In recent years, the need for embracing technological advancements is increasing day by day for businesses. Digital sales channels have surpassed physical stores and gained more popularity, emphasizing the importance of e-commerce and the necessity for companies to follow e-commerce technology and trends to stand out in this competitive environment. Electronic commerce, abbreviated as e-commerce, refers to the presentation of products or services to consumers through digital platforms. Since the entire journey between consumers and products occurs digitally, it can be defined as the digitized version of physical commerce. In this article, we will discuss the e-commerce trends of 2022 and why it is essential for companies to follow these trends.
E-commerce has become the most preferred tool in rapidly developing technological conditions. The comfort it provides in online conditions, end-to-end services, contactless payment options, and the ability to have the desired product or service with just a few clicks from the comfort of our homes are just a few of the factors that make e-commerce highly attractive. From the perspective of consumers, we can list many more benefits of e-commerce. Similarly, businesses can benefit from e-commerce and its advantages, such as:
- Ensuring business sustainability even in extraordinary circumstances
- Maintaining a presence in the market
- Easy and quick setup
- A wider customer base independent of location
- Lower costs
- 24/7 online service
- A comfortable, convenient, and faster shopping environment
- Maintaining constant communication with the target audience
- The ability to sell an unlimited number of products
- Increasing brand awareness
The e-commerce industry is growing day by day, and it is now a well-known fact that it will be at the forefront in the near future. The existence of multiple e-commerce trends has emerged due to the high competition in the market resulting from this significant development in technology. So, what e-commerce trends await businesses in 2022? Let’s examine the trends that businesses should closely follow in 2022.
AUGMENTED REALITY (AR)
One of the most critical e-commerce trends of 2022 is augmented reality (AR). Augmented reality, in its simplest definition, is the presentation of computer-generated digital objects alongside real-world objects. AR allows consumers to get an idea of a product they want to buy without physically accessing it by displaying its digital appearance.
For example, AR applications can show how a shirt will look on us or how a desired sofa set will fit in a corner of our room. AR technology is expected to become more popular for e-commerce in the coming years.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)
Artificial intelligence (AI) is also becoming increasingly discussed and widespread in 2022. AI’s usage area is expanding day by day, and brands are leveraging it to advance their businesses significantly.
For example, chatbots, which are now used by almost every brand, have become an essential part of e-commerce. Chatbots are AI software that can communicate with website visitors 24/7. Users can perform various operations through chatbots, such as obtaining information about products or services they want to buy and completing transactions. AI will continue to develop and maintain its place in trends in the coming years.
VISUAL SEARCH
Visual search is software developed to allow consumers to easily find similar or the same products by searching for a product they saw and liked somewhere through an e-commerce website. With the increasing prevalence of visual search, it is among the 2022 e-commerce trends.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Social media, which will always maintain its place in trends regardless of the years passed, is an essential part of the e-commerce sales channels. In recent years, social media has become a direct sales channel for businesses, not just a means of communication. In 2020, with the addition of the “shops” feature to platforms such as Instagram and Facebook, businesses were able to make direct sales through the application. Considering these developments, the volume of social media on e-commerce cannot be underestimated.
INFLUENCER MARKETING
Derived from the word “influence,” the Turkish translation of “influencer” is “to influence.” Influencers, using social media channels, share their opinions and experiences about the products of collaborating brands with their followers. Influencer marketing is a marketing type where individuals who have achieved high follower counts and have the power to influence a particular group in society share their personal journey with the products or services of brands they collaborate with. Influencer marketing has become a preferred marketing type for many companies, large or small, and will undoubtedly continue to maintain its place in trends.
VIDEO CONTENT
With the advancement of technology, video content has gained value rapidly compared to written or other visual contents. Businesses selling through digital channels have increased their video content to promote their products or services. Especially after the pandemic, the popularity and significance of video content have increased with the widespread use of platforms like Instagram Reels, TikTok, etc.
