E-commerce trends 2023: Top 15 stats + aspects shaping online shopping
After two-plus years of astronomical growth, what are the 2023 e-commerce trends that online retailers can expect?
While shoppers are returning to brick and mortar, their e-commerce habits are set. Experts predict worldwide retail e-commerce sales will soar from about 5 trillion US dollars to just over 8 trillion dollars by 2026.
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To capitalize on this growth, online retailers will need to double down on many of the trends that took off during the pandemic while keeping an eye on changing consumer expectations and preferences.
E-commerce trends 2023: Top 15 must-haves for online selling
So, what does it take to deliver stellar e-commerce in 2023?
From a shift to in-store shopping to financial fears, the top 15 2023 e-commerce trends and influences include:
- Omnichannel
- Mobile shopping
- Social commerce
- Customer service
- Inflation issue
- Sustainability
- Re-commerce
- Personalization
- Subscription commerce
- BOPIS
- Payment options
- New consumers enter market spaces
- Augmented reality, AI, Metaverse
- Delivery
- UGC: User-generated content
1. As shopping returns to IRL, 2023 is the time when brands must optimize omnichannel
After two years of predominately online shopping, consumers are ready for in-store experiences. With loosened COVID restrictions and the desire for in-person interactions, brick-and-mortar stores are on the rebound.
“Online sales still make up a greater portion of retail sales than they did prior to the pandemic. But they have steadily declined from their peak in the spring of 2020,” says Nathaniel Meyersohn of CNN Business.
While the e-commerce boom may be slowing, customers’ expectations remain high.
Nearly 75% of buyers use multiple channels before purchasing, and 73% of e-commerce consumers report using various channels during their customer journey.
Shopping journeys don’t end – or often start – on a company or brand website. Loyal customers will follow your social media pages, engage with your brand, act as brand advocates (or detractors – eek), and they’ll also compare prices across different brands and platforms.
Meaning: don’t overlook your online experiences. Instead, look to design and deliver fluid omnichannel shopping experiences. Brands with both digital and physical locations should work to eliminate friction since shoppers channel and platform-surf.
Details baked into 2023 ecommerce trends when it comes to omnichannel include:
- Providing flexible fulfillment and return options (more on those later)
- Enable in-store associates to access customer account details to provide better service
- Ensure in-store inventory is reflected in real-time online
- Invest in AR and other immersive technologies to create a more natural shopping experience online
For some companies, shoppers may have different expectations online vs. in-store. Learn how your customers like to shop with you, and optimize the experience to best meet their needs.
Brands that deliver effective…