E-COMMERCE TRENDS AND PREDICTIONS FOR 2015

As more and more consumers are turning to the web for product information, reviews and purchasing decisions, the distinction between a retailer and e-tailer is becoming less defined.  In 2015 this line will continue to blur, forcing the ecommerce merchants quickly to adapt to the new situation.

One trend will dictate the e-Commerce game in 2015– the consumer is going to be the king. Today’s consumers are hyper-empowered and they know it. They are not only knowledgeable about which product they want and at what price. They are also super sensitive when it comes to comprehensive reviews and information, inventory availability, lightning fast checkout, on time and often free delivery. In other words, consumers are becoming more and more demanding, tracking every aspect of the shopping experience. And if those demands are not met, a merchant will lose customers or worse, make them angry.

Another important prediction for 2015 that will have serious impact on the ecommerce business is that local consumers all over the world will go global. It is expected that consumers will discover global or foreign websites and will spend a larger portion of their online budget on non local e-tailers. This, although posing a serious challenge to the local merchants will also create great opportunities for selling abroad.

Other trends that will rule in 2015 are:

• Major growth in mobile commerce
• The golden age of omnichannel approach – ecommerce winners will be those who get the best from online and offline presence.
• Content remains the king – only unique, smart and relevant content will be successful.
• E-commerce web design - responsive and mobile – friendly websites is no more a competitive advantage, it is a necessity.

The following infographic, courtesy of Indus Net Technologies gives a great overview of the top 2015 trends and predictions in ecommerce. It is definitely worth having a look.