Ecommerce Trends in 2012

Since its inception, ecommerce has made great strides and evolved into a full-fledged vertical. The year 2011 saw a surge in mobile commerce and social shopping as two of the most important factors in ecommerce. The year 2012 will be a year where some of the trends from 2011 will continue while a few new trends will also emerge.

Ecommerce Trends in 2012

1.       Mobile Ecommerce: Like in 2011, the upcoming year too will see a rise in mobile ecommerce and will be a prominent feature of ecommerce trends in 2012. Consumers are increasingly shopping using their mobile phones. In 2011, Paypal recorded a 516% increase in global mobile payment on Black Friday as compared to Black Friday mobile payments in 2010. In 2012, it is possible that mobile commerce could see a shift from mobile apps to mobile websites. Shoppers are increasingly switching to mobile websites to apps since they can access them instantly.

2.       Cross-channel experience: Today, consumers interact with multiple ecommerce touch points like mobile, social media and even retail that together complete the ecommerce experience. This trend of cross channel ecommerce interaction will continue in the coming year also. Consumers are increasingly redeeming online coupons in-store or indulge in terminal transactions inside a physical store. Cross-channel experience is yet another element that will establish and grow as an ecommerce trend in 2012.

3.       Social Media Shopping: Today, social media has become an integral part of not just ecommerce but the overall online strategy. As the number of users on Facebook and Twitter explodes, these have emerged as the most preferred platform where users share reviews and interact with their favorite brands. Although till now shopping on Facebook is still in a nascent phase, buying on Facebook will definitely see a significant rise and be one of the major ecommerce trends in 2012. Consumers are already showing a great amount of willingness in making a purchase on Facebook and this is bound to rise in the coming days. Also, another huge advantage of buying on Facebook, means that the brand and the product receives more “likes” and “shares”, thereby adding to viral marketing.

4.        Video Commerce: Video commerce is certainly going to be “the” thing and be one of the most talked about ecommerce trends for 2012. A pioneer in video commerce, visitors can buy merchandize online while watching TV shows or videos. By using specific apps, users just need to tag the name of the TV show to get access to the specific range of merchandize and buy. Apart from this, visitors browsing ecommerce portals and sites can even drag products displayed in videos and add them to their shopping cart while buying. 2012 is certainly going to be the age when websites and businesses move from simple product videos to interactive video powering video commerce.

Apart from these, group buying may also continue to be one of the ecommerce trends in 2012 that will still attract people to buy. However, considering the fluctuations observed by group buying giant Groupon, it is difficult to predict as to whether this trend will continue throughout. If you are looking for ecommerce solutions it is best time for you.