Top ecommerce trends for mobile users this year

Mobile shopping has become a big part of our daily lives, especially with evolving digitalisation. In fact, over 70% of online sales in the UK last year were made using mobile devices, according to Statista.

This shift from desktop to mobile payments means e-commerce businesses need to rethink how they connect with online shoppers. Whether you’re an e-commerce pro or just starting out, keeping up with mobile commerce trends is crucial for staying competitive.

In this blog post, we’ll explore 7 key mobile e-commerce trends shaping the modern online shopping landscape. From new tech to changing customer behaviours, these insights will help you refine your strategy. 

What is mobile commerce?

Mobile commerce, also known as mobile e-commerce or often shortened to m-commerce, refers to the use of a mobile device, like a smartphone or tablet, to conduct online transactions. This could mean purchasing a product or service from an online store, but also making any type of payment.

Some common examples of mobile commerce include:

• Online shopping through mobile browsers or apps;
• Social commerce, where you shop directly via social media;
• Mobile banking apps for managing accounts and funds;
• Mobile ticketing for events, travel or entertainment;
• Marketplace apps that connect buyers and sellers.

Mobile commerce is essentially a subset of the e-commerce market, enabling transactions through electronic platforms. However, smartphone users enjoy greater convenience and flexibility, as they can access the Internet anytime, anywhere, whereas stationary devices like desktops often rely on wired connections or Wi-Fi.

The growth of mobile commerce has also been fueled by increasing consumer trust in the security of online shopping. Most safety concerns have been addressed thanks to advancements in mobile technology, m-commerce apps and secure mobile wallets. 

Today, every e-commerce business must comply with robust security measures, ensure its site and apps are mobile-friendly, and stay aligned with e-commerce mobile trends to meet the expectations of online shoppers.

The importance of new e-commerce mobile trends

With mobile phones being one of the most popular ways to shop online, forward-thinking businesses are starting to adapt their strategies to meet user needs and enhance the mobile shopping experience. 

Perhaps the first thing high mobile usage affected was website design and structure. As the majority of online traffic now comes from mobile web browsers, retailers are aiming to make their e-commerce sites fast, user-friendly and accessible across all devices. 

This shift has made creating mobile-optimized websites essential. These mobile sites are specifically designed for smaller screens, ensuring they don’t disrupt the online shopping experience. Many also feature quick checkout options like Apple Pay and Google Pay to support smooth mobile wallet payments.

Moreover, many retailers are now developing mobile commerce apps to offer features like loyalty programs, push notifications and personalised offers. These apps not only make shopping easier but also boost customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Beyond traditional shopping, emerging trends such as voice shopping and social commerce, are shaping the future of digital retail. These tools help businesses engage with mobile shoppers across multiple channels, providing a seamless transition from browsing to purchasing.

For online retailers, staying updated with mobile e-commerce trends isn’t just about adopting the latest technology—it’s about creating a customer-centric approach that meets the expectations of internet users.

Whether you’re running a small e-commerce store or managing a large e-commerce website, embracing mobile trends is crucial for boosting retail sales and staying competitive in the evolving market.

Top 7 e-commerce mobile trends to implement this year

We understand that keeping up with ever-evolving trends and new technology can be challenging for small businesses. But here’s the good news. Even with a tight budget, there are strategies you can adopt to optimise your business for mobile phone users.

And because we know your time is valuable, we’ve done the research for you. Below, you’ll find the top 7 e-commerce mobile trends of the year that can help boost your customer experience and e-commerce sales.

1. Fast-loading, high-quality content

Despite the relatively fast Internet speed, online shoppers still face some challenges when making purchasing decisions on a mobile phone. Issues like small, cluttered text or a slew of pop-ups can frustrate mobile users and discourage them from proceeding to checkout. 

This is where high-quality content can make a big difference, especially if it loads quickly. When it comes to mobile websites, sometimes the rule is the less, the better. 

A clear, easy-to-navigate structure helps customers quickly find what they are looking for without feeling overwhelmed by excessive content and design elements. By streamlining your website—removing heavy animations and unnecessary effects, text or images—you create a better user experience and improve loading times.

An optimised platform with fast-loading, engaging content will significantly enhance mobile shopping. Once you’ve mastered this step in the consumer purchase-making cycle, you’re well on your way to boosting your mobile commerce sales.

2. The importance of voice shopping

Artificial intelligence is becoming an increasingly important tool for making purchasing decisions. Voice assistants like Apple’s Siri and Amazon’s Alexa are now doing much more than acting as search engines—they’re taking over tasks to make our daily lives easier.

Initially, people used voice search for simple tasks like checking the weather or playing music. They also gave commands to control connected home appliances, like a robot vacuum.

However, voice search is now taking over e-commerce too.

Owners of smartphones and smart speakers are using voice search for things like finding a nearby physical store or online shop, comparing products, shipment location tracking, contacting customer support and even making the order itself.

That’s why you should enable voice search on your website or mobile shopping apps. Today’s users are becoming more and more tech-savvy and they expect more convenience and efficiency when making a purchase.

3. Speed in payments and checkouts

If you’d like to improve your sales conversion rates, you need to ensure that your mobile point-of-sale experience is as easy and smooth as possible. 

Even if a customer loves your product and decides to buy, they can still abandon their purchase if the checkout process is too complicated or their preferred payment method isn’t available. Studies show that cart abandonment is often linked to slow or overly complex checkouts.

To prevent lost sales, ensure you offer all major payment options so customers have the flexibility they need. This includes integrating payment methods, which can be processed through a single click, such as mobile wallets like Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay. 

Before one-click payment options, shoppers had to enter lots of customer data manually. Now, as long as their payment card is linked to a digital wallet, they can complete a purchase in seconds.

If you don’t yet have a fully-fledged e-commerce website, luckily, there are still easy-to-use, simple and convenient ways to accept payments online. For those selling through social commerce, online payment solutions like PayButtons, PayLinks and Payment Request allow customers to make purchases with just a few clicks.

4. AR and VR integration

Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) are tools that help a customer better visualise products and see how they fit into real-world settings. These technologies are already being integrated into mobile retail apps to enhance the online shopping experience.

For example, when shopping online for clothes, a mobile app might let you see how a specific outfit looks on you or help you mix and match pieces virtually to style an entire look. This makes it easier to decide if the item works with your existing wardrobe.

Similarly, in home decor, a mobile commerce app can show you how a piece of furniture, like a cupboard, would look in your kitchen. This will help you decide if it fits the space and matches your interior design.

While AR and VR are still evolving, they are quickly becoming a must-have feature in mobile apps. They not only make shopping more interactive and fun but also help customers choose the right colour, size or style, reducing the likelihood of returns due to mismatched expectations.

5. Instant response with chatbots

Powered by Artificial Intelligence, chatbots are proven to be a game changer in the sales conversion process. These handy tools are great for answering queries instantly and converting customers into loyal buyers. 

While chatbots have been widely used on eCommerce sites for quite some time, 2024 is the year when businesses increasingly started integrating them into their retail apps as well.

The benefits of chatbots are many but the most significant advantage is their ability to provide instant answers and assistance to customers who need support. 

As we’ve mentioned several times in this blog post, customers value convenience and speed above all. Tools that deliver on these expectations lead to higher customer satisfaction and engagement.

However, chatbots should be used thoughtfully to avoid isolating customers, who are looking for human or near-human interactions for quick and accurate assistance.

6. Image recognition built for app users

Many people are familiar with QR codes as a form of image recognition, but that’s just the beginning of what’s possible. Apart from QR codes, new ways of searching for products through retail mobile apps have been developed and are gaining traction. 

While this trend has been around for a while, in 2024, apps are now offering more advanced image recognition features. This allows users to search for products by simply taking a photo of something they’re interested in—whether it’s an item they’ve spotted in a physical store or on social media. Instead of typing out a query on an Internet browser or a search bar of a mobile site, shoppers can quickly snap a picture and find similar products or exact matches from online stores.

With the rise of social commerce and retail mobile apps, image recognition is increasingly being integrated into social media platforms like Instagram, Pinterest and TikTok.

As this technology continues to make waves, it’s expected to become a powerful tool for shoppers who prefer mobile apps for their shopping experience.

7. Purchasing through social media apps

According to Grand View Research, global social commerce is projected to grow by an impressive 31.6% from 2023 to 2030. Consumers increasingly use platforms like Instagram, Facebook and TikTok to shop.

This new trend offers a variety of benefits for app users, but overall, social media integrates product discovery, research, and purchasing into a single place. This makes the shopping journey faster and more intuitive. 

It also serves as a valuable tool for businesses to engage with potential customers, especially since many users spend significant time on these platforms.

Social media algorithms often favour candid, authentic content, making it an ideal space for businesses to shine without breaking the bank for advertising. Showcasing your offerings on the platforms is free. It also helps you foster a sense of community and build a loyal customer base. 

That’s why this new trend is especially beneficial to smaller and local brands that need to take advantage of it. 

Where to from here?

The future of mobile e-commerce is clear. Consumers are looking for increased speed, convenience, and quality.

By aligning these demands with your product offering on your mobile website and shopping app, you’ll be better positioned to cater to your increasingly tech-savvy clientele. Offering ease of use and optimised experience will not only boost customer satisfaction but also improve your conversion rate.

Additionally, streamlining your mobile point-of-sale process is equally crucial to prevent cart abandonment.

Embracing these e-commerce mobile trends is essential for staying competitive and meeting the evolving needs of today’s mobile-first shoppers.