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How Has Ecommerce Evolved and What Will the Future Hold?

Many experts point out that the beginning of electronic commerce has as its origin the sale by the catalog that began at the beginning of the 20th century in the United States. But it was not until years later, with technological development and the globalization of the Internet, that online commerce began to develop as such.

Gradually, the use of the Internet for commercial purposes was expanding worldwide. It was not until 1991, that the National Science Foundation allowed such use. With this, in the following years companies like Amazon, Google or Paypal appeared, companies that currently generate millions of profits thanks to the Internet.

But it was not until the 21st century when the use of the Internet expanded to all homes and devices, with the rise of companies that wanted to expand to the online world increased.

The first years of the century are characterized by the distribution of devices at the user level (mobile phones, computers or tablets), the Internet network offered for homes or single devices and the globalization and internationalization of companies. With all this, online purchases were increasing.

The United States was the pioneer country in these activities. In Spain, for example, some companies such as El Corte Inglés or Inditex stood out, which opted to sell their products through their own electronic stores in the year 2000.

FROM ONLINE STARTUPS TO MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR COMPANIES

Gradually, the number of companies betting on diversifying their means of the sale began to increase: online and offline. And even startups that started online sales as their only business model. Some of them, thanks to effective strategies, such as Hawkers, went from being simple projects to startups and, later, companies with very high volumes of business.

Thus, companies began to realize the scope of online business and the volume of business they could generate.

During the last few years, the volume of commercial transactions through electronic commerce has not stopped growing. In 2015, according to data extracted from the Annual Report of the Network Society of the National Telecommunications and Information Society Observatory (ONTI), the volume of online business exceeded 20,000 million dollars.

In addition, the number of cyber-connected users exceeds 50% of the total population, so the scope is increasing.

HOW DO USERS BUY?

In the beginning of electronic commerce, online purchases were characterized by being made through the computer more frequently, compared to mobile or other devices. But also, one of the techniques most used by consumers was to see the products through the online store and then buy them in the store.

Currently, multi-device purchases have increased and mobile is preferred by consumers. This is because it is a product that we always carry with us, that accompanies us day by day and that saves us from boring moments, times when you can access an electronic store to buy.

Also, purchasing methods have changed; There are several reasons why users trust online shopping more:

  • Safer means of payment and consumers more familiar with the knowledge of data protection.
  • More means of contact with the company: click to call or by telephone from the company’s call center.
  • Opinions of other users on the products themselves allow us to know their experiences.

Thus, many experts consider that physical stores will serve as a catalog for users, while they will decide to wait or buy online at the moment or when they get home.

WHAT DOES ECOMMERCE HOLD IN THE FUTURE?

It’s a fact that eCommerce has made life easier to people when it’s time to buy and a perfect example is the easy home delivery in Canada, which is a popular service today, thanks to eCommerce; but the future of eCommerce is marked by the technological advances that are currently taking place:

  • The automation of processes in eCommerce purchases will no longer be limited to the purchase of products or services by accessing the online store and searching and selecting what you want to buy. Automation will make these processes much easier.

For example, if we realize that the sugar in the kitchen is running out, we can request the purchase or schedule it without having to go through the entire purchase process. In addition, thanks to large databases, companies will be able to predict and program purchases automatically based on our consumption habits.

  • The development of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence are also key points for the future of eCommerce. These technologies will allow purchases, offers and even the eCommerce pages themselves to be focused on each client/web user based on their needs, habits and tastes. All these are thanks to the amount of personal information that we offer through the Internet and that can be collected and analyzed through Big Data.
  • Augmented Reality will be another factor that points to change in virtual stores. Although some companies have already implemented it, such as Ikea with its new app that allows you to see how your products look in any home, it is a sector that still has a long way to go in terms of eCommerce.

Surely, in the future, textile stores will allow you to know how your clothes fit without having to try them on in the store and even know how a perfume smells.

The future of ecommerce will be wonderful, both for the increase in company profits, the development of new technologies and the ease of purchase for users. In addition, as has happened so far, online purchases will continue to grow.

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