Transformation of eCommerce Industry in the last 10 Years

Over the past decade, eCommerce platforms like Amazon and Flipkart have become household names. In the last 10 years, there is an abundant growth in eCommerce sales with the internet reaching every nook and corner. The shift towards mobile platforms for these eCommerce brands also played a crucial role in boosting sales figures.

The transformation of the eCommerce industry in the past decade is phenomenal. From 572 million USD in 2010, global eCommerce sales have skyrocketed to 3.46 trillion USD in 2019. More than 256.4 billion USD in sales were recorded by Amazon alone in 2019. The credit for such incredible growth must be given to the transformation within the eCommerce industry in the past decade.

Major Changes in eCommerce Industry in the Last Decade

Clean UI and Better UX

Simply compare the UI for both the website and mobile app of eCommerce giants like Amazon and you will know the importance of having a clean UI for better UX. Just like any offline shopping experience, an online buying experience should be clutter-free and hassle-free. Keeping your website or App UI clean means the users can search or find the products easily and check out quickly.

Having a simpler or cleaner UI is also backed by research published by Blue Corona. As per the research, 48% of people determine the credibility of an eCommerce store or a website by its design. Hence, simpler designs are more effective to boost conversions and sales. At Netsol as a renowned eCommerce website development company, we suggest simpler designs to our clients.

Flexible Payment Options

In India, people are still susceptible to online fraud and resist opting for online shopping. With flexible payment options, many eCommerce brands have developed faith and trust among Indians and encourage them with a safer online shopping experience.

Options like COD, third-party payment integration, and UPI options have changed the perspective of the buyer persona in India and more people are encouraged to buy online for better deals and offers. Cashback offers from many third-party mobile payment channels like Amazon Pay, Apple Pay, PayPal, etc. have also contributed largely to helping people shop online confidently.

Search and Navigation

Many eCommerce portals are now adding a lot of functionalities to their search and navigation features. Features like autocomplete and autosuggest have become a norm for many online stores. The navigation menu is styled and placed on the side to give the same feel and experience as the mobile app. As an advanced eCommerce website builder in India, we emphasize a lot on feature-rich navigation structure and search functionality as they boost engagement and customer retention.

Users have the option to navigate to their desired category or perform a simple search for the products they need. To further enhance the user experience and offer the best products, users can also sort the list of products by popularity, price, or ratings. Breadcrumbs, brand store page, related products, and people also bought sections add new parameters that encourage buyers to add more products to their cart.

Mobile Shift

As smartphone users rose across the globe, the shift towards mobile began for many online retailers and eCommerce store owners. A dedicated mobile became a norm as it aids in connecting with the users better and engaging with them on a day-to-day basis.

According to a report published on Statista, 72.9% of all retail eCommerce is projected to be generated via m-commerce. Hence, a mobile-first approach is a key to success for both existing online stores as well as a fresh start-ups in the eCommerce industry.

Valuing Customer Feedback

Customer ratings and reviews are vital and have gained importance in the last decade. Many eCommerce brands, both brand stores, and marketplaces encourage buyers to leave a review or share their feedback on the product. Such reviews and ratings offer two great benefits.

  1. Allow the brands or stores to listen directly from the horse’s mouth, so they can improve.
  2. Boost engagement from the buyers on the store and add user-generated content.

Negative reviews are not a setback anymore but an opportunity to improve product quality, whereas positive reviews imply that you are in the right direction. Similarly, user-generated feedback or content improves the authority of the page which helps the page rank better in search engines.

Social Engaging

Due to the emphasis on a mobile-first approach, eCommerce stores have integrated social sharing options to promote social engagement. Most smartphone users are active online via Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, or Twitter. Social sharing allows the users to share the products or their Wishlist from the store via Social Media or Instant Messaging platforms.

Such social engagement is useful in improving brand presence and trust. As more and more people engage with your online store, you can expect better and constant referrals from social media channels.

Delivery & Returns

In the last decade of the eCommerce industry, one aspect that has made a revolutionary change is the product delivery and return policy. Earlier, eCommerce stores had to rely on a few traditional courier companies to deliver products. Today, the eCommerce industry has breathed new life into the logistics industry as well. Next-day or same-day deliveries have changed the game for the eCommerce sector. Gone are the days when buyers waited 1 or 2 weeks to receive the products.

Thanks to the delivery partners and their large network, the return policy has also become easier to maintain than before. Wrong-sized pair of shoes or a faulty dress, buyers can easily request a return or replacement instantly from the website or app.

Over to you!

Whether you are planning to launch your eCommerce store or own an existing one, you must adopt these evolutionary changes in the eCommerce industry. Many of these changes are the result of transformation in user behavior, technological advancement, and better infrastructure for the eCommerce industry.