As technology changes the way retailers sell across channels, ecommerce best practices also evolve. Emerging trends transform the way people shop (think mobile-first), and those who don’t adapt accordingly fall behind.

When a business establishes price and becomes competitive, priority shifts to brand differentiation and improving the customer journey. Customer habits change over time, creating the need for businesses to track consumer preferences and implement technology to match.

For example, in the early 2000s, the rise of ecommerce trends led brick-and-mortar stores to offer online alternatives. Around 2014, the responsive design helped mobile shopping surpass desktop counterparts in total sales. Today, artificial intelligence, machine learning and predictive analytics drive the success of the world’s most profitable ecommerce stores.
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Innovative Payment Gateways – Key Point

Your checkout experience has to be fast, easy and, if you’re good, fun. That’s where innovative payment gateways come in. Talk to your developer, track your sales performance, and see if a new payment gateway could boost your bottom line.

But how does one adapt a business to capitalize on all the latest market preferences? The answer: become an ecommerce scientist. Dive into Google Analytics to learn about user behavior. Ask questions and test solutions to see if the conversion rate improves. Are you a lifestyle brand where content and community are kings? Do you sell B2B and B2C commodities to clients who prioritize customer service and brand reputation?

Lifestyle brands often see increased customer engagement after enhancing content strategy and social media presence. Large retailers expect more traffic and repeat business by streamlining order fulfillment, improving customer service and offering individualized search tools.

As new and improved technology emerges, the line between lifestyle and retail brands will blur. In fact, many B2B clients already expect personalized B2C content. At the same time, lifestyle brand consumers seek optimized shopping features.

An ultimate goal in today’s business environment should be a multichannel or omnichannel experience. With the right blend of technology and content, customers will enjoy a seamless sales environment, whether they shop from their phones, tablets, computers, social platforms, by phone or in-store.

The most important thing ecommerce businesses can do is stay on top and take advantage of the technology and shopping trends (like innovative payment gateways) that emerge. Conversions will hang in the balance.

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