Increased demand for variety and innovation The trends which have truly shaped online shopping in 2016 are an increased demand for variety and free delivery. The biggest drivers of online shopping are convenience and time – people are increasingly frustrated with queues, traffic and delays when heading out to spend money, whether on groceries or gifts. As trends go, the new Amazon offering hits the proverbial nail on the head. Recognising that shoppers don’t want queues and inconvenience while still wanting to experience the tactile pleasures of the items they purchase, Amazon has created a store with no checkout. Consumers simply download the Amazon Go app, enter the store, take what they want and leave. It’s a unique blend of the physical store with the convenience of the online shop and it will be interesting to see how successful it is when it launches to the public in 2017. Back on the African continent, however, innovation appears to be redefining local eCommerce trends. The PwC Total Retail 2016 report showed that innovation is where the consumers are spending – people want the omni-channel experience that seamlessly carries them from social media to online store to product to play with at home. “It could be that when we look back at 2016, we will see the year when innovation and consumer trust turned the eCommerce corner in South Africa,” concludes Nadasen. “Retailers will learn from online stores and secure payment solutions will continue to support consumers as they take advantage of the convenience and cost offered by online.” ]]>
