This May, a group of 383ers (including myself) set off to attend the Internet Retailing Expo (IRX) at the NEC Birmingham - an expo for all things e-commerce.
Scaling across two days, you’re immediately met with a floor of e-commerce experts, whether that be in e-commerce solutions, data & analytics, fulfilment, packaging - it has it all!
The event was also packed with expert speakers on stage, sharing their invaluable insights and experiences, covering a diverse range of topics, including digital marketing strategies, emerging market trends, and the future of retail.
Why IRX?
We didn’t just attend IRX for a jolly day out and bonding experience as a sales team and to bring you this blog.
383 have expanded our offerings to include comprehensive e-commerce audits and services.
Our aim in attending IRX was to stay on top of the latest trends and innovations in the e-commerce landscape, ensuring that our services align with the evolving needs of businesses.
You can read more about how we’ve partnered with BigCommerce here.
Armed with a wealth of experience and a team of skilled professionals, we are excited to share our expertise in optimising online retail operations, enhancing customer experiences, and driving business growth.
IRX provided us with the perfect opportunity to engage with industry leaders, exchange ideas, and showcase our tailored solutions to empower businesses in their e-commerce projects.
Here are the best takeaways from the day that we think are key when it comes to your e-commerce solutions.
Hyper-Personalisation
Consumers are looking to do more than transact when they shop online; they want to believe you ‘get them’ and understand their needs.
Gone are the days you can build a purchasing journey and expect people to just… purchase.
Consumers are looking to be hand-held and guided through the purchasing journey, showing them what they must/should/could have, based on what we know about them.
M-Commerce
More and more people shop using their mobile phone. In fact, mobile commerce (m-commerce) now accounts for 60% of total UK online sales(Statista) and this is only going to rise with the increasing usage of mobile devices.
We learned that we just can’t afford to be designing our digital/e-commerce journeys for web-first usage anymore.
Re-Commerce
Gen Z are shifting consumer habits.
They now account for 40% of the world’s consumers, representing an estimated spending power of about £301 billion (McKinsey).
These consumers are much more conscious of their environmental impacts than any generation to date. This is seeing a huge shift to second hand purchasing, and applying pressure to retailers to make the move to marketplaces or offer exchange for purchase offers.
A.I
There’s a lot of hype around this topic. Although people often confuse automation with AI, it is being integrated into a lot of products and solutions.
Retailers need to only use AI where it makes sense and naturally fits into their workflow.
AI will increase competition in all areas for business (advert writing, data analysis, and more) and lower the bar of entry for many smaller companies, so companies need to make sure they are differentiating themselves from the competition.
Food for thought… maybe “not generated by AI'' becomes a selling point!
Social Commerce
Social media is the primary engine for product discovery, with 80% of consumers purchasing products as a result of their interaction with social media content (Cision PR Newswire).
Not only should retailers be prioritising their social content, but also the journey a consumer goes on from a social platform through to their website, encouraging them through the purchasing journey.
Essentially, think social content embedded within the purchasing journey, as well as featured reviews by those with a similar buying persona.
Need support?
Worried your e-commerce experience is falling short for your consumers? Need a revamp or audit of your solutions?
With our expertise and understanding of the e-commerce landscape, 383 brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table.
Our meticulous evaluation of your online retail operations, coupled with our ability to identify optimisation opportunities, ensures that your business is poised for success in the competitive e-commerce realm.
By partnering with 383, you gain access to tailored solutions and strategic recommendations to enhance your website performance, user experience, and conversion rates.
