In recent years, we’ve seen newly developed technologies and a change in consumer preferences, and how these factors have shaped the eCommerce industry and businesses’ marketing strategies.
As more trends set to reshape the eCommerce industry in 2025, businesses must seek out which trends are worth keeping an eye on to stay ahead of the competition.
To prepare you for a successful 2025, here are six eCommerce trends to watch:
1. Augmented Reality Will Be Commonly Used for Online Shopping
According to a 2023 survey by Statista, 40 percent of Polish online consumers were more eager to use augmented reality when shopping online.
The survey also reveals that 37 percent of U.S. consumers preferred using augmented reality tools when shopping online.
Recent data also reveals that the increasing demand for augmented reality in shopping experiences would lead to $5 trillion in market value before 2030.
A McKinsey survey reveals that 48 percent of U.S. consumers will be most interested in using AR in their shopping experience in three years.
Leading eCommerce brands such as IKEA, Sephora, Shopify, and Amazon are actively experimenting with augmented reality to improve the online shopping experience for consumers. In 2025, we should see more eCommerce brands
This will help consumers make better purchase decisions and cut product return rates.
2. AI Assistants and BCI Will Begin to Become Popular
AI-powered shopping assistants come in various forms, such as chatbots and voice search assistants, and have become popular among online shoppers globally.
According to a 2023 Statista survey, 35% of consumers find them helpful for discovering new products or services.
A third of the respondents also valued convenience, with the same number believing these assistants could predict their shopping needs.
Statista also reveals the AI service robotics market size is projected to reach $7.42bn in 2024.
The market size is also expected to show an annual growth rate (CAGR 2024-2030) of 24.95%, resulting in a market volume of US$28.24bn by 2030.
Implementing AI-powered assistants would make it easy to learn your customer’s preferences, and monitor their behaviors.
With this data, you can recommend products that your customers are more likely to be interested in, increasing their likelihood to make a purchase.
On the other hand, a study from Research Gate reveals the use of BCI (brain-computer interface) technology to detect consumer preferences through EEG (electro-encephalogram) signals is set to revolutionize the eCommerce industry.
BCI technology will allow direct interaction between the brain and external devices, offering new opportunities for marketers.
By reading brain signals, these chips can understand thoughts, emotions, and preferences, providing valuable, clear, and accurate insights into consumer desires and needs.
3. More payment options with crypto and digital wallets, while credit card use decreases.
According to Statista, global cryptocurrency adoption among consumers grew by 40 million users in two years, with Gen Z being more likely to use digital currencies than millennials.
This is because they seek to avoid high commission fees for making transactions between local and international bank accounts.
In early 2024, more online retailers were offering cryptocurrency payment options to reach a global audience, improve customer experiences, and lower transaction costs.
An interest in using cryptocurrency as a payment method among retailers will increase in the coming years.
On the other hand, mobile wallets dominated online payments, making up nearly half of global e-commerce transactions in 2023. The market value of mobile wallets is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.9% from 2023 to 2027.
Research also reveals that credit cards will have a 22% market share in 2023, which is projected to decline in the next five years.
4. Drone Deliveries Would Become Mainstream
Research shows that same-day delivery services market size is projected to reach $19.63 billion in 2028 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19.7%.
This growth is attributed to the rising demand for fast delivery services and advanced technology for delivery route optimization and tracking.
As consumer expectations for same-day delivery continue to surge, companies like Walmart and Amazon, have been expanding their drone delivery networks worldwide to meet customer’s expectations and improve their shopping experience.
By 2025, we can expect more eCommerce brands to adopt drone deliveries, dark stores, AI-driven route planning, eco-friendly delivery options, and advanced data analytics for better inventory management and demand forecasting.
5. The Rise of Emerging Markets Will Play a Huge Role
E-commerce has experienced remarkable growth in recent years, but one promising future for further e-commerce growth is the rise of e-commerce in emerging markets. According to World Data Lab, an additional 109M online shoppers globally are expected in 2024.
A high percentage of these digital buyers will emerge from markets like India, China, Brazil, Russia, and South Africa. This will offer great opportunities to eCommerce businesses looking to expand globally.
Research also reveals India to contribute 34 million new consumers globally, surpassing the combined increase from Europe, the Americas, and Africa, attributing to a threshold of eCommerce growth in 2025.
6. Voice and Visual Search Will Grow in Popularity
Visual search is projected to grow at a rate of 17.5% annually, reaching over $32 million in market value by 2028.
Leading brands like eBay and ASOS use this technology to let customers upload photos of items they want to buy and receive similar product suggestions.
While 62% of millennials and Gen Z prefer visual search, only 8% of brand websites provide this feature, presenting an opportunity for businesses to gain a competitive edge by adding this feature.
On the other hand, voice search improves consumer’s shopping experience by allowing users to speak their queries.
Science Direct reports that 47% of shoppers use voice commands, and 58% are satisfied with their experiences.
This technology records and predicts shopping habits with 61% of consumers using it to reorder items.
The voice search market is projected to grow 23.7% annually, rising from $11.21 billion in 2022 to $49.79 billion by 2029.
Conclusion
In 2025, eCommerce businesses can benefit from AI and technology advancements transforming product discovery, providing precise consumer insights, refining marketing, and improving shopping experiences.
By staying informed of these trends and hopping on them before peak popularity eCommerce brands can confidently navigate the eCommerce world in 2025 and outperform competitors.