India is reaching new heights in Ecommerce. Giants like Flipkart, Amazon and Snapdeal have been in the tussle to claim the top spot in the industry. With the increasing use of latest technologies- Drones, blockchain, augmented and virtual reality, digital assistants, machine learning, Internet of Things— here are some key technological and digital trends that will help the businesses to grow their output in 2018.
#Trend 1 Voice Search and Purchases
With the advanced voice assistant like Siri and Amazon Echo, there is a continuous increase in voice search. Smartphones users are using voice search options quite frequently and an estimated 40% millennial already use voice assistant prior buying anything online.
The popularity will rise with the increase precision in voice search and soon e-commerce retailers are going to reap benefits out of such tools.
#Trend 2 Video Content
Video content is the next big thing and a fastest booming format on internet. Ecommerce giants like Flipkart and Amazon are already circulating interesting video campaigns to engage their audiences.
According to Statistics: Video marketing can boost click-through rates by 200-300% and increase purchase intent by 97%.
Video has already taken a big chunk of online consumer ranging up to estimated 80% of online traffic by 2020.
#Trend 3 The Classic – Interactive Content
Content has always been the king of digital marketing. Storytelling and creativity is what differentiates a good brand from an average one. Online retailers are already using very interesting content strategies to drive customers to their website. Channels like social media are used extensively to promote interactive and interesting content which leads to driving traffic to the website and finally conversions.
Nowadays, curated content in the forms of recommendations, reviews and expert opinions increases the chance of selling products much more and plays a vital role for influencing consumer buying behavior. Niche experts and subject matter experts hold high regards in potential consumers’ mind that so many brands are roping in such brand advocates to get an edge for their marketing.
#Trend 4 Artificial Intelligence and Chatbots
Several international brands are already using artificial intelligence and chatbots to increase their sales.
For instance, many brands have developed and launched Chatbots for Facebook Messenger and have been effectively leveraging the platform to engage with their audience. These bots not only increase sales for the brands but also provide superior customer service and have helped them to increase their service standards.
#Trend 5 Marketing Automation
Marketing automation has already been quite a rage since 2017 with an estimated $32 billion spent last year. In 2018, the number is expected to increase as several organizations and brands are embracing this technology.
With better technology related to machine learning and analytics, this industry will witness big developments in 2018.
