are more inclined to purchase from businesses they have a connection with and trust. That’s why having social media pages on the most popular platforms is the bare minimum for companies to allow consumers to be connected with them.

In this regard, TikTok is among the most effective social media e-commerce marketing tools this year. Crossing the threshold of 1 billion active users in 2021, TikTok has become a leading entertainment app where brands can connect with an audience by sharing short videos or ads. Marketers can also add their music to TikTok, but it's important to convert them to MP3 formats especially if you are using WAV or MKV files. They can also use music editing software to make their songs more suitable for TikTok.

Thanks to great metrics and sales performance, leading market players have included TikTok marketing to the most promising e-commerce development trends.

Shoppable video ads and Instagram posts

Instagram doesn’t stop enhancing, and this year, brands have got an opportunity to use shoppable video ads or videos of the product with product tags attached that allow users to purchase products they see on the video directly from their phone. Product tags can be attached to a video ad and a photo on an Instagram post, allowing retailers to show various products within a single post without overloading the feed.

Shoppable content makes the purchasing experience easier for consumers and retailers as they won't need to leave the social media app or visit a retail website.

Other platform tools e-commerce brands can use to interact with customers include sponsored posts and influence marketing, letting popular bloggers use their follower network to share information and promote your products. An illustrative example is Oprah Winfrey’s giveaway campaign for Pontiac which increased the website traffic of the brand by 600%!

All in all, seizing these opportunities can turn Instagram into the main tool for managing and promoting your e-commerce store.

Voice shopping

The rise of voice shopping, or the ability to order products using a voice assistant, has improved the comfort of shopping even more. With 71% preferring to use voice search instead of typing, this is an opportunity for e-commerce businesses to provide their customers with easy accessibility and convenience.

Voice shopping presents new opportunities for e-commerce startups and companies looking for increased success from traditional online marketing.

Using data collected through customer interactions with voice assistants, such as Amazon's Alexa and Echo, Apple’s Siri, and Google’s Home, e-commerce businesses can anticipate customer needs and desires before they arise. Then, they can optimize the web experience to match these expectations and respond in real-time to create more satisfied customers.

One example is Zenni Optical which uses speech analytics data collected through Amazon Echo searches to understand better what eyeglasses consumers want and make informed decisions about how best to display information on its website so as not to overwhelm them.

AR/VR shopping

Augmented reality and virtual reality are key trends in the e-commerce software industry, given the enhancements in user experience and customer engagement they bring.

Back in 2018, Amazon launched 3D View on its site, making it possible for customers to inspect goods as if they were holding them in their hands. This year, this feature has already evolved into a virtual try-on and view in your room.

AR/VR makes shopping more intuitive and efficient. Users can preview a product before they purchase it and better understand what they will be receiving, which is particularly important when buying clothing or other items that may not be a perfect fit.

E-commerce websites that adopt this technology early can create a new niche for themselves and gain an edge over competitors who do not offer this option.

Extended ways to pay

The more payment processors you have on your e-commerce website, the better — mainly since the range of mobile payment types has grown greatly over recent years.

In this regard, Klarna offers an alternative (and more convenient) way to pay for your purchase. Once you have placed an order and the goods are dispatched, you will receive a notification with options on how and when you can pay. With several different payment methods, you can choose between paying now or over the next few days.

Extended payment methods allow the customer more flexibility without taking on any additional risk, so make sure you address these e-commerce technology trends in your store.

Subscriptions as a way to return customers

A subscription service will allow customers to sign up and have the products or services delivered regularly, which is a great way to get more customers to return to your store. In this regard, we have a step-by-step guide on implementing a subscription box to boost your online sales.

If you’re wondering how to maximize the benefits of your subscriptions, follow the Amazon example. On Amazon Prime, the perks of getting a subscription include free two-day shipping and access to free music and video streaming. Even more, Amazon offers its Prime members the ability to purchase from third-party sellers through its Marketplace program, giving these vendors access to millions of potential customers looking for deals and discounts.

Focus on sustainability

As the world's demand for environmental stewardship intensifies, the importance of considering sustainability increases. Today, sustainability means reducing carbon footprints, using renewable energy, and offering products made from sustainable materials such as organic cotton and bamboo.

In terms of online sales, focus on sustainability means providing customer service that contains quality information about environmentally friendly products and offers green shipping methods during the checkout process.

A good example here is MyTheresa luxury retailer which offers two types of packaging: their signature box or a plain cardboard box that reduces packaging waste rates. Some retailers also offer a donation option at the checkout that allows customers to donate and reduce the CO2 pollution rates.

Final notes

If you are running an online business, you must stay updated with new technologies and remain innovative when it comes to adding new features to your website. Smart subscriptions, sustainability focus, AR/VR shopping, and other enhancement are must-have elements of your online store if you want to stay consistent with the top e-commerce technology trends this year.

Having trouble getting these advantages to your store? Contact our team! As an e-commerce web development company, DigitalSuits possesses relevant expertise in the e-commerce domain to empower your online shop with the top technologies that will boost your sales. Drop us a line, and we’ll dedicate all our skills and knowledge to helping you with your request!