E-commerce classSTUST

Top E-commerce Trends to be Embraced in 2014 

Michal Kriziak March 2014

Shift to B2B

Hybris and Forrester Research shows that businesses are now following consumers in their footsteps and sourcing products via the web – creating huge opportunities for B2B retailers to move online.

The study showed that 50% of B2B companies are currently selling direct to business partners online. (see: Alibaba.com)

Making use of big data

Many companies have been collecting data for years but are not necessarily putting it to good use. 2014 will see a greater number of e-tailers making use of this information to personalise their offerings to customers and predict market trends.

Tesco is a good example of a retailer making the most of big data to innovatively increase sales. It uses weather records and detailed sales data to help predict demand for certain products based on weather forecasts.

Multi-channel shopping 1/2

Thanks to the growing popularity of smartphones and tablets, more people now want to be able to shop using many different channels. The research also showed that in just five years almost half of all purchases will involve more than one channel, with people using physical shops as showrooms, buying online and being kept up to date about delivery via mobile phone.

Multi-channel shopping 2/2

Tmall.com is an example of one retailer embracing multi-channel shopping and bridging the gap between online and offline. Tmall encouraging people to visit the stores to try out goods. They could then scan product QR codes with their mobile phones to add goods to their virtual shopping cart and automatically receive the appropriate discount.

Next day delivery

As the e-commerce market becomes more crowded, a growing number of e-tailers are likely to try and satisfy people’s desire for immediacy by offering next or even same day delivery. The Micros Online Retail Delivery Report showed that 68% of retailers currently offer next day delivery, compared to 61% last year.

Quality content

2014 is all about improving the user experience, starting with retailer’s websites. With increased competition, boring repetitive product descriptions and lackluster images will send people running from your site, and possibly straight to a competitor.

Exclusive, high quality and genuinely engaging writing, images and videos will help drive people to online stores.

References(2014). Retrieved March 04, 2014,

from alibaba: http://buyer.alibaba.com/forum?tracelog=discussion_forums_20130419

startyourbusinessmag.com. (n.d.). Retrieved March 05, 2014, from http://www.startyourbusinessmag.com/top-e-commerce-trends-to-be-embraced-in-2014/