E-commerce trends to watch in 2025
Drive sales and grow your business using new technology.
E-commerce is booming and packed with tools to help you grow your business. In 2025, online businesses will face exciting opportunities. For example, new technology, like augmented reality (AR), makes it possible to reach customers wherever they are.
What’s e-commerce?
E-commerce means selling products or services online. But today, it's not just about having a website. You need to connect with customers on all digital platforms. This includes social media, email and online marketplaces.
The goal? To make shopping super easy and enjoyable.
E-commerce has low start-up costs. It helps you to reach more customers and adapt to trends more quickly. You can personalise your marketing approach to keep customers interested. All without the high costs of a physical store.
Learn to love e-commerce
E-commerce is ideal for reaching more customers and building stronger connections, without needing a huge budget.
Selling online means you can change things up quickly. You can test new products, tweak your marketing, or easily add a sales channel. You could also introduce personalised offers, to convert one-off buyers into return customers.
Reaching customers anytime, anywhere
In 2025, omnichannel retailing will be key to reaching customers. Your brand is everywhere your customers are. Your website, social media or even in-store.
For example, let’s say a customer sees your product on social media. Then, they visit your website. Later, they get a notification about an in-store sale. You’re giving them a personalised shopping experience. This keeps them engaged and means they’re more likely to buy.
Tools like Zendesk and HubSpot can help with this as they track customer interactions across all channels.
When done right, omnichannel retailing boosts customer loyalty and repeat buys.
Try before you buy
AR and virtual reality (VR) aren’t just for big brands. They’re accessible to small businesses too. With AR, retail customers can ‘try on’ a product or visualise it in their space. It helps them to make better informed decisions, leading to fewer returns.
Tools like Shopify AR and Google ARCore make it simple to add these features. This ‘try-before-you-buy’ experience makes customers feel excited and engaged. That’s great news for sales.
E-commerce is for all
E-commerce isn’t just for retail. Service providers, business to business (B2B) companies and educators, can tap into these trends. A consulting firm could use an omnichannel approach to allow customers to book an appointment through social media or a chatbot. Educational services can use VR for interactive learning.
No matter your industry, these tools can help you to connect more with customers.
In 2025, e-commerce should be a key focus for businesses ready to go the extra mile with customer experience. Using omnichannel retailing and new technology, and personalising customer interactions, will equip you to drive sales and grow your business.
Try out one of the tools we’ve shared below. And keep exploring our Future Skills articles to gear up for business growth.
Some handy tools: