16 Technology Trends Shaping eCommerce in 2021

 If the first few months of 2021 have taught us anything, it’s that uncertain times call for quick pivots to sales and marketing plans.

Businesses have had to evolve quickly. Trade shows, events, and in-person sales meetings have been cancelled, throwing a wrench in many sales and marketing strategies.

But even as we navigate a new normal, there is one place that is experiencing an incredible boom in traffic: eCommerce websites. Consumers are turning to online shopping to gather the essentials as well as other items they can’t get from temporarily closed stores.

In other words, if you don’t have an eCommerce store, now is the perfect time to make the investment. And if you do have an eCommerce presence, you need to make sure you’re equipped to keep up with the influx of shoppers and increased competition.

Technology Trends Shaping eCommerce in 2021

1. Mobile dominates online sales.
2. eWallet technology is a must.
3. eCommerce subscription services gain traction.
4. Customization makes products highly personal.
5. Upselling and cross-selling fueled by personalized product recommendations.
6. Augmented and virtual reality are making online shopping interactive.
7. Customer experiences improve thanks to better CRM integration.
8. Magento emerges as the top global eCommerce platform.
9. Actionable content is driving business.
10. PWAs help shoppers quickly complete tasks.
11. Social media is a driving force behind mobile sales.
12. Cognitive supply chain management gains momentum.
13. Video continues capturing consumer attention.
14. Gamification is making online shopping more fun.
15. Chatbots are personalizing eCommerce.
16. Voice search is growing in popularity.

Let's review the latest eCommerce technology trends to focus on as we move through the year.

1. Mobile dominates online sales.

Worldwide mobile retail revenue is expected to reach $3.57 trillion in 2021, up from $2.91 trillion in 2020. This comes as no surprise considering that 125 million Americans own and use smartphones. It’s interesting to note that consumers use mobile to research products they are considering buying and not just to make purchases.

However, just because websites are accessible from mobile devices doesn’t mean businesses are prepared to succeed at mobile commerce. For example, only 12% of consumers find mobile commerce convenient, which means there is significant room for improvement.

2. eWallet technology is a must.

Enabling your customers to use eWallet functionality, commonly known as mobile wallet, is no longer optional. While digital payments accounted for $3.04 trillion USD in payments in 2017, they’re projected to reach a whopping 6.6 trillion USD in 2021, more than doubling in only four years. 

In addition to boosting sales and conversion rates for merchants, eWallet usage provides customers with ease of use and increased security. They no longer need to enter credit card information on websites or give their credit cards to cashiers; plus, many eWallets offer or require dual authentication prior to use