Day by day more small, and medium sized businesses are turning to the digital marketplace, in their effort to scale. At INKAS® Payments we work with thousands of businesses each year; many of whom rely on e-commerce to drive their profits; and we noticed some key trends that you should consider implementing into your digital operations if you want to stomp the competition. Here is what we see:

1. AI-Powered Personalization

For the time being, AI is practically everywhere; so if it is not in your business’ tool-kit, you could be giving your competition a “leg up.” AI tools offer its users the chance to automate, and streamline many processes, which allows for the optimization of prioritization. Here is how it can help you:

1. 1. • Dynamic Content Creation: AI algorithms are now able to deliver highly personalized content, and product recommendations based on individual customer data, so you can more easily develop marketing material for your intended consumer.
      • Chatbots, and Virtual Assistants: These AI-driven tools are improving customer service, with real-time assistance, offering an automated approach to addressing consumer needs; allowing you to offer a fast customer service experience and keep your consumers satisfied.
      • Predictive Analytics: AI is being used to predict customer preferences, and trends, helping businesses tailor their marketing strategies more effectively.

Sustainable E-Commerce Practices

One of the trends we notice in the e-commerce landscape, is customers are increasingly showing a strong interest in supporting those that run an eco-friendly businesses; going “green” is being shown to produce more “green”; so here are some things to consider for your business:

1. 1. • Eco-Friendly Packaging: Companies are adopting sustainable packaging solutions, such as biodegradable materials, and minimalistic packaging designs, with the hope of leaving the smallest carbon footprint possible when doing business.
      • Ethical Sourcing: One of the most popular trends on business sustainability we noticed has to do with making sure that products sold are produced in an ethical manner: eg. cruelty-free, foods, and cosmetics. These products may cost more to purchase, but customers are showing a willingness to pay that price to promote ethical treatment.

Omnichannel Shopping Experiences

Because INKAS® Payments is a national leader in payment processing, we see that an increasing amount of businesses are running both a brick-and-mortar, and e-commerce operation. The increased exposure not only allows you to increase market exposure; it also allows you to make your operations more flexible for your customers: allowing you to optimize customer experience. Keep these things in mind:

1. 1. • Curbside Pickup: One of the most popular options businesses are offering to customers is the ability for them to pay for a purchase in the comfort of their own home, and then go to pick those items up at a physical location that is most convenient to them; having the order prepared in advance before they arrive. This saves your customers shipping costs, and allows them to avoid lengthy lines at the cash register.
      • Virtual Try-Ons: Now customers shopping for clothes online are being given the option to see what their purchase may look like on them, with the use of augmented reality (AR) technology. This may be a great tool for clothing online operators because it gives the merchant an opportunity to minimize any doubt a potential customer may have about a potential purchase.

“Social Commerce”

Do not think social platforms are just for posting news, and interest items: a growing trend INKAS® has noticed is that merchants are leveraging channels like Instagram, and Facebook to sell their products; so do not miss out on the opportunities these platforms present you in expanding your business. Here are some ways to incorporate social into your business:

1. 1. • “Shopable” Posts: Platforms like Instagram allow users to make purchases directly from posts; allowing you to target your audience directly in your marketing efforts.
      • Influencer Partnerships: One of the largest trends in digital advertising is the use of social influencers to expand business activity. Influencers allow you to reach targeted audiences via the use of a popular voice of a particular subject.

Enhanced Mobile Commerce

More and more customers are shopping from a mobile device to make purchases; so ensure your e-commerce platform is capable of providing a customer experience that is tailored to this access point. Here are some important considerations:

1. 1. • Mobile-First Design: One of the most often overlooked aspects of setting up an e-commerce business is the speed that an “e-comm” platform can operate. Customers can be quite impatient, so ensure that your site can accommodate this demand; and offer them near instant processing; making sure your site runs efficiently across various mobile devices, whose processing speed is incomparable to its more “larger” counterparts.
      • Mobile-First Layout: Despite the fact your website may offer a great customer experience via desktop or laptop, the dimensions of a tablet or smartphone differ significantly, ultimately effecting how the layout of a site will appear on these devices; so be sure to keep this in mind when designing your e-commerce space. Some website building platforms allow you to preview how a design will look across a variety of devices; but if you feel you are in “over your head”, there are many skilled website designers who can help you with this.