E-commerce creates a unique scenario for many businesses. The rise of the Internet in the early 1990s has divided generations and given way to various expectations, values and skepticism with regards to the online shopping experience.
The Pew Research Center discovered 77 percent of U.S. adults own smartphones. But when divided by age group, the data shows a much clearer picture. For instance, 92 percent of U.S. adults ages 18-29 own a smartphone, compared to 74 percent when looking at U.S. adults ages 50-64. How U.S. adults interact with those devices, especially with regards to e-commerce, can help explain shopping trends among different generations.
E-commerce is at a crossroads where consumers who grew up in the Internet era and those who were introduced to it in a later stage in their lives share a space within the online market. Studies conducted by BigCommerce, an e-commerce software development company, have revealed online shopping and e-commerce takes up varying degrees of shopping per generation. For instance, Millennials do 67 percent of their shopping online whereas Baby Boomers do 59 percent of their shopping in-store.
Despite this, across all generations, certain trends remain consistent. Large retailers make up a greater majority of the places U.S. adults shop (73 percent on average). What each generation considers “influential” in deciding to make online purchases follows the same pattern. With a commanding average of 71 percent, reviews have the biggest influence on a consumer’s decision to purchase, followed by friends and family and then advertisements.
In order to capture the attention and trust of customers across all generations, businesses have realized a strong and trustworthy online presence is key to meeting the values and expectations of each customer. Dirxion’s online catalog services provide a strong complimentary product to any business’s e-commerce site. Capitalizing on a familiar layout and easy-to-use format, the online catalogs create a hassle-free experience for any Generation X or Baby Boomer customer. Similarly, the fast-loading, integrated shopping technology meets the needs of Millennial shoppers.
