There are some awesome new features that web designers and ecommerce developers are using in 2020. Not only to widen the sales funnel for storefront owners and online retailers, but to create more positive user interactions with the customer and create more memorable shopping experiences. In this article we cover 3 of the hottest trending methods of captivating shoppers this year that you're bound to see on alot of your favorite ecommerce sites.
3 Hot Ecommerce Design Trends You Should Know About
1. Microinteractions
In UX terms, a microinteraction is a small subtle interaction that doesn't serve any other function but to create atmosphere or awareness. They add to the overall user experience and quite often, serve to promote usability.
What Are Microinteractions?
notification messages
scrolling visuals
sound effects
hover animations
transition animations
How Microinteractions Effect Ecommerce
Creating an online store with a good user experience is fundamental to achieving sales. There are scores of little interactions that occur when completing an online transaction so web designers and web developers use Microinteractions to create a more lit path for users to follow.
What Are Some Common Uses Of Microinteractions?
animation for adding a product to the cart
hover or text animations when users scroll over a product
sound effects to verify changes that occur during the order (changing quantity, size, color, etc.)
transitions between screens - such as between checkout and order success page
Because microinteractions are bells and whistles they should be used sparingly and with subtlety. We've seen some sites go extremely overboard and as with anything, too much of a good thing is never good for you.
2. Motion In Product Images
We are seeing more and more Ecommerce websites using sophisticated moving images as their product imagery. Sites that make more use of motion in their products are more visually compelling than those using static imagery.
Motion was typically avoided in the past due to bandwidth concerns but modern technology is making it increasingly more viable to online retailers to add motion as a way of grabbing the consumers attention and holding it. Not only does it give shoppers a better sense of what they are purchasing but it helps put the product in a spotlight all it's own.
3. Chatbots & Artificial Intelligence
Chatbots have come a long way towards bridging the customer service gap. Machine learning and AI add a whole new level of intelligence that makes these bots a useful and now anticipated feature in more high end Ecommerce sites.
One of the inherent difficulties Online Retailers face as opposed to Brick & Mortar shops is lack of sales staff to answer questions. The chatbots are like having virtual counter people to answer simple product related questions and provide customer support. Businesses and brands are using Chatbots in exciting new ways that are leading to more positive customer interactions with the brand and streamlining the sales process.
In a 2020 world you can now order food, schedule flights, and get recommendations for pretty much anything you can think of using websites that deploy Chatbots. Here's a list of 10 forward thinking companies already using Chatbots & AI to great success.
Starbucks
Lyft
Fandango
Spotify
Sephora
Mastercard
Staples
Wall Street Journal
Pizza Hut
Whole Foods