E-commerce Trends: What To Expect!

Score with social commerce

Use the power of social media! Social networks are and will remain important in the coming year. If you want to reach your customers as quickly as possible, these platforms are particularly suitable for advertising your products and services. Even more, since it has also been possible to shop via social media (keyword: social commerce), you enable your customers to get things done quickly and easily.

Small influencers have a big impact!

Another decisive advantage social networks have in store for your online shop is influencers! In doing so, in 2023, you should rather direct your gaze away from the “big” celebrities towards the “small” influencers. Keywords: micro-influencer campaigns . It can be a significant advantage if you rely on the trustworthiness of influencers with fewer followers. Why? The proximity to their followers now often radiates significantly more seriousness and authenticity.

More satisfaction thanks to instant payment

In 2023, it is worthwhile to deal even more with instant payment to encourage the receipt of order processes. The principle is very simple: if you make the ordering process easier for your customers with uncomplicated order processing, this increases the usability of your online shop and thus ensures greater customer satisfaction. Decisive for this is a fast payment option, e.g., via instant payment. This is a transfer in real-time. The recipient receives the payment in his account in a maximum of 20 seconds. Big advantage: a faster shipping process is promoted!

Go Green!

Would you like a look into the countryside? The topic of sustainability will continue in 2023. Consumers are paying more and more attention to how environmentally conscious a company is and how sustainable its products are. If you are attentive here, you can actively react to the new shopping habits of consumers with the right strategy. The possibilities are numerous, whether it’s climate-neutral shipping, donations to charities, or sustainable products. But be careful; the line between practiced sustainability and clumsy greenwashing is often narrow. If you want to take advantage of this trend, you should be one thing above all else: authentic.

Mobile shopping is an important gateway for e-commerce.

Rely on the availability of your customers! The mobile phone is and will remain an important tool. Keyword: mobile commerce! No matter where your customers are, the mobile phone is always ready to hand and in use. It is advisable to optimize your website for mobile devices and thus simplify the shopping experience for your customers. This trend is subject to growth and is essential for your smart e-commerce strategy.

Immerse yourself in product worlds – with augmented reality.

Another trend in the e-commerce world is “Augmented Reality.” This includes the virtual representation of products in reality. The camera, for example, is useful because it combines analog and digital life. Consumers get a better insight into the advertised product world. This simplifies sometimes time-consuming visits to brick-and-mortar retail. Cosmetics can, e.g., B. tried out, glasses can be tried on, or furniture can be placed on the premises virtually! The desired product is thus tested in advance so that a safe purchase decision is made. This so-called “augmented reality” on your website gives you the advantage of counteracting returns.

Chatbots, yes, please!

At first, contact with them seems strange, but the trend to use them is growing all the time: chatbots. This innovative way of solving consumer problems is constantly growing. The user experience shows that consumers react positively when problems are solved, regardless of whether a bot or a human responds. In addition, a return of products can be counteracted quickly and efficiently.

Better purchase recommendations thanks to AI

The importance of artificial intelligence and its performance is growing every year. Clever algorithms allow customers to be better analyzed. Purchase recommendations are based on this, which in turn can have a beneficial effect on your sales. Because not only the shopping behavior is examined but also factors such as search history or gender are included, the search for products can be fine-tuned even more. Your customers, on the other hand, are happier thanks to the successful shopping experience.

Visual Commerce

In contrast to voice input, where visualization plays a secondary role, the importance of images increases in visual commerce. Numerous online shops market their products by capturing them in attractive images or videos. The upcoming trend is 360-degree product views. Another trend in this area is the optimization of visual search. This enables consumers to find the product they want using photos or screenshots.

Voice Shopping: Shop with Alexa or Siri

Voice search is becoming more and more integrated into everyday life. There is a growing trend towards ordering processes, for example, in ​​groceries or household goods, made only by voice input (so-called voice shopping). With the help of Alexa, Siri, and Co., the visual aspect of your product marketing is supplemented by strong auditory marketing. Although the effort involved in configuring voice search is significantly higher at the beginning, in the long term, there are opportunities to address users in an even more targeted manner.

Value-Based Audience Management

A company or a brand is more efficient in the long term if a base of existing customers is formed. However, more than concentrating on the size and behavior of your target group is required. Therefore, value-based analysis is a good tool for audience research. This focuses on the target group that generates the most value, regardless of their size, to retain the customers who generate the most revenue for the company in the long term.

The exceptional shopping experience in times of global recession

In a difficult economic situation, companies must adapt their offer to the customers’ wishes in a more targeted manner. During a global recession, it is therefore important to offer customers an exceptional shopping experience to buy anything at all. For example, it makes sense to simplify returns procedures, optimize customer service or link online channels with physical stores.

Also Read: Use This eCommerce Advice to Grow Your Online Business

Conclusion

The e-commerce trends for the coming year are promising. In particular, these are technical advances that can increasingly affect the everyday life of your company over time. This includes trends such as social commerce or instant payment, which are becoming increasingly important as they develop. The trends mentioned also provide an overview of various starting points that could be relevant for your company. However, a critical examination of the various trends is advantageous, especially regarding options such as augmented reality or voice shopping. The implementation here is usually much more expensive. Overall, all e-commerce trends for 2023 are a foretaste of the years to come.

The post E-Commerce Trends 2023 – Breaking New Ground appeared first on Web Updates Daily.

What Do We Have To Do To Boost Our Online Sales

To give a blow to our online sales, the fundamental thing is to think about the customer, listen to him and, above all, take care of him. To do so, we must know where it is. It is becoming more and more common to see him ‘surf the Internet, regardless of his age. The reason? You have been able to test and verify the benefits of online shopping. This ‘good experience’ has made me want to continue ‘being part of it.’ And if the client is on the Internet, we have to follow him there.

If we look at the long term, we will see that the client will not “only” go to the Internet. You intend to optimize all the channels that the network offers you. Indeed, he will not stop resorting to more physical sales, the same as always, but he will prioritize online sales. Therefore, without eliminating physical business models from our business structure, we must include digital ones as soon as possible. Because our businesses must be ‘online,’ either 100% or, instead, be omnichannel. For this, and as a recommendation, we must train ourselves, acquire those digital capabilities. It is an indispensable requirement.

How To Make Your Sales Online

To start selling online, you must follow these three simple steps:

• Generate digital sales channels, which will allow us to be close to the client. There are three that cannot be missing in our company, no matter what sector it is and its size: Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
• Detect how our customers pay and how we deliver the product, for which we have multiple options, for example, Pay gold (in the first case) and Glovo (in the second).
• Enhance customer service, since we not only have to think about selling. Currently, an essential part of the business is the relationships with our clients and, especially, trying to make their experience with us the best.

We can all carry out these three steps. In fact, despite what many may say, getting started in online sales is accessible for any business. It does not matter its size or the sector it operates, as we have said before. Everyone can acquire enough digital capacity to reach their customer through the Internet. 

Data Is The Key To Online Sales

Online sales cannot live without them. And we are not talking about figures as such, but about those related to the client. There is a perfect relationship that says: if I give value, my clients will be by my side, and they will provide me with their data. And if I have their data, I will be able to create value with them”. Therefore, if we want to start in them and make a place for ourselves on the Internet, let’s measure to maintain and prosper.

Also Read: Which Cloud Model is Right for Your Business Apps?

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7 Benefits Of Online Ordering For Restaurants

Online ordering isn’t just limited to placing orders and getting meals sent to your customers. Behind the scenes, there is a lot that goes on and you’ll soon find out how it benefits your business.

There are several advantages of online ordering for restaurants. Here is a list of reasons why restaurant owners prefer moving their business online and the benefits they enjoy:

Live Tracking Orders

When you set up your own website for your restaurant, you get access to various features such as live tracking tools, customer data analysis, and more. You can track orders, see if they are en route and on time, and get insights into the delivery process.

Additionally, after the orders are delivered, you can collect feedback from your customers about their overall experience.

Free Marketing & Promotions

Once you launch your website and set up your social media links, promoting your business is pretty easy. The initial costs for launching a website are low as well. You can make use of Facebook ads and Instagram marketing practices to get the word out.  

User-generated content is another bonus of setting up these marketing campaigns. Your customers can leave reviews and testimonials on your website, third-party apps, and on Google Maps which let others know how good you are. This attracts more business and helps your restaurant scale up organically from a revenue standpoint.

Collect Customer Data

An in-house online ordering system will make it easier for you to collect customer data. You will get insights on various questions such as if your customers like your recipes or not, what they like the most, and why they skip certain dishes.

You can collect personalized feedback by sending out surveys and notify them about new launches on the menu through email newsletters. An online ordering system makes it easy to collect orders online and add customization options. Your customers hang out online a lot and are more likely to place online orders than go out and eat at restaurants. 

It Makes Your Customers Feel Special

Your customers love placing online orders and that’s a fact. They’d much rather prefer a homemade meal delivered to their doorstep as sometimes they just don’t get enough time to go out. 

Also, an online menu looks more appealing on phones and tablets which means they’re likely to explore your various offerings. You can hire a web developer if you need help in customizing the user experience and journey of your website. 

You Don’t Have To Pay A Commission

This benefit applies to those businesses which have their own website. You don’t have to worry about losing margins or profits to middlemen and enjoy all your earnings instead.  There’s no catch involved and you can sell as much as you want. No limits are placed on the number of orders your website can accept and customers can enjoy various customization options for their meals online. 

Better Expense Management

Restaurant owners will find tracking and managing their expenses to be a lot easier for online businesses. No need to calculate using pen and paper. There are various automation tools built into Shopify and WordPress plugins that let site owners set up online ordering systems. These systems let customers add items to the cart, automatically calculate, and bill them for whatever they want. That means less time spent crunching numbers the old school way, leaving you more time to invest in your business and your employees. Post-coronavirus, it is essential to make that investment by offering employees online food hander’s certification training to ensure the best health and food safety practices are observed at every step of the production process.

You can track all your profits and launch customer referral programs on-site as well. These extra incentives attract new customers and result in greater revenues for businesses. Fleet management is another aspect of managing expenses, and restaurant owners can get instant alerts sent to their devices whenever vehicles break down, thus preventing any sudden mishaps during deliveries. For added vehicle safety, GPS fleet tracking devices offered by specialists like Digital Matter feature customizable preventative maintenance alerts, which enable fleet managers to address vehicle issues before they incur expensive repairs or accidents. Items that are out of stock are shown, and kitchens can stay on track with their inventory. Overall, it makes managing and running a restaurant easier from an operational perspective.

Prepare & Plan Before Starting Up

Before you even think of moving your restaurant business online, it’s vital you spend some time preparing and planning for its launch. Here are some factors to consider:

• What is the extent of your delivery area?
• Your budget, vision, and brand image
• UX and UI of your website
• Ease of use, loading times, and payment modes
• Packaging options for meals and customizations
• Contactless delivery options 

 How To Move Your Restaurant Business Online

Using WordPress to build and design your website is a good way to start a restaurant business online. This is because WordPress offers a wide variety of themes, extensions, and plugins that allow you to interface with users without any problems.

• Register a domain name for your business
• Buy a web hosting plan (yearly)
• Install WordPress and select a theme for your website layout
• Upload your own photographs, menus, and other unique restaurant content. Publish it on the platform to give your website a professional touch.
• For your online ordering system, you can use any one of the following to set up your systems for placing orders, tracking deliveries and payments: Restolabs, Menu Drive, Up Menu, Chow Chow, and Gloria Food. 

Each of these online ordering platforms offer their own unique set of features. Restolabs lets you accept Card on Delivery and COD payments, while Menu Drive can facilitate customer loyalty programs and group payments. You can visit the official website for each to get an overview of what they offer for your business. 

Partner With Online Delivery Apps

One of the best ways to get your restaurant business running is to partner with online food delivery apps. There are various options like Uber Eats, DoorDash, Eat24, GrubHub, Postmates, etc., which you can use. Depending on your target customer base, it’s always advised to focus on one or two food delivery apps in the beginning. Do a bit of homework on the marketplace and see which third-party apps your customers spend the most time on before deciding to commit. 

Conclusion

Be sure to reach out to a WordPress consultant for hire before setting up your restaurant business online. It will make the transition seamless, and you can get your e-ordering business running smoothly in no time.

The post 7 Benefits Of Moving Your Restaurant Business Online And How To Do It appeared first on Web Updates Daily.

Online Software Cheaper And More Flexible

Online software – known as SaaS, for Software as a Service – is consumed on-demand through a subscription per user per month. However, with an Internet connection, they offer an average availability of 99.8% of the time. This is more than software to install, which suffers from bugs and downtime more regularly.

Finally, not all software is available in SaaS, such as video editing software that is very greedy in graphic resources. Installed software also sees the escape of unified communication and collaboration solutions, which take on their full meaning online. In summary, trust SaaS for all software except graphics work.

Security And Confidentiality The Real Challenge Of The Cloud

Recurring mass data hacking events as well as state surveillance undermine the credibility of SaaS. However, we must not mix security and data confidentiality. On the other hand, the lack of security of Cloud solutions is a myth for the vast majority of them for a simple reason: a company cannot secure its data as well as a cloud service provider who’s a job it is. fulltime. Also, loss or theft of data stored on USB drives or computers is deleted through secure Internet access.

Specific Development, The Black Beast Of SaaS

The customization of applications is a very important subject in this comparison between online and on-premise software. Many companies express this need because their business requires very suitable computer software.

SaaS is not subject to specific developments because all of a publisher’s clients share the same application. It is probably here that some users will turn to local installations. However, most SaaS is highly configurable (modification of fields and interfaces). However, there are cases where a client company asks the publisher to carry out a specific development. The request is generally accepted if the publisher believes that the functionality will be of interest to all of its customers.

Web applications work differently, and that is why specific developments are no longer relevant. APIs, a sort of open and secure door in a web application, allow SaaS to communicate data with each other. It is therefore possible to build an information system by combining several SaaS, without any specific development.

The Most Popular Online Software

Here are the most popular software categories in 2020

• ERP
• Project management
• CRM
• Customer Support
• Time management
• Pay
• Marketing watch
• Emailing
• Quotes and invoicing
• Accounting

Conclusion

Online software is a performance vector for companies, which adapt perfectly to the new constraints of users and companies. Replacing solutions that do not go through a web browser is inevitable except for a minority of companies that need customization or software requiring a lot of local resources.

Also Read: How The Internet of Things Is Applied In Medicine

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