The Future of Web Development at the Crossroad of Technologies

As we are all in the middle of 2021, one arena that has continuously shown progress, newer web developments, and innovation as never before is technology.

And one important arm of technology that is showing its prowess in web development.

Web development, over the years, has become an indispensable ingredient in the success of any organization.

It acts as a window to your business. Trends have been observed heavily this year and the next year shall witness more to come.

Knowing trends and keeping abreast of what is happening around is highly significant for web development.

Statistics like the number of visitors who stopped visiting the site because of bad design, who had a bad user experience, who got converted into customers because of smart design etc. are important numbers that can guide you to a better business tomorrow.

“Web development is the work involved in developing a Web site for the Internet or an intranet. Web development can range from developing a simple single static page of plain text to complex Web-based Internet applications, electronic businesses, and social network services”.  – Wikipedia

The top web development trends that could rule in 2021 and beyond:

PWA  (Progressive Web Application)

Progressive Web Apps, as the name suggests, are bearing the flag of the future in the web development world.

PWA offers cutting-edge functionalities that support interactive mode, responsive action, offline way of working, app-like functions, and offer good quality web applications.

This technology is apt at revolutionizing client experience big time.

PWA also has been a top favorite of organizations that are in look of a mobile-first approach..

Voice-Enabled Ecommerce Applications

Voice-related functionalities like voice enabling, voice search engine optimization, voice commerce is on a rise.

As the bridge between technology and humans is getting closer, such functionalities are rising in demand. It has already shown its presence in 2020 and shall show more in 2021 with increasing areas getting positively affected.

Smart speakers, voice recognition, eCommerce through voice technology are some of the key technologies that are ruling the market.

Such features when clubbed with web applications/websites are enhancing the business front.

Integration of With AI (Artificial Intelligence)

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been doing great rounds with web development all through these years and the coming year shall show more.

A variety of solutions are being integrated seamlessly through AI and ML related algorithms.

These technologies are assisting organizations in automating processes and thereby offering great web development techniques.

Web development is leveraging AI through novel features like supervised learning, unsupervised learning, and reinforced learning.

AI is of great help to the varied number of industries, owing to its fatal blend of humans and machines.

AI-based equipment and machines like facial identification, pattern identification, etc. are all set to lessen daily errors, boost productivity, speed, and agility.

Chatbots and their New Experience

Chatbots have been replacing the human interface when the websites talk to their customers.

The year saw increased usage of chatbots and how well organizations are now realizing the importance of chatbots.

Till now, its usage has been restricted but now the coming year shall see a generous use of this functionality.

As chatbots use the blend of voice/speech recognition technique and cognitive intelligence, replacing human support on websites with chatbots has become more fruitful.

The bots collect the questions coming from visitors, analyze them, and come up with appropriate answers. If not possible, chatbots pass it on to the respective authorities for the solution.

This increases the speed at which queries are resolved, leading to higher customer satisfaction.

Internet of Things (IoT)

A big name today, IoT has been spreading its usefulness all over. On a personal and professional front, IoT has been instrumental in getting smoothly involved without day to day technologies.

In the world of the web, IoT is primarily involved in facilitating web tools to track data from IoT-based smart devices.

IoT has also been actively helping in the web development process by integrating smoothly with other technologies like wearables, cloud-based devices, serverless technologies. It assists web development in rendering websites speedily.

Dark Mode Websites

The world is going more towards a dark mode-themed UI. It does give a classy touch, is safe and easy for eyes, and makes other elements pop out.

The dark theme makes the other characteristics get focused more, with an increased contrast ratio. It reduced the strain that other designs have on the eyes.

The newer lot of web development is going in for a dark theme since they are better for OLED screens, save electricity, and have a long span of life.

They look good too and enhance the visibility pattern of other accent colors.

Push Notifications for Both Mobile & Web App

Push notifications have been a normal important feature in a mobile app. But now they are getting used in web development now.

Push Notification

It helps in notifying users whenever there is new content present barring the need to checking emails or browsing sites.

It is almost as same as popups, but the difference is that it can come to you at any point of time, even if you are not on a website.

The user can be kept engrossed without much to do. This feature comes up with a higher clicking rate and gives better results than normal routine marketing efforts.

AR/VR Giving New Experience

Artificial Intelligence (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) have never seen back. All these years, there has been constant progress in implementing AR/VR technology into web development.

The level of customer satisfaction that has been achieved with this technology has encouraged web development projects to integrate AR/VR into its framework.

There are many ways AR and VR can help websites/apps function in a better manner. Real-time performance can be created with which the customers can get satisfied.

Not only on mobile devices, but this can also be felt on laptops and desktops too.

Conclusion

For a prosperous future of web app developments, businesses will have to work with technology and data firms.

As well the social media platforms will need to ensure the information is always safeguarded for the transaction to take place.

For more digitally-driven insights, explore our guide to getting started with big data analytics and business intelligence for small businesses – or talk to our expert.

 

The Growth of Artificial Intelligence in Ecommerce

Technology combined with eCommerce has taken the world by storm even prior to the Covid-19 crisis. Customer satisfaction, brand recognition, and the effectiveness of the sales procedures are the pillars on which the e-Commerce industry thrives. With technology increasingly infiltrating the e-commerce market, retailers are on the lookout for innovative ways to improve these aspects with newer features to automate processes and stay ahead of the curve.

All this reckoned with, the integration of AI proved to be a game-changer for eCommerce and retail platforms, thus shaping retail digitization.

The below graph indicates Statista’s estimates of retail sales to amount to nearly $30 trillion by 2023. Nasdaq estimates 95% of purchases by E-commerce to be facilitated by 2040.

Retail-ecommerce-sales(Source – indatalabs.com)

The implementation of Artificial Intelligence in eCommerce can change business functions with demand forecasting and big data based on behavior, product, and, action. The usage of AI in the eCommerce industry brings a set of unique perks to most retailers. Not only does it provide the luxury of shopping but also reduces costs and strengthens the top line and bottom line of the organization.

Recommendation Systems

Ecommerce application development companies offer intuitive web and mobile apps simplifying online ordering for retail customers. They integrate AI that gathers data based on user’s interests that also drive the rate of up-selling. Amazon is the best example that offers a customized web page to millions of users. Amazon’s recommendation engine is well-known for the use of AI in e-commerce to generate suggestions.

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Another industry magnate, Netflix, saves $1 billion a year, thanks to AI-powered systems that deliver 75% of content to users through targeted and customized recommendations. These technologies are built on top of big data.

Consumers can also receive non-trivial recommendations aligned to their current location. All in all, AI keeps track of your previous shopping habits and makes intelligent suggestions for similar items that you’ll enjoy just as much.

Definitely, the growth of Artificial Intelligence in the eCommerce industry has increased productivity with fully automated data processing to ease lives.

Chatbots in eCommerce

In 2020, nearly 77% of the most successful businesses generated leads through chatbots.

ChatbotChatbots are algorithm-based customer service tools built to enhance customer experience.

According to a study conducted by Bain & Company, businesses that connect and communicate with customers service requests on social media cite a 20% to 40% increase in revenue from those consumers.

Chatbots, which replace human workers, help to make more productive use of the resource by giving them more opportunities to contribute.  High user rating and recommendation, increased sales, and user retention spiked the integration of chatbots in the eCommerce space. Reduction in shopping cart abandonment curbed lengthy checkout procedures. This factor was seen as a major reason for success in retaining customers.

For example, Agromall, a Philippines-based eCommerce store sells consumer goods. Their bot makes it easier to extract key information, delivery details, and talk to a support agent.

The bot was designed with two main objectives in mind:

  • To streamline the sales process.
  • Customers can chat with an agency at any point of the sales process, which will enhance the live chat and service experience.

Argomall’s store bot uses Google’s Site Search API for customers to enter keywords like “Sony TV” and other products.

The results?

After its launch, Agromall generated a whopping 23x increase in ROI, thanks to its chatbots that is the major driving tool for sales and customer service.

Chatbots have made their mark with exponential growth in revenue due to their automated order placement and personalized search results. People who use messaging apps to connect with brands are 53% more likely to shop with a company they can contact.

AR and VR Transforming Ecommerce

Retailers are aiming to create intuitive and friendly shopping experiences by combining current e-commerce stores with immersive technology like Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality (AR/VR). These innovations have revolutionized the e-commerce industry and altered the way companies operate.

The “try before you buy” phrase has earned its reputation in the eCommerce world. All thanks to the AR & VR Technology that possesses the ability to visualize a product of your choice.

How can the power of AR and VR change the future of shopping?

AR and VR can enable customers to visit interactive showrooms and experience products. Customers get to make informed purchase decisions by simply scanning a product through a Smartphone and viewing a list of products available on numerous eCommerce platforms. It lets you flip through retail stores and flipping through product descriptions and dimensions.

AR and VR in Ecommerce
(Source – ecommercegermany.com)

Some of the greatest eCommerce companies are leveraging virtual reality to create incredible experiences and gain a competitive advantage.

Customers are more likely to purchase from brands that use immersive technology to market themselves, according to a recent survey.

On the other hand, retailers can now create virtual versions and take complete control of the exact replica of their physical store. Designing and modifying an online marketplace according to the fluctuating customer trends and product preferences is what the future looks like.

Building an immersive environment capable of simulating real-life is perhaps one of the greatest advantages AR and VR bring to the e-commerce industry.

I’ve worked with the team at Andolasoft on multiple websites. They are professional, responsive, & easy to work with. I’ve had great experiences & would recommend their services to anyone.

Ruthie Miller, Sr. Mktg. Specialist

Salesforce, Houston, Texas

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AR and VR can allow consumers to immerse themselves further into the e-commerce experience, enabling the opportunity for rapid growth and increased sales, irrespective of a 360-degree video catalog delivery or simply an interactive digital experience.

AI Integrated Ecommerce App Development

Some of the greatest eCommerce app developments enable custom-made solutions using AI to make the right inquiry to the users. Customer analysis, climatic conditions in a specific location, and historical data from previous records can all be used to forecast sales for eCommerce customers.

With SaaS in full swing, it’s critical to hire eCommerce developers who can evaluate and automate a large number of customer interactions and processes on a daily basis. The stress on ever-increasing demands of automation challenges in web and mobile app development companies has had a huge impact on online shopping performance. The demand to hire eCommerce developers with a focus on end-to-end solutions increases the stress of offering a significant increment in user fulfillment.

That being said, automated eCommerce development translates into conveying the right message at the right time to the right set of customers.

AI-driven solutions can piece together a variety of insights to automate eCommerce developments for easing the lives of users. Making informed decisions in a matter of seconds is what AI in eCommerce stands for.

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Ecommerce Trends To Watch In The Mid Of 2018

With the hasty growth in eCommerce, online shopping has also changed a lot. The growth of global eCommerce is mind-boggling. There are lots of changes and development has come out in the eCommerce sector in the last couple of years.

The year 2017 had great for eCommerce and in 2018 it is also proceeding with a great level. In 2017 it reached around $2.3 trillion and is expected to hit $4.5 trillion in 2021. In the USA it’s growing 15% more each year compared to retail sales.

Worldwide Ecommerce Sales

(Source: shopify.in)

Now a day’s shoppers are no longer wants to go to the nearest store; they grab the nearest digital device. The online retail ecosystem is fast evolving. It’s not the purchasing habit they are doing digitally but the retail experience has changed a lot.

Before buying any product buyers are reviewing these products online at their home and eCommerce store are plying as a personal assistant for them.

If you will do some research on global eCommerce markets, China is coming on the top with the highest billion USD. Let’s have a look at the top global eCommerce market

Largest Ecommerce Market

(Source: shopify.in)

The global eCommerce sales are expected to increase 246.15% by 2021, from 1.3 trillion in 2014 to 4.5 trillion in 2021. The industry is booming and there is no sign of any fall in the near future. E-commerce stores with excellent digital eCommerce facility can reach your target customers.

According to the market demand you need to reach your target customer to generate more revenue. To make these things easier here I am going to share the top eCommerce trends which are dominating the market in the mid of 2018.

1. Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality

With AR and VR, buyers are able to visually testing out products before purchase. AR and VR are also helping companies to keep their buyers in website and apps more than the longer time.

Consumers are also going to buy from companies that allow them the option of visually testing out products before purchase.

According to Ross Beyeler, founder of eCommerce consultancy Growth Spark,

“We’ll see AR and VR become not just part of the in-store experience for customers, but part of the packaging experience with QR codes triggering ‘enhanced experiences’ of products, and even packaging itself being repurposed as a throw-away AR ‘device’,” he argues. “These sorts of experiences could particularly expand on the ‘try before you buy’ viewing of products in-home.”

2. Automation

Automation has become the most effective way to catch online consumers to sell product and maximize revenue. According to Rachel Jacobs “Why to spend precious time on manual tasks that deliver no tangible ROI, when you could use an automation tool to take care of it for you?” She says “As more and more eCommerce merchants turn to social media to drive traffic and sales, it makes sense to automate the process as much as possible.”

3. Voice Search

Now a day’s voice search has become the best-preferred alternative of search. More than 40% of millennials are already using voice search before any online purchase. Voice search has become 3X time more local for users. So it’s very necessary to list your business on Google to come in the local search.

“Voice will gain more prominence in 2018 as voice assistants such as Google Assistant and Alexa become commonplace,” predicts Mari Corella- a fashion and beauty eCommerce specialist.

4. Mobile First

The percentages of mobile users are growing day by day and the mobile purchase is also growing. So it’s important to create your eCommerce website and app 100% mobile friendly to grab more visitors.

Statistics show that 40% of users will go to the competitor after a bad mobile experience, yet an alarming 84% have experienced difficulty completing a mobile transaction. That is an incredibly high number, and it shows just how great the opportunity is for companies to capitalize on consumer conversion just by creating mobile responsive and user-friendly websites.

Let’s have a quick look on the eCommerce Mobile Stats,

  • 125 Million U.S. consumers own smartphones
  • 50 million U.S. Consumers own tablets
  • 62% of Smartphone users have made a purchase online using their mobile device in the last 6 months
  • One-third of all eCommerce purchases during the 2015 holiday season was made on a Smartphone.
  • ECommerce dollars now comprise 10% of ALL retail revenue
  • 80% of shoppers used a mobile phone inside a physical store to look up product reviews, compare prices or find alternative store locations
  • An estimated 10 Billion Mobile Connected Devices are currently in use

Ignoring these trends in mobile eCommerce evolution means potentially missing out on more and more profit as these trends continue.

(Source: outerboxdesign.com)

5. High-Quality Product Images and Videos:

Your eCommerce website can be more user-friendly with high-quality content, images, and videos. 360-degree images of product models can give clear information to visitors and helps to keep visitors more time on your website.

High-quality videos showcase your products real context, features and motivate users to buy. More than 80% of online users are converting to consumers through videos.

6. Machine Learning

Machine learning another big trend in eCommerce and it is similar to automation. With machine learning, you will not only save your time in automation but also you can take better decision to convert more visitors to the customer.

According to Jason Stokes, CEO of Eastside Co, “E-commerce traffic is still dictated by search, but that the ways we can search are changing — another opportunity for automation and machine learning.

7. SaaS eCommerce Platforms

SaaS eCommerce platforms are continuously updating their products and adding new features to keep their consumers or subscribers much productive in the competitive market. SaaS maintain speed and stable cloud on-premise system. So be hurry to make a move if you are not using any SaaS eCommerce platform for your business because the benefit of SaaS is more productive for the business.

8. Easier Checkout

Now the current payment options like Android Pay, Apple Pay, PayPal, and others are providing quality and quick transactional checkout comparing to the traditional payment options. So make your website more compatible with web and mobile user-friendly and make sure to minimize the checkout process for the quick transaction.

9. Web Performance

E-commerce website performance or user experience is the most important factor to stay ahead of the competition. The performance of the website always matter for users because a website with high performance can bring more customers but few milliseconds issues can lose customers for your competitors.

Various performance checking and improvement tools for websites are available in the market you can take the help of these to know and maximize the web performance.

10. Social Shopping

All we know that social media plays a great role to reach your target market and social shopping has a massive impact on eCommerce business in this present time.

Social media platform like Pinterest and Instagram are two highly visual platforms where merchants can bring their products in front of the huge number of the customer. In 2018, social media has become the perfect landscape in which retailers can create a buying scenario by showcasing their products on apps that customers spend most of their time with.

11. B2B E-commerce

B2B eCommerce is the fast-growing e-commerce trend and firms are spending more on technology comparing to online retails. According to the source, by 2019, B2B firms will spend more on eCommerce technology than online retailers do. The US B2B e-commerce market could reach $1.1T and account for 12.1% of all B2B sales by 2020, and over $6 Trillion worldwide. The average age of a B2B buyer/researcher is now under 35 years old. 89% of buyers search online in a B2B purchase process, with 74% doing so for more than 50% of their purchases.

(Source: datorama.com)

Over To You

Over the years eCommerce trends are continuously gearing up for better user engagement and retention. As an eCommerce business owner, you need to update your business according to the new market trends to stay ahead of the competition. Hope these trends will help you in the development of your business in the mid of 2018. Appreciate if you share your thoughts with comments.

From the last ten years, Andolasoft is consistently providing eCommerce solutions and we have a good name and reputation in the eCommerce world. Let’s discuss more of our service according to your requirements.

Are you looking to develop eCommerce website or app for your business? Let’s Discuss!