Every industry is evolving, especially with the emergence of new trends and technologies that change the way consumers shop and why they do so. For online retailers, it’s important to stay ahead of the curve, keeping up with the latest movements to remain relevant in a very competitive industry.

Looking back at 2021, there came many challenges for the eCommerce industry and online merchants, some of which we are still recovering from. At the same time, opportunities have opened up – so by knowing what’s over the horizon, you can plan your business strategy accordingly.

So let’s not beat around the bush. Below, you’ll find our up-to-date list containing some of the most important eCommerce trends to watch out for in 2022.

1. Social Commerce

Social commerce isn’t necessarily new, but its use is very likely to break all existing records again. Purchases take place within a social media platform such as TikTok or Instagram, which is why social commerce can be seen as an extension of your eCommerce activity.

Research indicates that 97% of Gen Z use social media as their number 1 source of pre-purchase inspiration, and almost 2 out of 3 millennials see it the same way. This means that two very attractive users groups for many online retailers are positively disposed toward using social commerce. And with increasing age, the average purchasing power of these users will also increase, suggesting long-term growth of social commerce.

For example, Shopify’s partnership with TikTok and the integration with Instagram simplifies the sales and payment process for online merchants and shoppers, making it increasingly easy to shop directly on social media. This also applies to Pinterest’s ‘direct sales’.

2. Mobile Usability

Smartphones are part of the daily lives of almost everyone who belongs to the target market for online retailers. You’d expect that all eCommerce websites are optimised for mobile, but this still isn’t the case. By optimising your domain in this way, you are helping your site to rank on Google, which is essential in being mobile-friendly and improving customer experience.

3. Video Content & Live Shopping

Similar to mobile and social commerce, there is an increasing importance of video content and live shopping. A