Uncovering the 2024 eCommerce Trends in our Report

Introduction

The eCommerce industry continuously grows and evolves. The pandemic has certainly played a huge role in the accelerated growth of eCommerce, but the shift towards online shopping was already happening before that. In this article, we unpack the latest 2024 eCommerce trends and extensive consumer preferences from our latest report.

New Zealand Couriers created this report to provide valuable insights and recommendations to Kiwi businesses, empowering them to understand the eCommerce opportunity, implement effective strategies, and make informed investment decisions. By staying ahead of the evolving consumer preferences and leveraging collaborative growth opportunities, businesses can thrive in the digital age and secure their success in a shifting retail landscape.

New Zealand Couriers facilitates 35 million connections each year between consumers, merchants, and organisations all over the country and the world. We recognise the importance of collaborative growth and present this report as a comprehensive guide to help businesses harness their potential.

Robert Levy, Head of Marketing & Sustainability
New Zealand Couriers

Ecommerce Insights: Consumer 2024

When everyone’s doing eCommerce, it’s the way you do it that matters. Read about eCommerce strategies that work.

Get the report – it’s free

43% of our survey respondents reported purchasing products directly from social media. This trend is expected to grow in the next few years, with more businesses leveraging social media as a sales platform. However, our findings indicate that most individuals (87%) prefer to shop online through a brand’s website, such as Kmart and Farmers.

***How are online consumers shopping?***

Additionally, 74% prefer consumer-to-consumer marketplaces such as Trademe and eBay. In the current digital landscape, consumers are presented with many online options. Incorporating social selling into the eCommerce strategy can enhance brand awareness and is something businesses can consider.

Acquiring reviews through Google Business or a Facebook page, which already provides user-friendly interfaces, will significantly simplify the process for you. The future of social media 2030 is already in the making, and as technology continues to evolve, so will social selling.

Ecommerce Insights: Consumer 2024

When everyone’s doing eCommerce, it matters how you do it. Read about eCommerce strategies that work.

Get the report – it’s free

Peak shopping seasons

Peak shopping seasons present significant opportunities for both businesses and consumers.

According to our research, the following occasions take the lead as the biggest sale events:

Christmas
Mother/Father’s Day
Black Friday/Cyber Monday
Boxing Day
Easter Holidays

However, pre-holiday consumer spending can be as crucial as the holiday itself. As an example, in the lead-up to the Matariki holiday in July 2023, there was a 4.3% increase in EFTPOS payments, nearly reaching 2.92 billion NZD. Businesses can benefit from leveraging this trend and developing targeted marketing campaigns to drive sales during these peak shopping periods.

During peak online shopping periods, ensuring efficient courier networks is paramount, as significant increases in eCommerce shopping volumes put immense pressure on delivery services. As a responsive service provider, New Zealand Couriers makes sure to optimise its services to accommodate the surge in online shopping during these periods.

Pre-purchase delivery considerations

Online shoppers continue to weigh their purchase decisions and take into account these factors:

Whether an item will be delivered as expected and on time
The ability to track their package
Whether the business has a return policy
The cost of delivery
And the ability to select delivery time

Top pre-purchase delivery considerations:

As expected and on time

Ability to track

Returns Policy

Cost of delivery

Ability to select delivery time

Strategies that work

97% of Kiwi consumers value accurate and up-to-date parcel tracking as highly important but are unwilling to pay for it. Larger businesses also greatly value their delivery partners providing this service. Kiwi consumers have come to expect this level of service from larger businesses without incurring additional costs. As a result, they now demand the same level of service from smaller businesses.

Research has shown that repeat customers tend to spend an average of 67% more than new customers. With acquiring new customers costing 5 to 10 times more than selling to existing customers, repeat customers can be lucrative. That’s why companies focus on great customer service – to keep their current customers happy and satisfied.

Kiwi businesses can integrate their eCommerce websites with APIs and connect platforms with shipping carriers to enhance delivery operations.

Our shoppers consistently tell us how easy it is. The price, the service and how unexpectedly speedy their delivery was. It’s a joy like this that keeps them coming back to shop with us. Getting same-day delivery for our customers is like, wow… this is amazing.

Jeff Scott, Branch Manager
Scott Electrical Ltd

Achieve Business Results

65% of businesses use software solutions for order fulfilment. Investing in reliable software streamlining inventory management, order tracking, and warehouse operations can significantly improve efficiency and customer satisfaction. These solutions reduce the risk of manual errors and help businesses efficiently manage increasing orders.

By prioritising efficiency through technology, businesses can achieve their strategic business goals, such as increasing sales and customer retention. With the rise of social selling and peak shopping seasons, businesses must have a robust order fulfilment system to meet modern consumers’ demands.

In conclusion, understanding consumer behaviour and implementing effective strategies is key to success in today’s competitive market. Businesses can achieve their desired results by leveraging social media platforms, targeting peak shopping periods, and optimising delivery operations through technology. Investing in reliable software solutions for order fulfilment is crucial to streamline processes and meet customer expectations.

Let’s stay ahead of the curve and embrace these strategies that work to achieve your business goals. So, whether you’re a small startup or an established business, taking advantage of these opportunities can help you stand out and excel in the ever-evolving eCommerce landscape. Let’s strive for excellence and achieve outstanding business results together! Download our report for more Strategies that work!