It’s official: The world of e-commerce is moving along faster than ever before, with around 2.77 billion people expected to shop online by 2025. With 20.1% of all retail purchases expected to take place online throughout 2024, now is the time for retailers to understand how having the right logistics services can contribute to business growth.
As a continuation to our previous article about the main logistics trends to watch during 2024, in this article, we will look at what the biggest impacts are to the world of e-Commerce. We’ll also share what role logistics services like air freight have in getting orders to customers fast and share some advice on how retailers can make changes that appeal to their consumers.
What’s Shaping the Future of e-commerce?
With disposable income reducing for shoppers globally, e-commerce is experiencing more changes than ever before in a very short space of time. This is also combined with more saturated markets for smaller businesses, which aim to meet consumers’ preferences in terms of unique products, added value, and sustainable initiatives.
The industry is also one of many that have undergone a digital transformation in recent years. Technology now plays a crucial role in the success of businesses so all companies must adopt tools which customers are expecting to interact with.
Overall, customers are looking for more accessible routes to shop which meet their lifestyle needs and preferences. With more than 25 million online retailers currently operating, the pressure to meet and get ahead of e-commerce trends is undeniable.
Top 10 E-commerce Trends to Be Aware of for 2024/25
Now that you know the impact that e-commerce trends can have on the performance of a business, we have shared below the main market shifts that all companies should be aware of. These are prevalent across various sectors and reflective of how the most influential shoppers are looking to spend money online during 2024 and 2025.
Appealing to a broad selection of customers is more important than ever before. A significant trend involving this is improvements to search capabilities.
This is important for both those with busy lifestyles who are looking to shop faster and also people who have impairments which add barriers to online shopping. Furthermore, thanks to the rise in popularity of voice and visual searches by the younger generation, this is also a trend likely to remain high on the list for coming years as future shoppers will expect this convenient method of sourcing required products.
Another trend to be aware of is the growth of subscription schemes. These are growing in popularity as they meet the needs of busy individuals who don’t have the time to regularly shop for essential items.
Also important as a method of helping consumers remain loyal to a brand, subscriptions often result in cost savings, which is another appealing factor.
Customers are also increasingly expecting the option to be available for speedy delivery of their purchases. As the culture of instant gratification increases, many are continuing to choose next-day and even same-day fulfilment.
This means companies need to look at both their warehouse management in terms of efficiency and methods of managing overseas shipments. Although Brexit has slightly impacted air-freight operations for e-commerce, it still remains the quickest method of securing essential stock (Learn more here).
Consumers are also placing sustainability as an influential factor when choosing where to shop, which again confirms the importance of air freight. As a sustainable shipping solution, air freight also allows companies to import larger amounts of stock in a shorter space of time, meaning more sales can be fulfilled.
With 61% of consumers placing sustainable initiatives as one of their top deciding factors when shopping, being able to market changes that a business has made is also a strong selling tool.
Augmented and virtual reality are also two key trends to be aware of as shoppers are looking for more immersive retailing experiences. Essential for both helping customers learn more about online products and satisfying the need to interact with technology, this method is a great way of building loyalty with consumers.
Shoppers also require more flexibility in how they can pay for items, which is a trend set to remain past 2025 thanks to the likes of Klarna and Clearpay. This trend is also one of transitioning to in-person retail stores with many flexible payment apps that offer the same selection of payment options.
This covers both those with restricted budgets plus those looking to build their credit scores in a market where lending is increasing by the day.
With social media continuing to be used by most people across the world, integrated shopping methods are more popular than ever before. This allows people scrolling through an app to buy an item being advertised in just a few clicks. Social commerce is also important as it allows consumers to share their purchases online, making it a proven method of exposure marketing.
Continuing from our previous point, also important is the power of influencer marketing in selling products through both social commerce and for directing shoppers to retailing sites.
In the UK alone, mobile commerce accounts for almost 70% of digital orders. This is because shoppers are looking for convenient methods of shopping from wherever they are based. The focus on mobile shopping represents the importance of businesses ensuring their websites are optimised for all forms of technology.
The last trend to be aware of is consumers looking for ways to unite digital and in-person experiences. This allows companies to offer more varied shopping experiences which appeals to even more customers.
How Can Businesses Prepare for e-Commerce Trends?
Plan for Rapid Logistics Fulfilment
Companies should consider what their plans are for managing increased demand not just in terms of quick deliveries but also important stock from wider locations. While expediting shipping via sea freight is a proven method, companies also need to consider potential delays such as the recent impact of the Panama and Suez canal delays. This is why air freight is also a popular option.
Adopt Digital Tools
Consider Different Price Points
Monitor Real Time Activity
Why Choose Radius Warehouse and Logistic Services?
Our logistics company is ideal for supporting all of the trends outlined in this blog. Whether you are looking for help air freights, sea shipments or in facilitating road transportation, we offer something for every business.
For more information about how we can support the demands of e-commerce trends, contact our team.
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