With 2012 coming to an end, let’s rewind and revisit the predictions to know how many of them came true.
Ecommerce sites are a growing asset for both business to business (B2B) as well as business to consumer (B2C). In 2010, 51% internet users ordered goods and services online valued at $15.3 billion with the number expected to reach $31 billion by 2015. On the B2B side, a research shows that 80% of B2B companies have invested in an Ecommerce platform over the last year thus proving that the need of a Ecommerce software for wholesalers and distributors and print brokers will continue to thrive.
There has also been a significant rise in the engagement of social media in Web to Print Ecommerce. In 2012, 77% of small and medium businesses (SMB) have used social media for 25% plus marketing efforts; an increase of 50% since 2011. Less than 1% of online purchases are because of social media postings and advertisements. 48% of consumers are connected in some way with atleast one brand or company on social media. This proves that social media has been a great channel for showcasing new products, brands, offers and discounts.
Another interesting prediction was the increase in tablet and mobile shopping. With Christmas and New Year just round the corner and the release of iPhone 5, the wave of Android OS and Samsung phones that swept across the globe, the iPad mini amongst many other technology releases that happened in 2012 in this arena, experts predict that the number of people who own a tablet will double within the next three years. In 2012, consumers have spent more than $20.7 billion on shopping through their mobile devices especially tablets. 65% executives make business purchases from their mobile devices. This again signifies growth in the mobile and tablet shopping in future.
The last Ecommerce prediction was improvisation in the consumer’s website experience. With 2013 and beyond, it will be highly undermining for businesses to have slow, outdated websites and many companies have started to take steps in the right direction. Any consumer will get easily turned off with websites that have outdated images, uses flash and are too slow to load. In Australia, an average 75 hours are spent by a user per month for visiting websites. Hence websites need to have a simple design structure and become mobile friendly / responsive and keep up with the demands of tablet and mobile users.
Overall most of these Ecommerce predictions came true. One can reckon that Ecommerce has huge implications for businesses particularly in USA and Canada. So if businesses want to expand with their Ecommerce offerings, they will have to pace up with these trends by investing in technology and software that understands the needs of every type of consumer and communication channel.
With Pixopa satisfying all these requirements for a perfect web print solution, it is an imperative choice for success in web to print arena.