Exciting facts and e-commerce trends worth knowing

E-commerce has been growing and changing immensely over the past two years. Covid has led to more businesses finally getting on the train of digital transformation, discovering its huge potential on the way. Statistics show that one in four sales will take place online by 2024. In 2021, online sales accounted for 5 trillion dollars worldwide, and this figure is expected to rise to 6.4 trillion by 2024. There is a strong emerging trend in the food sector. Last year for example, one third of society bought food online for the first time. In this context, generation Z as well as millennials are the pioneers in trying out new online services, regarding to a KPMG study.

Michael Suitner
updated on
10 Jan

Generations expect different things from e-commerce

It might come as a surprise, but interestingly the generation of baby boomers became the fastest-growing group regarding shopping online during Covid. Their trust in online shopping and the internet in general is quite low, so retailers must try building reliability and trust if they want to win customers out of this generation. They are also the ones who are most open to hybrid solutions, such as click & collect and prefer locally customized shopping experience.

Another generation retailers tend to overlook is the group of Gen X. This mistake comes with high costs since it is also the group with the highest average income and therefore with an immense spending power. Indeed, they are known savers and appreciate a good offer, discounts as well as a smooth checkout procedure, but don’t make the mistake to ignore them.They can be caught with customer references since they trust peers more than brand names and have high potential when it comes to sale offerings.  

Also known as the “try-before-you-buy” generation are the millennials. Opportunities to return products are a must-have when it comes to this group. But if you think about it, this is nothing out of the ordinary. We are used to trying of clothes in-store, taking a car for a test drive and first-month-free offers. Millennials are simply requesting these amenities in e-commerce related manners as well. In contrast to the baby boomers and Gen X, they are very brand loyal, expect rewards and tons of product information before making a buying decision. Millennials are purpose-driven, so retailers better make an effort when it comes to story-telling and bringing across their values and social goals.

Last but not least comes Generation Z. The so-called Zoomers are the youngest but do have a lot of potential since they grew up with the internet, spending countless hours online. You might be surprised, but they trust information on brand websites more than recommendations on social media and such. Just as millennials, they usually are brand-loyal, but they expect fast websites and deliveries as well as great customer service. Another way to get their attention? Implement video material on your website and in advertising. This generation is all about the visuals.

E-commerce is all about trust

Even in 2022, 81% of online shoppers are hesitant to buy from a site they are unfamiliar with. Therefore, building trust is indispensable when it comes to the success of your online store. One of the most stated reasons for cart-abandonment for example are hidden costs only reflected at the end of check-out. High transparency throughout the whole buying process eliminates doubt and ensures higher conversions.

What else can you do to build trust? Since there is such a huge amount of fraud out there, adding a trust seal or safety certificate like Trusted Shops or TrustPilot can increase your sales by a third.

Add social proof like customer references, logos and media mentions to your shop. This report shows that testimonials lead to 63% of people feeling more likely to purchase a product. Don’t be afraid to receive negative feedback sometimes. Rather use it to increase the quality of your service and products.

Real pictures vs. stock photos.There are countless surveys about how authentic visual material leads to higher numbers in sales. Consider investing some time and money into taking individual pictures for your e-commerce store instead resorting to stock photos.


The key to successful e-commerce

In the end it comes down to one thing. Being attentive and willing to respond to customer requests and needs. Little things go a long way, and you cannot strengthen loyalty in any better way than giving your customers what they ask for. Our advice: after gathering peoples feedback, see which pain points are the most common and the easiest to fix. Talk about the changes you made on your social media wall and / or in your newsletters. By doing this, you make your customers feel important and valued and success will follow in no time.