eCommerce Sales Boom as Businesses Foray into Web 2.0 Efforts

Jupiter Research and Forrester both released reports this week indicating that the eCommerce sales will boom in the next five years. Of particular note is the following from a Computer World article covering their release:

“Consumers do exhibit loyal behavior to the channel, provided that retailers are able to meet and exceed customer expectations,” Mulpuru said. “By focusing more energy on accurate product information, improved imagery/photography, and flexibility in payments and returns, and by reducing the hurdles of shipping costs, online retailers can go a long way in currying favor with shoppers.”

Patti Freeman Evans, the lead analyst on the Jupiter report, said that although individual retailers see value in the many technologies that are gaining traction, such as dynamic targeting and social shopping, none of these offerings are likely to have a major effect on the overall online retail market in the coming years.

“It is more likely that such technologies will provide benefits in the form of cost efficiencies, increased targeting capability and customer retention,” she said.

If you work frequently in the eCommerce world you know that accurate and detailed product information and clear photography as well as the ability to zoom in and see alternatives are vital. That coupled with a user friendly and brief check out, fair charges for shipping, and ease of returns, does indeed go a long way. But sometimes these things aren’t so easy to implement due to a number of factors.

A recent Rich Internet Experience 2008 study by Scene 7 also states that 93% of businesses are planning Web 2.0 efforts in the next year. Note their definition of Web 2.0 is defined as alternate views, ratings, product tours, and online catalogs and could be considered some of the basics referenced by Forrester and Jupiter.

“Findings showed that more than 50 percent plan to deploy Web 2.0 enhancements within the next six months, and over 93 percent say they will deploy within the year. Nearly 30 percent of respondents plan to add 360-degree spin functionality to their sites in 2008 along with other top-ranking features including: alternate views, user ratings, videos, blogs, product tours, online catalogs, personalized messaging, quick looks and personalized stores. The greatest growth for features planned versus already deployed is in the areas of m-commerce, URL/widget sharing, personalized messaging and user ratings.”

What both these reports tell us is that solid product information is vital and to get at that you can employ some Web 2.0 and social shopping in a non-complex way. Showing consistent alternative views and allowing users to zoom and rate products on your eCommerce web site are good forays into Web 2.0 and social shopping and a great start to developing a solid experience that will bring users back.