eCommerce after the pandemic will be booming, but there are still important areas to keep note of. As stated in our “The State of eCommerce During the Covid-19 Pandemic” blog, trends are always changing. What is necessary to do during the pandemic will change afterwards as new trends emerge. A great question to ask yourself is what will people be set on once the pandemic is over? Also think about how technology is advancing, what trends that appeared during the pandemic will stick around for the long-term?
Work From Home
Many people have started working from home to follow precautions and stay safe. This has caused the workplace to change, and presumably permanently for some industries. As more employees have been exposed to this work model, they have seen how WFH can be very beneficial. This model is especially effective for eCommerce businesses who already use the internet to make sales online. Utilizing a virtual office saves costs for both employers and employees. This allows for more time to work instead of commuting or being stuck in traffic.
Online conferencing platforms such as Zoom, GoToWebinar, and WorkCast connect employees for collaborations on projects. These tools make it feasible to hire workers who live great distances apart from the company. If it is hard to fill a job opening, or find a position where one lives, remote work makes it easier to do so. According to The New York Times, most workers would prefer a hybrid model of working at home and the office after the pandemic ends. There is also a sizable amount of those who prefer only to work from home. Remote work going forward is something more workers will demand as an option.
B2B (Business-To-Business)
eCommerce will see a trend in more B2B sales particularly in the tech and marketing industries. The coronavirus has affected the budgets of businesses, which has led to them holding back on purchases. With work options expanding, more businesses will need to invest in technology integration and updates. Marketing will be needed to draw interest to tech solutions for these new problems. These sectors are doing well during the pandemic and will continue to do so when it ends. Companies who adapt now to these issues will be better off in the future.
Omnichannel Marketing
If one has an ecommerce store, or sells online along with physical locations, seamlessness is needed. Omnichannel marketing for eCommerce is just as essential as it is for brick and mortar stores. Optimizing your eCommerce website for multiple devices will give you a heads up in being updated for customers. Not all shoppers use the same devices to make purchases online. Mobile users should be able to access the same content as effortlessly as desktop users.
Customers are now expecting companies to be technologically advanced with the increase in online shopping due to the pandemic. Allow your shoppers to have multiple options to choose from for payment methods. This includes installment payments, which makes purchasing higher priced items more affordable. Consumers are not as interested in spending large amounts, which is likely to remain the same after the pandemic. The checkout process should be as quick and easy as possible to be convenient for the customer. eCommerce after the pandemic will need to be more innovative to keep tech savvy buyers satisfied.