How E-commerce Will Empower Individuals in the Decades Ahead

The average person sees up to 10,000 ads every day. It’s no wonder people waste money on just about anything — they’ll buy something they don’t need, something that doesn’t suit them or won’t help them. It can be a perpetual need to spend. Then guilt sets in, and more than half of Americans say they regret spending on things they don’t need or can’t use.

One Black Friday sale resulted in a regrettable $74 billion in spending in the US alone. Then, these unwanted purchases are sent back. About $66.7 billion of product was returned during the 2021 holiday season alone. This shopping frenzy doesn’t just hurt your bank account; they are slowly destroying the planet too. Consumers tend to return purchases they regret, causing unnecessary emissions and contributing to the global waste crisis.

In addition, despite the large number of advertisements, 33% of all goods worldwide remain unsold. This eventually causes inventory and retailer prices to swell as companies predict the cost of unsold goods and incorporate it into the retail price of their products. What do you think happened to the unsold product? Again, they are easily sent to a landfill. It is sad to know that the fashion industry alone produces 92 million tonnes of waste every year.

However, there is something exciting on the horizon. Thanks to continuous technological innovation, a storm of change is coming, empowering consumers to shop consciously and buy things they will keep and enjoy.

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Throw away the one-size-fits-all approach

There are changes happening all around. For example, fast mode is not an option anymore. Modern, well-informed, and deeply concerned consumers don’t make purchases on impulse. They don’t buy stuff just for hype. More and more people are choosing to buy less — while buying quality products.

Technology helps brands carry their A-game. Some of the world’s largest retailers are now integrating cutting-edge technology solutions to offer their customers a unique approach and personalized experience. For example, Dickies (a popular US urban clothing brand) implemented an AI-first 3DLOOK solution that allows shoppers to take two photos of themselves and get instant feedback on what size fits them best. Farfetch, Prada, and Piaget are using a virtual trial solution, and Amazon is launching a mass production of custom-made T-shirts. Overall, we see big brands across industries using technology at scale.

Augmented reality blends with fashion

Another very interesting novelty that will play an important role in e-commerce is the integration of AR glasses. Snapchat has launched their fourth generation of glasses, available only to developers. The technology already looks promising, making it possible to create a variety of AR objects and effects that can be superimposed on the real world. According to technologists and futurists, people will see the world through the lenses of AR glasses rather than the glass screens of their smartphones. There is no doubt that e-commerce will undergo some incredible changes powered by AR technology.

AR glasses can potentially be used to apply different styles, designs and sizes of clothing to yourself. The potential is huge. As of now, 53% of developers and technology specialists claim they lack the resources and solutions to design these personalized experiences, but innovation is quickly catching up.

Fast forward to 2032. What will e-commerce look like?

In 10 years, ecommerce will revolve entirely around customers — not P&Ls or brand ROI. All online retail will be fully personalized and tailored to each person’s needs. How is that possible, you might ask? Simple: With the help of technology.

Imagine a world where you have a digital passport — an app on your smartphone that stores multiple data points regarding your shopping behavior and patterns. Imagine that technology easily stores important information such as your body parameters, appropriate and correct sizes across different brands, changes and adjustments when you gain or lose weight, etc. All this information syncs in the blink of an eye, blending with your social media activity, purchase history, planned events, and so on.

This information will enable the highest level of personalization of everything you consume. You’ll see job ads that are just right for you and only you, nutrition programs that your fridge will automatically order on demand and even video games with your unique avatar.

On social networks, in letters, and even on billboards (yes, with AR glasses they would make sense), you’ll see ads only for products you really need and that suit you based on your digital passport.

Product pages on ecommerce websites will only recommend clothes that really suit you and complement your wardrobe, based on your parameters, preferences, purchase history, lifestyle, future plans and so on. You’ll instantly be able to see what your dynamic looks like, and you’ll be able to try combining it with other items from your virtual wardrobe.

The product page of the furniture store will show not only the catalog, but what furniture will suit your home parameters, your body parameters (height and weight measurements) and lifestyle. The production of custom-made furniture based on the parameters of the customer’s body is by no means a distant future.

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Yes, by 2032 you will have a smart wardrobe that will order clothes to order based on real-time data on your smartphone, and you will receive your goods via drone delivery.

Just imagine going out for a leisurely stroll or for a cup of coffee and looking at the dress you absolutely must have. Your AR glasses will quickly show you where the dress is available (even when what you’re viewing is offline), the sizes available, what brand, etc. Also, imagine that your gadget automatically transfers your body measurements to the factory. and start manufacturing the same shirt, tailor-made for you and delivered to you by drone on the same day. Imagine never having to go out to buy clothes or even have to think every morning about what you want to wear.

Ecommerce will become more empowering and personalized for each individual. It is a future we can believe in.