After two years of dealing with the pandemic, many people live and breathe e-commerce. Online shopping did what brick-and-mortar stores couldn’t even when people were hesitant to leave their homes much less shop in person. Now that things are settling down and vaccines are the norm, what kind of e-commerce trends should you expect in 2022?

Rise of Social Commerce

If you’ve never heard of social commerce before, you’re not alone. Social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram have made it much easier to purchase items directly from the site, simply by clicking on a product tag. Stay on top of the competition by offering your products on social media, too. It takes a little learning but improves the chances of making a sale. In addition, your competition already uses social commerce. According to this study 91% of executives anticipate their company’s social media marketing budget will increase over the next three years, and the majority expect it will increase by more than 50%.

Most social media platforms provide the means to sell online, though it’s not always available outside of the U.S. Consider adding this to your sales methods.

Augmented Reality in Ecommerce Trends

One of the biggest downfalls of e-commerce is the inability to examine, test, or try on products. While some companies overcome this problem by providing options that include returning items you’re not happy with, you may not be in a position to do this easily. Fortunately, there are other ways of doing things.

Augmented reality is one of the new e-commerce trends that allow customers to “try on” products. From makeup and glasses to jewelry and clothing, customers can take a photo of themselves and see what they look like with the product. Retail furniture outlets such as IKEA have also adopted augmented reality technology. This provides a whole new way to shop by mimicking the in-store experience.

Reducing Credit Fraud

Credit card fraud is a very real problem that ecommerce companies face. To prevent this issue, you need to stay on top of the latest security measures and use merchant services that are designed to handle the potential problems. You need a merchant account that works for you by providing high-risk credit card processing from high-risk payment experts who know exactly how to manage your accounts. With payments made personal and high-risk done right, your company can stay safe.

Security is essential and many banks won’t take on ecommerce sites, as they are considered higher risk. This is particularly true in some industries that are already problematic. If you find that banks reject your application for merchant services, consider looking for high-risk payments experts, like NMA.

Improved Data Protection

In e-commerce trends, security is king. Data breaches can potentially affect anyone who shops or creates an account online, but even the companies themselves may sell your information. As more people learn about the uses for their data, the less interested they are in providing it to online retail websites. In 2022, it will be essential to provide more options to let people choose how much of their information they wish to provide.

Consider that 55.5% of 18-24-year-olds purchase online and well over 40% of those ages 25-44 also participate in social buying. They need reassurance that their data is secure, and online retailers need to be certain the steps they’ve taken provide the security customers expect.

Better Video and Image Commerce

Videos attract attention and provide a way to evaluate products and services that just isn’t possible with photos. Social media platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok make it very easy to upload videos and interact with your potential customers. The video options will only continue to improve, but right now, you can expect to see:

  • Image searches: A customer’s ability to search with a photograph means they can find what they’re looking for. The result may be an image or video, but it will make online shopping much simpler and improve customer satisfaction and sales.
  • 360º videos: Looking at a product from all angles makes it easier to decide whether to buy it or not. These videos will typically be offered to showcase a company’s most popular products. They’ve already been used for years in hotels and the real estate market.
  • Improved loading speed: Higher quality doesn’t mean lower loading speed. Faster streaming makes the difference between a customer sticking around to see your video ad and clicking away. Without fast video, you miss out on a lot of potential customers.

Any of these video marketing options will boost product visibility and customer satisfaction which increases your revenue.

QR Codes

QR codes have been around for a while, but in 2022, these odd-looking little squares will be found everywhere. Even ads will use them to provide a more interesting and educational experience for potential customers. QR codes frequently appear in restaurants and bars now as replacements for the old-fashioned paper menu and to help reduce the spread of disease.

A QR code is easily generated and may be printed or shown on anything, from your car to a television set. The instant visibility can take customers to specific pages on the website, social media, or an order form, depending on the purpose of the code. For example, you might put a code on an ad in the subway for pursuing higher education. The code would take potential students directly to a site where they can sign up for a course or apply for a degree.

Each of the ecommerce trends coming in 2022 will improve the industry. Customers will enjoy a better purchasing experience while companies increase revenue and make better connections with their customers.

About NMA

NMA is a merchant advocacy group dedicated to reducing or eliminating the unnecessary fees associated with accepting credit card payments. Since 2004, NMA’s payment processing solutions have been delivering tailored solutions, best-in-class customer service, and high-quality service offerings for businesses across multiple industries. Whether it’s high-risk or low-risk, brick-and-mortar or ecommerce, NMA will create the best processing experience for your company. For more information, visit us at our website, legacy.nationalmerchants.com or by calling (866) 509-7199.