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WE are all aware that the digital age is here to stay. From renting the latest film to participating in an online distance learning course, there is no doubt that the world of e-commerce has had a massive impact upon our daily lives.

This very same trend shows no signs of slowing down. Not only are consumers leveraging the power of the Internet more than ever before, but the Millennial Generation completes up to 54 per cent of all purchases via an e-commerce platform (1). What can we expect to see throughout the remainder of this year as well as into the not-so-distant future? Let us quickly take a look at what many industry experts have to say.

Mobile solutions, multi-channel shopping and more

  • It is always critical to take into account online conversion rates, and certain areas are expected to influence this metric. It can be argued that the most pivotal involves the use of smartphones to complete purchases. Thanks to 3G and 4G technology, potential clients can access websites within a matter of seconds. The best ecommerce platform is one associated with the ability to adapt to this new browsing method.

Multi-channel shopping is set to make digital waves. So, sellers will need to adopt bespoke strategies so that they can target their clients across multiple websites. Blogs, forums and social media pages should all be addressed here. Another benefit of this method is that more backlinks are associated with better Google rankings. Robust online exposure naturally equates to a greater number of inbound hits; the key to developing and maintaining your market share.

An increasingly demanding customer base

We also need to focus on the needs of the customer. Millennials are here to stay, and the much-anticipated Generation Z (buyers born between 1998 and 2010) are just over the horizon. How can we cater to these individuals and what do they expect when working with an e-commerce service?

If this demographic can be defined by one word, it may very well be "demanding". Recent studies have shown that up to 80 per cent of all shoppers will be deterred from future engagement if simple requirements such as clear checkout methods and quick returns policies are not provided (1). Second-best solutions will hardly make the grade. You need to be able to adopt cutting-edge software that is directly based around the needs of your website. Thankfully, Shopify has put together an intuitive and highly advanced e-commerce package. Employing cloud-based technology and able to be moulded around your unique stipulations, it has never been easier to satisfy your customers. Let's also remember that no technical experience is required to implement such beneficial changes.

Of course, the trends mentioned above can be termed accurate predictions as opposed to rock-solid facts. Still, the realm of e-commerce and purchasing solutions within the cloud is indeed here to stay. The best way to rise to the next level is to understand where the online retail marketplace is headed.

Sources: 1. http://www.smartinsights.com/ecommerce/ecommerce-strategy/37-indispensable-ecommerce-stats-to-inform-your-2017-strategy