Big changes are on the horizon for B2B ecommerce, according to the research and consulting firm Gartner. It expects to see transformative technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) revolutionize the way businesses understand buyer behavior across channels. In the next five years, these innovations will be pivotal to success.
By 2030, digital commerce trends will align around four major themes: customer-centricity, connectivity, agility and intelligence, according to new research from Gartner.
“AI will drive a significant shift in digital commerce, emphasizing customer centricity by 2030. To remain competitive, agility and seamless experiences will be essential,” the Gartner report’s authors stated in a recent research brief. “Digital commerce leaders can use this research to align future trends with their strategic roadmaps.”
Gartner’s key findings for B2B ecommerce
Gartner’s survey of 2,025 professionals across multiple industries highlights a dramatic shift in digital commerce and technology adoption:
- Decentralized development: By 2025, 80% of users for low-code/no-code (LC) tools will be outside traditional IT departments, up from 60% in 2021. These tools, encompassing architectural, engineering, design and communication graphics technology, are becoming essential for broader accessibility.
- Digital twins: By 2027, 20% of B2B sales organizations will employ digital twins of customers, enabling improved revenue generation and enhanced customer experiences. Then by 2026, 25% of all new or custom-built applications will leverage digital twins. By 2028, twins built with advanced data and analytics practices will retain their value 50% longer than those developed using current methods.
- Connected products: By 2028, an estimated 15 billion connected products will act as independent customers, autonomously purchasing services and supplies for themselves and their owners.
- Seller integration: By 2030, sellers will seamlessly integrate into both B2C and B2B digital commerce interactions, stepping in when customers require direct involvement.
“Digital commerce will become increasingly ubiquitous over the coming years, evolving dynamically and adapting to shifting economic conditions,” Gartner’s researchers noted.
For businesses, especially in B2B ecommerce, the challenge lies in staying ahead of the curve by embracing customer-centric strategies, leveraging emerging technologies and building agility into their operations to thrive in an ever-changing market.
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