About Thawte

• Contact Us
• Worldwide Sites
• Why Thawte

The e-commerce sector is constantly seeking new ways to improve its online platforms, product offerings and connections made with customers. As this industry continues to grow, it will become increasingly important to focus on such enhancements to ensure the future of the brand and provide business growth. In order to remain a mainstay in the market, e-commerce groups must be on the cusp of emerging trends, including the following patterns surfacing in the market:

Rising focus on mobility
It's no surprise that individuals are more often utilizing their mobile devices for a range of different purposes, including for online shopping. In response to these practices, there has been a rising focus on mobile platforms and capabilities within the industry, noted Tech Cocktail. In this way, mobile offerings are no longer an afterthought or an addition to the regular Web-based platform, but is now an offering in itself. To stay on top of this growing trend, e-commerce groups should work to optimize their website to optimally function on both traditional workstations and mobile devices as well, providing the on-the-go, accessible-anywhere experience today's users are looking for.

Security
As e-commerce groups work to bolster their websites and mobile apps, they must also keep in mind the security implications that come along with each. Especially in light of recent malware attacks and data breaches, keeping customer information safe is now more critical than ever. By securing their online and mobile platforms with an SSL certificate and encryption, the company can assure shoppers that their sensitive data like payment card and shipping details will not fall into the wrong hands. Additionally, adding authentication credentials can provide an extra layer of security and prevent unauthorized third-parties from accessing client accounts.

Increasing use of customer data and analytics
Another trend emerging in the e-commerce sector is the rising collection and analysis of customer data, stated Kevy. In order to get a better picture of their customer bases and what shoppers are demanding, an increasing number of e-commerce groups have been turning to the vast amounts of client data at their fingertips. This includes search and purchase histories, page views, conversion rates and social media connections. By gathering and analyzing this content, businesses can get a better idea of how their brand is performing and discover ways to improve the end user experience.

"[D]ata helps you personalize and improve everything about your website," wrote Kevy contributor Brooke Beach. "Data can also help you better identify your target market, reach out to new audiences and upsell to current customers. So with competition in e-commerce growing, merchants that use data to improve their products and shopping experience will reign supreme."

A shift in SEO
Beach also noted that due to algorithm changes made by Google and other top search engines, many of the previously-leveraged search engine optimization strategies are no longer relevant. Differing algorithms mean that techniques like keyword stuffing will not bring the site closer to the top of search results. However, by providing high quality, useful content, organizations can improve their SEO.

Protect data in transit with an SSL certificate today.

corporate office

Thawte
The Gateway
Century Lane
Century City, 7441
Cape Town
South Africa

Postal Address:
P O Box 15986
Panorama 7500
Cape Town
South Africa

Call: +353 1 793 9141
Fax: +27 21 819 2950