One thing about the ecommerce market is that it’s always everchanging and keeping up to trends especially technology wise, from Augmented reality to AI recommendation to mobile shopping and chatbots, the ecommerce industry lives on the precipice of technology and innovation.

To keep up with the digital Joneses, brands need to excel across all cycles and cylinders, offering intelligent e-commerce that provides exactly what consumers want, from product searches and recommendations to post-sale care. Above all, brands must have a customer experience that makes people forget about the competition. To do this, they need a deep understanding of the industry trends and buying behaviors shaping e-commerce.

Aligning with these trends is essential for brands, whether they’re selling to consumers or businesses. Study after study shows that B2B buyers have shifted to digital channels and expect the same kind of buying experience they have as a consumer.

For example, 33% of B2B buyers say they search for products on mobile devices and social platforms more than in the past.

Let’s explore the top ecommerce trends and see where the industry is headed.

 AR brings the in-store experience online.

Perhaps one of the greatest challenges of shopping online is the inability to see, touch, and fully experience a product in-person before buying — enter augmented reality (AR).

According to eMarketer, the number of AR users in the US will exceed 100 million by the end of 2025, making up 32% of the population. No doubt, AR and VR (virtual reality) are revolutionizing the online shopping experience by bridging the gap between the physical and digital worlds. 

Today, major retailers are leveraging AR for virtual try-ons and interactive 3D product views, allowing shoppers to visualize products in their real-world environments, thus increasing buyer confidence and reducing return rates. 

Turning up the volume with voice search.

With 75% of US households owning a smart speaker in 2025, it’s no surprise that voice search is an up and coming trend in the ecommerce space.

Voice assistants like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant have transformed the way that consumers interact with ecommerce platforms — like BigCommerce and Shopify — offering a hands-free, convenient way to shop. By simply using a voice command, shoppers can search for products, make purchases, and track orders with ease. 

In response, many ecommerce businesses are optimizing their sites for voice search, ensuring quick and accurate responses to voice queries. And as voice technology continues to innovate, its integration into the shopping experience will undoubtedly enhance customer convenience and drive significant growth in online sales.

Chat marketing humanizes the digital experience.

While chatbot conversations may have once felt robotic and stiff, recent developments in generative AI have significantly improved the ways that online shoppers can interact with these tools. 

Today, AI-powered assistants can provide instant responses to inquiries, guide product searches, and facilitate seamless transactions, mimicking human conversation with efficiency and empathy. By offering real-time assistance and personalized recommendations, chatbots not only streamline customer service but also foster customer relationships and affinity for ecommerce brands. As they continue to evolve, chatbots will become integral in delivering personalized marketing messages, nurturing leads, and driving conversions. 

Mobile shopping is still on the move.

Many of us go day-to-day with a smartphone within arm’s reach — which means shopping is also going mobile. In fact, the share of mobile commerce in all ecommerce has been on the rise, expected to reach 62% in 2027. 

In response, online businesses need to ensure their ecommerce sites are responsive on mobile and provide a seamless experience across all devices. This means optimizing content for smaller screens, enabling one-click ordering, and offering other conveniences that support on-the-go shopping.

Closing the sale with flexible payment options.

There’s perhaps no experience as vital to the customer journey as checkout. Even the smallest hiccup during the process can turn a sale into a lost customer for life. 

For many customers, the best checkout experiences are the ones that offer flexible payment options. In fact, 13% of customers will abandon their carts if they don’t see enough payment methods available. Focus on providing a variety of payment options such as credit cards, digital wallet payments like Google Pay or Apple Wallet, or one-click checkout options like Bolt or Fastlane by PayPal. 

In addition, you can offer financing options like buy now, pay later (BNPL), allowing you to connect your brick-and-mortar stores with your online store. By partnering with providers such as Klarna, Sezzle, and Affirm, you can encourage online shoppers to pay in installments without any added interest — leading to higher conversion rates, average order values, and sales. 

Shopping goes social.

Over the past couple years, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok have grown into more than just social media platforms — now they’re also hubs for social commerce. In fact, Insider Intelligence found that 110.4 million people shopped via social channels in 2024. 

Thanks to the popularity of experiences like one-click checkout and live shopping, these channels are becoming more and more customer-friendly, making it seamless for customers to search for and purchase products. In addition, social commerce has a low barrier, allowing online businesses, both big and small, to enhance brand awareness, grow their audience, and offer a frictionless buying experience.  

Subscriptions keep customers coming back.

From food and beverage brands to clothing rental companies, subscription services have taken over a wide range of ecommerce industries — and continues to grow. The Washington Post even predicts that, in 2025, the “subscription economy” will grow to $1.5 trillion. 

For many ecommerce brands, this business model is attractive as it not only offers continuous revenue but also increased customer loyalty. Coupled with a loyalty program, these subscription models can offer shoppers access to exclusive discounts and offers, early access to new products, and personalized customer support.

User-generated content is influencing ecommerce sales

User-generated content (UGC) adds credibility, authenticity‌, and social proof to a brand’s marketing efforts — and can significantly boost sales and brand loyalty. In fact, one study found that shoppers who interact with UGC experience a 102.4% increase  in conversions. Most shoppers expect to see feedback and reviews before making a purchase, and UGC provides value by showcasing the experiences and opinions of real customers.

UGC also breaks away from generic item descriptions and professional product photography. It can show how to style a piece of clothing, for example, or how an item will fit across a range of body types. User-generated videos go a step further, highlighting the functions and features of more complex products, like consumer electronics or even automobiles.

UGC is also a cost-effective way to generate content for social commerce without relying on agencies or large teams. By sourcing posts from hashtags, tagging, or concentrated campaigns, brands can share real-time, authentic, and organic social posts to a wider audience.

UGC can be used on product pages and in ads, as well. And you can incorporate it into product development processes to gather valuable input from customers at scale.

Loyalty programs are getting more personalized

It’s important to attract new customers, but it’s also critical to retain your existing ones. That means you need to find ways to increase loyalty and build brand love. More and more, customers are seeking out brand loyalty programs — but they want meaningful rewards and experiences. So, what’s the key to a successful loyalty program? In a word: personalization.

Customers don’t want to exchange their data for a clunky, impersonal experience where they have to jump through hoops to redeem points. They want straightforward, exclusive offers. Curated experiences. Relevant rewards. Six out of 10 consumers want discounts in return for joining a loyalty program, and about one-third of consumers say they find exclusive or early access to products valuable.

The brands that win customer loyalty will be those that use data-driven insights to create a program that keeps customers continually engaged and satisfied.

Harness digital tools and analytics to understand customer behavior.

Your ecommerce strategy will only be as good as how well you know your customer.

Utilize platforms like Google Analytics, social media insights, and CRM systems to gather data on customer interactions, preferences, and buying patterns. By analyzing this data, you can identify emerging trends and evaluate their potential impact on your business. This data-driven approach ensures that you make informed decisions, aligning your strategies with your customers’ needs and preferences.

Gather feedback from your customers.

Customer feedback can be a goldmine of insights that can guide your decision-making on adopting new trends — so don’t be afraid to ask current customers what they want.

Conduct customer surveys, ask for product reviews, and interact with customers on social media to get a feel for their needs, preferences, and pain points.

You never know — a customer might even suggest an idea you hadn’t thought of yet!

Observe your competitors.

Take a look at your competitors. Did they jump on a specific trend? If so, how did it work for them? Analyze their strategies, product offerings, and marketing tactics to identify what’s working and what’s not. Pay attention to how they’re adopting and implementing trends, and observe the responses from their customers. 

Understand cost and ROI to implement new trends.

Before investing in a new trend, you’ll want to make sure it’s worth your time and money. Consider the potential costs and resources required for implementation, including technology, training, and marketing expenses. Assess whether the trend aligns with your business goals and if the expected ROI justifies the investment. 

By first analyzing these factors, you’ll be able to make informed decisions, ensuring that your time and efforts are directed toward trends that offer the most significant benefits and future growth for your business. 

Conclusion

The ecommerce landscape is evolving faster than ever, driven by emerging technologies, shifting consumer expectations, and new ways to shop and engage with brands. From social commerce to AI-powered experiences, the trends shaping 2025 will redefine how businesses connect with customers.

Success in this dynamic environment requires more than just keeping up — it demands strategic adaptation. By leveraging data-driven insights, adopting new technologies, and prioritizing seamless customer experiences, brands can stay ahead of the curve and thrive in the competitive online marketplace.