E-Commerce Predictions
2011 saw the most successful year for online retailing – thousands of businesses reported yet more online sales growth, and those failing in-store were still able to find success with e-commerce. 2012 is set to be an important year for online retailing and there are predictions over how this is going to play out.
Below are predictions from the Rakuten group for 2012 online shopping trends:
1.) T-Commerce and M-Commerce retail therapy – In 2011 web enabled mobile devices opened up new doors for E-commerce, and many business owners rushed to embrace this new technology. In 2012 m-commerce will continue to gather momentum, but it is T-commerce that’s particularly exciting. T-commerce can offer more site functionality and virtual experiences than mobile and we are due to see this developing more in 2012. Sales completed on mobiles and tablets have been rising and are set to rise considerably in 2012; which means if you haven’t yet planned on optimising your website for mobile or tablet commerce, contact Syncro for our prices!
2.) Bricks and mortar in the cloud – The boundaries between online and offline worlds are becoming increasingly blurred, as retailers fuse their digital and real-world offerings. To find out more about Cloud services and how they can benefit your business, visit our Services website or contact us to speak with a consultant.
3.) Shopping with your social network– Getting a second opinion before committing to a purchase is nothing new, but now rather than taking a friend shopping you can take your entire social network with you. F-Commerce (Facebook Commerce) has already been embraced by a number of top brands and is proving a success despite still being a new way to shop online. Data released in July by Hitwise indicated that 1 Facebook fan was equal to 20 additional visits to a retail website in the course of a year. Haven’t yet taken advantage of the social commerce? Would you like to find out more about a Facebook Shop? Contact Syncro about our F-Commerce shops to find out what packages are available.
4.) Borderless shopping communities – 2012 will see the rise of the local global e-marketplace. In 2012, international marketplace models will provide sellers of all sizes around the world with the opportunity to expand their operations internationally, without the cost intensive outlay traditionally associated with establishing local delivery models, storage facilities etc. Sellers will be able to dabble in international shopping communities and dedicate resources based on real world demand. This will open up opportunities with burgeoning markets, such as China, India and Brazil. In late 2011 Rakuten surveyed international interest in shopping globally online and the results revealed that consumers are open to borderless shopping. Brazil is leading the global e-shopping charge with 81 per cent of consumers keen to shop in different markets online, followed by Indonesia (77%), Thailand (74%), China (69%) and Spain (66%). Syncro offer website design and other online services so you can sell internationally. Not only can we adjust your UK website to allow easy international selling, but we have also created websites for international clients; including Barbados, Canada, America and Egypt. International website design is no problem as we have the right tools to do the most effective job.
5.) Flexible, Local shipping models -According to a report by Forrester in January 2011, shipping issues were one of the most common reasons for cart abandonment in Europe. In 2012, flexible shopping models will be vital for growth, as evidenced by the growing popularity of the click & collect phenomenon, which accounted for 10.4% of all E-commerce sales in the UK this Christmas according to the IMRG.
6. ) Online shopping gets personal – In 2012 data exchange between retailers and social networks will begin to provide solid business models for social platforms and offer new insights into the psyche of the shopper. To truly engage consumers in 2012 and beyond, retailers must learn how to harness user specific data to provide timely, personalized and relevant communications. Get a social media campaign for your business today! Speak to Syncro about our social media campa
