This is a guest post by Sassoon Grigorian, Director of Policy, Asia Pacific at eBay Inc 
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Increasingly, the Internet is helping fuel further trade, by removing barriers and borders.
Australia is well positioned to be a beneficiary, based on its rapid adoption of technology and use of mobile devices, and being located within Asia Pacific. This year the Asia Pacific will overtake North America to become the largest e-commerce market in the world.[1]
With that in mind, here are four key trends emerging for e-commerce in 2014.
Logistics and shipping
Expect to see logistic and shipping suppliers offer more innovative solutions to e-commerce and the delivery of packages. Workplaces are increasingly bearing the brunt of the delivery of personal items purchased online because the alternative often requires delivery during work hours, or pick up at local postal agents.
Consumers will see more digital delivery boxes located at services stations, mini-marts and other convenient places for consumers to pick up personal items.
Some industry players are testing logistical limits of ordering an item online and guaranteeing same-day delivery, this will become more prominent in densely located central business districts globally.
Many consumers have come to expect free shipping—or at least free shipping with a minimum purchase amount. In fact, a United Postal Service study found that 68 per cent of shoppers in Europe have recommended a particular online store to a friend simply because it offered free shipping.[2]
Expect even more retailers to offer free shipping options.
Personalised shopping
The race is on to create computers that can see, hear, think and reason like humans but with a computer’s speed and accuracy. Research and development into artificial intelligence will be expanded to anticipate consumer shopping habits—for example, targeting promotional offers individually to consumers with the use of algorithms.
This will also result in a personalised online shopping experience, targeting an individual’s preference, in effect having algorithms to help you become your own curator.
The rise of the micro multinational
Internet-enabled commerce has torn down international trade barriers. An astounding 97% of commercial sellers on eBay export their products overseas—many of them small businesses that now have the ability to export to the world.
The internet lowers barriers to trade, and provides a more level playing field when it comes to commerce. As small businesses become more accustomed to leveraging the internet, the volume of exports will increase. Small businesses will no longer be satisfied accommodating a domestic market, but expand and find a niche in a global market.
e-Payment solutions
There is a lot of innovation occurring in the field of e-Payments, such as saving time making a purchase in store, ordering ahead, digital wallets, and much more.
e-Payments should be seen beyond their functional requirement and will be increasingly used by retailers to make our lives easier and improve the customer experience.
Sources
1 Asia ecommerce to pass North America, February 2014 Warc
2 UPS Pulse of the Online Shopper, September 2013 UPS (852KB PDF)
