Articles 
15 Technologies Every Ecommerce Marketer Must Use in 2017
- AbdurRahman Lakhani
- April 4, 2017
Ecommerce marketers are constantly on the lookout for new technology trends in order to increase their revenue and to enhance customer experience. Most ecommerce technologies have made the marketing world competitive, though. E-wallets, Drones, smart apps, VR and AR have all affected the ecommerce market drastically and have made delivery of products seamless and streamlined other domains as well.
With 2017 ushering in, businesses have introduced numerous new and superior marketing platforms to the online world. As a marketer yourself, these new tools and technologies can help you immensely.
Here are the 15 technologies that have made the headlines in 2017 and the ones you absolutely must have in your arsenal of marketing tools:
1. Drone Delivery
Drone delivery is fast gaining popularity in the ecommerce realm. Given that drone technology is still developing, it can still help companies and businesses deliver products and certain service on the same day or even within hours of order placement.
Delivering products with drones requires businesses to take permission from the government, though. There are plans in the pipe for drone ports in the USA and Europe as well, so you really must think about jumping on the ship early!
2. AR (Augmented Reality) and VR (Virtual Reality)
Augment Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) have carved a niche in the already innovative technology sector. Most software companies use them for design and development, but marketers are adopting the technology as well since it can help improve customer and business interaction. Google Tango, for example, is an advanced AR app that helps the consumers see how particular products such as furniture, appliances, and curtains, etc., will look in their home.
3. Bitcoins
The popularity of Bitcoin has increased considerably in recent times. Since its inception in 2009, it has been touted as one of the safest methods of online transactions. Most ecommerce giants, like Amazon, accept Bitcoins as payment for products. Moreover, many other ecommerce platforms are now opening up to the usage of Bitcoins for transactions as we step further into 2017.
4. Mobile Devices
Nowadays people access the internet mainly through mobile devices and most businesses receive orders through handheld devices. According to a study, more than 50% of the market is dominated by mobile commerce and by 2017, more mobile devices will be in use for internet browsing rather than PCs or Laptops.
5. Social Media
This might sound a little cliched, but the uprising of Social Media is not only helping in advertising but also helping ecommerce companies to sell their products from outside their websites. In fact, social media websites like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are so prominent for conversion that more than 40% of conversions are reported from these platforms.
6. Using Biometrics
Who knew human traits like voice, iris, fingerprint etc., could be used to ease interaction as well as security? However, biometrics has made all that possible. Moreover, 2017 will see more than 500 million consumers using biometrics for payment through phones and other mobile devices.
7. Delivery via Droids
Droids are small robots with six wheels that can deliver products to the users without human assistance. Droids are capable of taking 20 pounds of delivery from one place to another and can even climb a few stairs. They are also eco-friendly, moderately priced, have GPS Tracking, have two-way communication between consumers and the company, and provides other services as well. With all that, how convenient can pizza delivery be? You’re right! Extremely easy and convenient.
8. Smart Buttons
This is one technology that is used by ecommerce giant Amazon for its products that are mostly used in pantries, kitchens, or areas where users use primary products at home. With smart buttons, users can reorder any primary usage products that are lower in their storage house.
9. E-Wallets
Big companies have introduced e-wallets for customers to pay the money without taking their wallets out. Now, users can use Apple Pay, Google Wallet, and PayPal etc., to pay for their purchases that make the payment process easier for consumers.
10. One-Click Checkouts
One-Click Checkouts help ecommerce marketers to know about customer’s behavior and shopping history, etc. The latest ecommerce technologies in 2017 will see the One-Click Checkouts to be a game changer in the coming years as this will help the marketers know about conversions.
11. Digital Coupons
Smartphone users search for digital Coupons in an avid manner as everyone likes to avail discounts on products they want to purchase. According to a survey, most mobile consumers redeem digital coupons and more than 39% of the mobile consumers have availed the benefits of a coupon in the past few years.
12. Enhanced Consumer Experience
Consumers are the focal point of ecommerce businesses. And 2017 will witness a drastic change wherein the retailers have to concentrate more on the quality of the services rather than ensuring on quantity sold. The user experience can be improved with the use of ecommerce technologies that are trending this year.
13. Voice Search
Voice search browsing has augmented in recent years as mobile device users have multiplied exponentially in the past many years. Apps like Amazon Echo, Google Home, and the AirPods have transformed the way marketing is done through vocal interaction.
14. Customization of Products
With the use of the latest ecommerce technologies, the consumers can get customized products from the retailers. This will help in making drastic conversions from potential users to full-time customers, as users will be getting products according to their own designs.
15. Automated Programmatic Advertising
Programmatic advertising has taken place over traditional methods of advertising. It will help in decreasing the expenditure by nearly 58%. The use of data analytics helps in deciding the right audience and the format of the advertised product.
Conclusion
Presently, ecommerce is witnessing a drastic change and the advent of innovative technology has helped it to become more customer-centric. This will further help in conversions and increase the ecommerce marketer’s revenue.
Author Bio
The author is Harshal Shah, CEO and founder of Elsner Technologies, a Magento development company in the USA. He is a tech evangelist with a reputation of providing optimum solutions for business automation and solving real life problems with the power of IT.
