A Small Business Trends report says phones, social apps and AI search are where online shoppers are heading, and sellers need to be ready for all three.
Online shopping is moving to phones, social apps and AI search, according to a Small Business Trends article on global e-commerce. It projects that phones will account for 73% of global online purchases. It also says about 22% of shoppers now use AI search tools to research products before they buy.
The article says nearly 80% of retail visits will come from smartphones by 2025. For a store, that means the site has to work well on a small screen. It also means checkout should be quick. The article points to digital wallets, which store your payment details on your phone, as a way to make paying easier and help more visits end in a sale.
The article says shoppers are asking AI tools for product advice. It suggests sellers write content that gives direct answers, an approach it calls Answer Engine Optimization. It adds that 31% of users trust AI recommendations backed by detailed descriptions, FAQs and customer reviews.
Social apps are also selling directly. The article gives these figures:
The advice is practical. Make the site easy to use on a phone. Offer digital wallets. Keep product details consistent everywhere you sell, which the article calls Product Experience Management. On Facebook Marketplace, use clear photos and accurate descriptions. On Instagram, use shoppable posts and in-app checkout so customers can buy without leaving the app.
Shoppers can take something from this too. The article notes growing interest in secondhand and sustainable buying, driven by a wish to save money and cut waste. It suggests setting a budget when browsing resale platforms.
The article is a trend roundup, and the text provided is cut off partway through its section on digital wallets. It also lists privacy rules as a trust issue but gives no details here. Some figures, such as a 20% to 30% sales increase on Instagram Shopping, come without a named source in the text. Treat the numbers as the article's claims, not proven results.
If you sell online, make your store work well on a phone, offer digital wallets and write clear answers about each product.
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