Ecommerce trends to watch in 2017

Photo By Joel Moisa

The ecommerce landscape never stops changing and evolving. New developments in technology, distribution, communication and payment options keep things in a constant state of flux. Here are some trends to look out for in the second half of 2017. 

Faster deliveries 

Experts are promoting faster deliveries as one of the most important things for today's consumers. A report by Forrester has revealed that a majority of customers will happily pay an extra surcharge to get their items delivered on the same day that they buy them. It's in your best interests to make sure you provide the speediest delivery possible if you want to keep your customers happy. Don't hold back from charging extra to offer faster delivery times.

Convenience is king

Why do people shop online? Sometimes it's to get the best deals, or secure items they can't find in brick-and-mortar stores. Often, however, online shopping is driven by convenience. People use ecommerce as a way of avoiding the tedium and irritation of conventional shopping. With this in mind, it's obvious that if your site is slow, confusing or hard to navigate, your customers are bound to go elsewhere. If your loading times are even a second or two longer than those of your competitors, you can lose custom.

You also need to consider the steps that a shopper has to take in order to check out successfully. Sites that present extra barriers -  such as forcing customers to enter the same information multiple times, or asking for information that's not necessary to complete the purchase - may lose more customers than they retain. 

Mobile mindfulness

Mobile devices have now surpassed desktop computers as the preferred way to get online. Ecommerce sites need to be absolutely at the top of their mobile browser game if they are to retain customers. Your site needs to be fast and responsive, loading as quickly and looking as good as the large-scale desktop version. All your code needs to work on every platform -- especially the all-important storefront and payment gateway elements.

Security and fraud prevention

With security consultants warning us of the rise of high-profile cyber threats like the WannaCry ransomware outbreak, today's consumers are more and more security conscious. A site that is (or appears to be) badly secured will lose customers quickly; nobody wants to entrust their personal information, including financial details, to a vendor who can't offer secure payments. If you're still sending your users their login details as plain text in 2017, expect to lose those customers to someone with better security practices.  

By staying on top of key trends such as these, you can ensure that your ecommerce business continues thriving in 2017 and beyond.