Top 5 Trends that Impact E-Commerce in 2013

2013 is according to many going to be the year of Mobile commerce, so what does that mean for Online retailers?Let’s take a look at the top 5 trends that will be shaping E-commerce for 2013, and let us see what actions web designers and developers can take to stay on the top of these trends.

1. Localization – Big Opportunities For Small Businesses

Online retailers no more shy away from creating indigenous e-commerce websites. Here we are not referring to merely offering your website in different languages. With going local, we are referring to a totally localized user experience. Thus, expect to see more websites based on traditional design

aesthetics including the use of local color preferences, local language, local offers and essentially local products and services. For small businesses the move is indeed welcomed especially if they cater for niche markets. Ours is a curious generation which loves to explore. The local stuff which is marketed across as traditional and exotic easily attracts customers and generates revenue.

Localization will also pave the way for more personalization whereby users will continue to enjoy an even more one-to-one customer experience. Websites will automatically adapt to show user preferences and tastes. However, personalization will not be only based on past purchases or browsing habits (such as the recommendations offered by Amazon). Instead, we will see more intelligent algorithms that are able to predict which products or service may appeal to you based on advanced segmentation and user profiling.

2. M-Commerce Is The New Buzzword

Online businesses have realized the need for deeper mobile integration. Witness to this is the increased use of responsive web design that dominated 2012. From a user interface perspective, online businesses will continue to adapt to and make the most use of the available screen real estate of the device from which they are being accessed. As such, there will not be one e-commerce site for the desktop and another for the mobile device. Instead, thanks to Responsive Web Design, there will just

be one website which will adapt itself to be viewed in an ideal manner for any screen size, be it a large 55-inch TV screen, a 24-inch monitor, a tablet, mobile or any device that users use to access websites. This essentially means that the user experience will also be the same across all these devices.

Online retailers will continue to create better and customized mobile apps. E-commerce business will be more focused, thanks to personalized mobile campaigns that target specific customers. Online shoppers will share an equal voice in the brand’s decision making process and this will promote a more satisfying user experience.

3. Increased Online Security – Simpler Payment Processes

Continuing past trends, in 2013, more customers will switch to online payment mechanisms such as PayPal as well as debit and credit card transaction. E-commerce sites will lay more stress on online security with the likely introduction of new safer payment methods and increased enhancements on existing ones.

The move will translate to an increase in the number of new online shoppers and the number of financial transactions that are conducted online. Online brands will garner more trust and reliability through the use of one-page payment methods. Online customers will feel more secure and less dependent on cash.

Apart from the traditional product e-commerce sites, it is also envisaged that in 2013 there will be an increase in the number of websites which offer coupons. In fact, it is likely that more online retailers will offer discount coupons to entice sales and as a means of online payment.

4. Interactive Products Display Will Replace Images

Customers will become apprehensive with so many products and services at their disposal. Images are not a convincing tool as consumers cannot exactly judge product with them. Product demonstration videos will used more frequently to address the needs of even apprehensive customers. Online businesses and product demo videos will become more popular with the ever-improving internet speeds

.Retailers will turn to social media in a big way for better video sharing via YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and other sites. Marketers will view social media as part of the marketing mix in a way that it integrates with other marketing strategies rather than living on its own.

5. Content Continues To Rule

Exclusive content will be the ruling factor in all ecommerce sites. Highly readable yet concise content will

appeal to the short-attention spans of the visitors. Ecommerce website owners will dedicate teams to develop high-quality, SEO-friendly content for enhanced user experience. Content which talks to the point and is highly engaging will be the norm for websites seeking higher Return on investment