Global Inflation
One of the hurdles for e-commerce companies has been the impact of inflation and the unfortunate thing is there is nothing they can do to avoid it with it being global so they have to learn to evolve with it. That’s what makes it hard, is that it’s usually an inflation in certain countries but with a global impact, there is little to avoid it completely.
By analyzing the inflation rates of potential countries, both now and in the future, you are able to remain in one, move into another to balance the impact and so forth. Anticipate demand to determine whether your pricing strategies will still attract consumers or yield profits. This is the only way to mitigate global inflation in a safe way.
Mobile Commerce
Mobile commerce (m-commerce if you prefer), is defined as online shopping through mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. Mobile commerce is projected to reach $3.35 trillion by 2028 which comes as no surprise as we are constantly using our phones to talk, buy and sell so I can imagine pretty soon we will be seeing new ways.
Ensure your website is mobile-friendly and loads quickly as two basic minimums while also utilizing analytics to enhance the mobile user experience and conversion rates. User experience on mobile devices should always remain a priority of desktop, although having both is, of course, important.
It’s more than likely, especially with the modern concentration span, that you will need to ensure your users want to stay on your site, as one sign of inconvenience and they will be bouncing off Hawaa and finding their eid outfit elsewhere.
Livestreaming
This is something we are seeing thrive on the likes of TikTok Shop. I have even seen pop-up stalls do this so users can watch them pack up the sweets, send gifts (which have monetary value) and so forth. It’s a great source for both physical, small and large businesses to consider.
If you’re interested in capitalizing on this trend, consider these essential tips: choose an appropriate platform with a large audience, strategize your content and schedule, promote your streams across various channels, interact with viewers, and track your performance using relevant metrics.
It would help if you had a great setup, camera quality and maybe even a couple of people able to help with responding to comments and so forth. It’s like tele-sales but you get to talk with the customer, which is so unique in itself.
Social Commerce
This is not surprising at all; you could say this would be combined with live streaming on platforms like TikTok.
Social commerce involves buying or selling goods or services directly through social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest, offering a more accessible, economical, and viral method of online selling.
You can’t scroll on TikTok now without seeing an ad, and Meta has gotten to a place where it won’t always show your organic posts to your audience, which is why they are pushing boosted and paid posts. To evolve, you will have to invest money into alternatives such as developing consistent branding, engaging content, direct shopping options, and collaborating with influencers.
Omnichannel Strategy
The omnichannel strategy seeks to deliver a uniform shopping experience across various channels, whether customers are shopping online, in-store, or via other sales platforms.
This approach allows you to connect with a broader range of customers or market segments through multiple channels, increasing retention via omnichannel marketing and customer relationship management. In today’s market, retailers that do not utilize multiple sales channels risk losing up to 30% of potential revenue.
To effectively implement this strategy, create an integrated platform that can support multiple channels, ensure seamless customer journeys with features like single sign-on and personalized experiences, and gather feedback across all channels.
Sustainability
The future is focused on sustainability! Over a third of consumers globally indicate they are willing to change their purchasing habits to prioritize environmental responsibility.
Shoppers may seek products or services that are eco-friendly, ethical, fair trade, organic, vegan, and more. They also tend to prefer brands that are transparent, responsible, and charitable.
By aligning with the sustainability trend, you can attract and keep eco-aware consumers, reduce costs through efficiency, enhance your brand image, and contribute positively to the planet.
UGC
User-generated content (UGC) encompasses any material created and shared by a brand’s customers, such as reviews, testimonials, or endorsements. UGC can enhance businesses by increasing brand awareness, trust, engagement, and sales figures, as consumers often trust the opinions of real customers over company claims.
This is becoming an increasingly popular option for brands to use in their advertising and as a way of outsourcing some opportunities to earn some commission. For example, everyday users can promote products from brands without payment, if a user buys that product through their TikTok shop after clicking the link from that video that user gets a commission. I’m not familiar with how much commission it is but if their content does well, it could be a nice chunk of change for both yourself and the user.
A significant 83% of shoppers desire a more genuine shopping experience, as it shows authenticity and a way of getting someone else to be the guinea pig before you invest your money. Research indicates that sites implementing UGC experience a 3.2% increase in conversion rates, while interactive UGC can lead to a 102.4% higher conversion rate.
Although UGC may seem beyond a seller’s influence, there are strategies to foster more of it. This could involve creating shareable moments (like Instagram-worthy products), encouraging customers to share content (simply asking, ‘If you enjoy our product, please share!’), and organizing contests (such as hashtag challenges). These are ideas if you aren’t wishing to sell your products through mobile platforms like TikTok.
AI
Artificial intelligence (AI) is already enhancing the online shopping experience and is being encouraged to be used with the likes of Meta where they want to further optimize your ads with the help of AI which I’ve found to be very hit-and-miss.
Common applications include AI-driven personalized shopping, optimizing inventory, providing round-the-clock chatbot support, and preventing fraud. It assists businesses in increasing efficiency and offering quicker service to customers. AI is still very early in it’s development which makes things like the chatbot not that successful with the user experience and would likely opt to speak to a real human.
With the extensive prevalence of AI, this is an opportune moment to engage with its capabilities but don’t rely on it too heavily; just find what works for you and your brand. To implement AI successfully, select the most suitable applications, conduct testing and assessments prior to deployment, and regularly track outcomes.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to these e-commerce trends in 2025, this is just the tip of the iceberg with changes with Meta and the temporary ban of TikTok in the USA. We could be finding new opportunities and challenges soon as these changes are usually sudden. It’s important to stay up to date with any changes and be prepared for them, as that will be what really sets you apart from your competitors. We would recommend looking deeper into AI, mobile commerce, sustainability and UGC trends as we feel these will have the most impact this year.
About the Author
After completing a University degree in Journalism, Darcy Fowler has dedicated a lot of time to learning about the dynamic world of ecommerce; working in multiple sectors while continuing to broaden her knowledge. Darcy is determined to provide interesting and insightful content with the hope of inspiring others.
