Technology has been shaping the future of shopping for decades now. Indeed, over the last 10 years, we’ve witnessed all sorts of changes, such as self-checkout services, apps for shopping and automated chat boxes providing assistance. And that’s not to mention the growing influence of Amazon as the dominant business for shopping online.
But how will technology change shopping in the future? And can it help you grow your base of loyal customers? Below, we explore the future of ecommerce.
Customer loyalty
Inspiring customer loyalty is vital for any brand. A loyal customer will regularly buy your products and be willing to pay any reasonable price you set. Plus, if they’re satisfied, it’s likely that they’ll advocate for you and pass on glowing reviews to their friends and family. What’s more, they may even call you out and give you crucial feedback if your standards start to slip.
But what tools can you use to create loyal customers in ecommerce? Well, one of your best options is turning customers into loyal customers with a rewards program.
These schemes can work in plenty of different ways, but they all essentially work by rewarding customers for making consistent purchases. For instance, some loyalty schemes might work by giving a customer a discount or voucher after making a set number of purchases. This can be an excellent way of incentivising loyalty and repeat purchases with your business.
Lush’s 24-hour shopping experience
Another future trend we’re seeing in ecommerce is automated retail. And this can be seen most clearly in Lush’s 24-hour shopping experience.
Lush has now opened a new 24-hour store in London that allows customers to visit and make purchases all day every day. This is made possible by the iLocker vending machine that securely allows customers to make purchases, even if staff aren’t present. This retail theatre will initially run for six months but has been receiving rave reviews.
Ultimately, though, the world of ecommerce is fast-moving. It’s vital that you keep up with industry trends to stay in touch with your competition. As such, it’s important that you look to monitor the pace of change.
By looking into the future of ecommerce, you can find new technology that can help your business thrive. And by following the guide above, you should be all set to follow key industry trends.
David Prior
David Prior is the editor of Today News, responsible for the overall editorial strategy. He is an NCTJ-qualified journalist with over 20 years’ experience, and is also editor of the award-winning hyperlocal news title Altrincham Today. His LinkedIn profile is here.
