Trends in Global E-Commerce and Shopping Behavior

E-commerce has become woven into daily life, yet the ways we shop continue to change. From AI-powered personalization to the rise of social shopping and sustainable delivery, the trends in global e-commerce and shopping behavior are redefining how consumers connect with brands. In this article, we explore the most dynamic developments transforming online retail in 2025 and offer practical insights for businesses and shoppers alike.

1. Global E-Commerce Market Expansion and Shifting Growth

E-commerce remains on a robust growth trajectory:

• Global online retail sales are estimated to reach $6.8 trillion in 2025, with YoY growth of 8–8.3%.
• Online purchases will account for 21% of all retail, expected to climb above 22.6% by 2027.
• However, growth may decelerate this year due to economic weaknesses in key markets like China.

These figures underscore that the trends in global e-commerce and shopping behavior are deeply influenced by macroeconomic conditions—a caution for both global and regional strategy.

2. AI-Driven Personalization and Smart Customer Experience

Customization now leads online shopping:

• AI-powered personalization—from dynamic product suggestions to personalized emails—is foundational for brands in 2025.
• Luxury retailers such as Saks Global have integrated AI to tailor homepage experiences, boosting conversions by nearly 10%.

Artificial intelligence is central to the trends in global e-commerce and shopping behavior, steering consumers toward more relevant, efficient experiences.

3. Social Commerce, Livestreaming, and Conversational Shopping

The boundary between shopping and social media continues to fade:

• Platforms like TikTok Shop allow users to go from product discovery to purchase in seconds, enhancing immersive buying journeys.
• Chatbots and AI-backed conversational commerce are growing. Visa and OpenAI are enabling voice and text-based shopping with built-in payments.

Social and conversational commerce are key drivers among the most influential trends in global e-commerce and shopping behavior.

4. Super Apps: All-in-One Shopping Ecosystems

Super Apps—combining messaging, payments, banking, and shopping—are especially prevalent in mobile-first markets:

• These integrated services offer seamless engagement and richer first-party data, though they demand careful regional adaptation.

As a global trend, super apps are redefining shopping behavior by merging multiple needs into unified platforms — a notable shift amid global e-commerce trends.

5. Immersive Shopping via AR/VR and Omnichannel Design

The digital and physical worlds are blending:

• Augmented Reality (AR) tools—like virtual try-ons and product previews—are gaining traction, with nearly 40–42% of shoppers expected to use AR by 2025.
• Omnichannel strategies, ensuring consistent experiences across apps, stores, and social platforms, remain a priority for seamless shopping.

Immersive and omnichannel trends are helping bridge gaps between discovery, inspiration, and purchase in evolving global e-commerce and shopping behavior.

6. Logistics and Sustainability: The Future of Delivery

Delivery expectations are evolving rapidly:

• Q-commerce—ultra-fast deliveries under an hour—is growing, particularly in high-density regions. In India, it accounts for 40–50% of online grocery sales.
• E-commerce firms in India are adopting electric vehicles for last-mile delivery to reduce costs and environmental impact.

Quick, green delivery models are critical components of current trends in global e-commerce and shopping behavior, meeting consumer demands for speed and sustainability.

7. Marketplaces, Retail Media, and Headless Commerce

Digital transformation runs deep at the structural level:

• Online marketplaces continue to dominate as hubs of variety and convenience.
• Retail media—ads embedded in shopping platforms—is rising as a new revenue channel.
• Headless commerce architecture, decoupling front- and back-end systems, enables rapid adaptation across devices while boosting SEO and conversion rates.

These innovations are solidifying how platforms engage users globally amid shifting shopping behaviors and retailer needs.

8. Influencers, Sustainability, and Ethical Commerce

Consumer values continue to shape e-commerce:

• Social commerce, powered by influencers, drives authentic discovery—indicating brands must harmonize content with commerce.
• Technologies like SEER propose environmental-impact ratings to guide more sustainable purchases, helping close the gap between intent and action.

Sustainability and influence-driven shopping are increasingly influential in global e-commerce behaviors.

9. Mobile and App Commerce: Redefining Conversion Pathways

Mobile apps are outperforming other channels:

• Mobile app transactions typically deliver higher engagement and double the conversion rates compared to mobile web.

The shift to app-based e-commerce reflects how accessibility and UX are central to modern shopping preferences.

Outlook: What’s Next in Global E-Commerce and Shopping Behavior

Practical Steps for Retailers:

1. Invest in AI-driven personalization to refine shopper experiences.
2. Embrace social commerce formats—live streaming, shoppable content, chatbot buying.
3. Leverage AR/VR and ensure seamless omnichannel integration.
4. Enhance logistics with quick and sustainable delivery options—Q-commerce and EV-based fleets.
5. Explore headless platforms for agility across devices.
6. Incorporate sustainability and influence into branding and customer connection strategies.

Conclusion

The trends in global e-commerce and shopping behavior for 2025 are forging a new landscape—one focused on personalization, immersion, speed, sustainability, and smarter infrastructure. Retailers who align with these shifts can stay relevant, deepen customer loyalty, and prosper in a dynamic, global marketplace.

References

1. The Future of Commerce. E-Commerce Trends 2025 — AI, social commerce, AR, sustainability. https://www.the-future-of-commerce.com/2024/12/04/e-commerce-trends-2025/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
2. SellersCommerce. Ecommerce Statistics In 2025 — $6.8T projections, 21% share of retail. https://www.sellerscommerce.com/blog/ecommerce-statistics/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
3. eMarketer. Worldwide Retail Ecommerce Forecast 2025 — growth slowdown in 2025. https://www.emarketer.com/content/worldwide-retail-ecommerce-forecast-2025?utm_source=chatgpt.com