Shop Smarter: Uncovering the Amazing Future of Online Shopping

February 21, 2023

The future of online shopping is bright, yet it might not resemble what you currently think of in terms of ecommerce purchases. We all assume that technological advancements will automatically occur and that retail ecommerce will inevitably change to some degree. However, if you look ahead, even by just a few years, it’s clear that this entire industry could be radically different.

Specifically, there are many emerging technologies that have the potential to completely change the way in which we engage with online retail shopping

That may sound a little extreme, but as we work through the three future methods of online shopping contained in this article, you’ll realise that it isn’t too extreme at all. In fact, not only is it not extreme, it’s extremely likely that the game is about to change. 

Let’s look at how right now.

Shopping in the Metaverse

When people ask, ‘what is the future of online shopping?’, they often don’t think about technologies that could disrupt the industry. Typically, they will think of different marketing and/or sales techniques and how they could influence ecommerce. But this doesn’t go deep enough when looking at the possibilities in the near future.

Instead, you need to look at industry trends to really see what’s on the horizon. And if you do just a little bit of digging, you’ll see that shopping in the Metaverse is a method that has many people startled. That’s right, the Metaverse isn’t just something that will transform gaming, meetings, or communication. 
 
It’s something that could take over the way in which people make ecommerce purchases. Should you stop to think about the possibilities of the Metaverse and its connection to ecommerce, this statement starts to make total sense. 

Just think of a world where you could strap on a VR/AR headset and shop for clothes while instantly seeing how you look in them. Does that sound appealing? We have a feeling that the answer is yes. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.


Purchasing Goods Using Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be both a blessing and a curse, depending on who you speak to. There are people out there that use artificial intelligence to enhance their lives on a daily basis. At the same time, there are others who are sceptical about AI technology as they believe it could spiral out of control in the future. However, we’re not concerned with individual viewpoints here.

Instead, it’s more appropriate to just look at the facts. When you consider the benefits of artificial intelligence in ecommerce, the list is almost endless. People already use AI technology to guide online purchases, as seen with Alexa and Google Home products. And amazingly, around 45% of millennials have used these technologies to make purchases according to the Millennial Shopping Report from 2019.

Furthermore, assuming AI technology continues to improve and become more integrated into our lives, it’s logical to assume it will spread to impact ecommerce even further. So, in the near future, it could evolve to the point where any form of manual research for products has completely disappeared.

You could just use voice technology, for example, to find a product, use the built-in analytics to find the most suitable product based on your preferences, and then make your purchase when ready. 

Shopping Using NFTs

Come on, did you really think cryptocurrency would have no place in the future of online shopping? For a few years now, the crypto world has been going crazy for NFTs (non-fungible tokens). But millions of people still haven’t quite realised the potential of NFTs. In case you’re not familiar with the term, an NFT is basically anything digital that has been ‘tokenised’.

This means that the asset has been given a unique ID code along with other metadata to provide authenticity. These NFTs are then bought and sold through supporting blockchain systems and respective crypto tokens. And yes, NFTs are very much a part of the online shopping world.

People are already snapping up fashion NFTs in relation to clothes, shoes, or other accessories at an alarming rate. Yet it’s not just individual purchases that make us confident in the role that NFTs will play in the future of ecommerce.

Already, we’ve seen evidence of NFTs being used for proof of ownership, loyalty/rewards programs, subscription services, and even for pre-launches of upcoming products. Therefore, we think it’s fairly obvious that NFTs have a place in the future of online shopping.

Are You Ready to Cater to These Imminent Changes?

Do you have an established ecommerce brand? Are you confused or even worried about retail ecommerce in the near future? If so, why not let the professionals provide assistance? 

Simply contact ZeroGrey consultants today and let’s build a strategy that takes full advantage of the upcoming ecommerce changes.


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