"If you build it, he will come" – Field of Dreams (1989)
Is it just me or do we owe credit to Kevin Costner for Digital Commerce becoming a "thing"? The movie speaks not just about Baseball but highlights the passion for making an investment and building something people will come, use, and eventually pay for. It has now become a new business mantra; "Dream and put forth the effort to move forward, and you can make that dream a reality."
However, it implies action; you cannot just dream about it! You need to take the first step forward and have faith in yourself, and you will be successful. Digital Commerce journeys for several organizations have seen a similar story. Digital Commerce is growing, and all around the globe organizations have had to suddenly re-evaluate their business plans. If there has ever been a time to act, it's now. Having the luxury of delaying your digital transformation is gone and could mean falling behind your competitors while they fully embrace theirs.
In today's competitive and convenience-focused society, consumers no longer want and, in some cases, cannot venture out to physical storefronts to buy items. Instead, consumers want to shop from their own homes, making Digital Commerce a flexible solution for both businesses and buyers. Of course, shopping in person will be missed, but this is why Digital commerce is so crucial in our current situation. Purchase behaviors are migrating to the Internet, and on the bright side, this creates opportunities for manufacturers and distributors to increase their reach and make shopping more accessible and safer for everyone. Compare the number of people you can reach through a website to the amount you can reach through a physical store or local advertising. Data indicates there is no going back to the pre-pandemic version of normal; it is time to adapt and overcome.
While we are at it, lets briefly look at five sophisticated Digital Commerce service trends to keep in mind as you become more a part of this ever-evolving world.
- Mobile Payments: Because of this, most e-Commerce businesses work around the clock to optimize their websites and apps to be mobile-friendly. Making a purchase from my smartphone may even be a little too easy if you know what I mean.
- Headless Commerce: Since platforms like Magento do not require a pre-designed storefront to operate, retailers have more control over offering their products across a range of channels, including social media, mobile and desktop.
- Voice Commerce: Who else uses an Alexa? Consumers do not need a keyboard or a mouse to make their orders. Voice commerce is hands-free, intuitive, and I stand to attest; it is a multitasker's dream come true.
- Chatbots: It turns out this is a newer trend and is taking customer experience to a new level. Everyone appreciates immediate assistance; it is like having a store manager in your pocket at all times while you shop, ready to help.
- Machine Learning and AI: Businesses need these two technologies to improve their performance, eliminate repetition, automate all processes, and of course, remove chances of human error. Sign me up!
