Ecommerce trends to watch for in 2025 

We’ve been involved in ecommerce in South Africa since the very beginning, and over the last 25 years or so we’ve seen some amazing changes. What’s more, we like to think that we’ve been involved in making a few of them happen, too. One thing we know for sure is that when it comes to buying and selling online, more change is inevitable – and that’s exciting! Here are our top tips on what to look out for over the next 12 months.

Artificial intelligence making a real difference 

The capabilities of artificial intelligence (AI) are increasing all the time, and 2025 will be the year when ‘personal AI’ starts to make its presence felt. That is, AI that’s accessible to people via their smartphones and other devices, and personalises their online experiences and the content they are served by observing their patterns and preferences. In the context of ecommerce, this will mean better recommendations for items you may be interested in, as well as more efficient logistics and courier deliveries as AI works out more effective approaches to delivery. 

There’s still a lot of uncertainty around AI, but we’re convinced that over the next 12 months, we’ll all start to appreciate just how useful it is in as a tool for saving us time and money when we’re visiting our favourite ecommerce sites. 

AI will also drive predictive analytics and help ecommerce stores manage their inventory, so buyers will have a greater chance of finding that the items that they want are in stock when they need them. 

Sustainability

Like all businesses, ecommerce will be increasing efforts to reduce carbon emissions and waste during 2025. Look out for electric vehicles delivering your purchases, and innovative packaging that’s made from recycled materials, and can be recycled again or repurposed. Better route planning will mean that each package travels less distance, so you can enjoy your latest Bob Shop purchase in the full knowledge that it didn’t cost the earth! 

Voice search 

Why type when you can talk? Voice search functionality is set to transform ecommerce by making it easier for you to find the items you want to buy. This development will contribute to the growth of mobile shopping as people increasingly use their phones as their primary device for engaging with ecommerce sites. It’s all part of the bigger trend of personalisation – that is, ensuring that ecommerce works flawlessly for every kind of customer, no matter what their preferences are, or where they live. 

Combined with AI, voice search will result in more accurate results through a more natural approach that actually listens to what you’re looking for. 

Livestream shopping 

Influencers will continue to be an important part of ecommerce during 2025 (and beyond), and they are constantly finding new ways to recommend and sell the products that they themselves are fans of. Livestreaming is still a relatively new development, but we expect to see it grow during the next 12 months as more online shoppers discover the fun and convenience of buying items whilst watching new products get reviewed and demonstrated. 

Embrace the future 

All in all, we expect these ecommerce trends to lead to a better online experience for buyers, and new opportunities for merchants to grow sales and reduce costs. In other words, there are exciting times ahead!