SEAMLESS SHOPPING OR BUST

Consumers are demanding fast and easy mobile shopping experiences. Can businesses meet the challenge?

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Gen Y is demanding and expecting a smoother shopping experience in addition to selecting products and services that fit that mold. In short, if it's not very easy to purchase, they'll not purchase it. Businesses are taking notice of this overarching trend and are working to develop enhanced services and products to meet the demand for seamless, simplified shopping experiences.

Many consumers are now exclusively shopping online, even baby boomers who never did before. Online sales grew nearly 50% at the peak of the pandemic as consumers stayed home but continued to shop. But even after the pandemic faded, the “seamless sales” bug had been let out of the bag and continued to grow. Even for those still frequenting brick-and-mortar stores, convenience is a driver, with 87% of U.S. consumers preferring to shop at stores that have touchless or robust self-checkout options.

Perhaps the most notable aspect of seamless shopping is the social shopping surge. Social media is becoming the fastest-growing shopping “destination.” Today, seven in 10 global shoppers are now buying directly via platforms like TikTok and Instagram. Social commerce revenue is projected to hit $6.2 trillion by 2030, growing at 32% annually between 2023 and 2030, reflecting the rapid expansion of social media retail and its increasing role in consumer behavior.