The current pandemic has changed the way we buy and consume. According to the latest studies, the Spanish are the Europeans who have increased their online purchases the most during the crisis.
During the confinement, consumers jumped into online shopping and many businesses had to adapt to this new trend. An important factor that has caused the increase of ecommerce is due to the comfort and security.
The Covid-19 has promoted the digitalization of the different consumption channels, as restrictions and fear of going out to the streets and becoming infected have given way to the promotion of ecommerce.
According to data from the CIS (Sociological Research Center), 23% of Spaniards have increased online purchases during the pandemic.
Online purchases have more than doubled their share from the previous year. While in 2019 they accounted for only 1.5%, in the last week of April 2020 they reached 3.6%. In Madrid and Barcelona it has increased even more, from 2.5% last year to 5%.
Teleworking
Teleworking is one of the great protagonists of the transition to normal work. Thus, as teleworking and sedentarism have accelerated electronic sales, as well as a reassessment of product prices in some sectors.
The sector of office equipment (desks, furniture, chairs, etc.) has been one of the most benefited. The sale of pajamas increased by 184% and other sectors such as; the sector of cleaning products, telemedicine, repair, personal hygiene products, virtual education will experience a change in 2021.
Trends in ecommerce for 2021
The Chatbots
One of the great differences between a physical and an electronic commerce is the existence of a dependent to whom to consult doubts or ask for help.
The chatbots are a tool that acts as a virtual employee to assist users who enter. One of the main objectives of chatbots is to increase customer confidence, which is a key element in the sale.
Voice commerce
Voice Commerce is the technology with which users, through spoken commands, can execute tasks on their electronic devices. Undoubtedly, shopping through voice systems will be a trend in 2021
Augmented and virtual reality
If there is a technology that big companies are betting on, it is Augmented Reality (AR)
Augmented reality seeks to increase the information we have in our environment, completing with different elements such as video, 2D information, 3D, music and more!
Thanks to Augmented Reality the messages of any eCommerce are transmitted in a clearer and more effective way, directly impacting on a greater connection with the consumer, and general sales.
The search for a unique and satisfying customer experience is what has led to the take-off of virtual reality in 2021.
ROPO (Research Online Purchase Offline)
82% of mobile device users search on them but end up buying in the physical stores. This is what is known as ROPO, online search, offline shopping.
The ROPO, at a commercial level, is used by companies to achieve a greater diffusion of their products by taking advantage of the Internet’s diffusion capacity. It is important that they look for the frequent search terms of the users that consume their products in order to make them find their brand.
Blockchain and crypto-currencies
The blockchain will be incorporated into the ecommerce trends in 2021 to provide and reinforce security in electronic transactions.
This is a positive aspect for both companies and users. It will increase trust, peace of mind and, thus, sales.
On the other hand, in 2021 we will see the arrival of new payment options based on blockchain. Crypto-currencies, especially Bitcoin, are interesting for online stores (low transaction costs and no reverse transactions (revocation).
Second Hand Ecommerce
There are predictions regarding the digital second-hand trade that indicate that it will grow in 2021 and continue in this trend until doubling in five years. This is related to changes related to ecologically responsible consumption.
There will also be special interest in brands, accessories and used luxury products. Some platforms in this sector are Wallapop, Vibbo, Wish.