Online shopping was hugely popular even before the pandemic broke out. And with COVID-19 bringing in new restrictions, shopping online is here to stay in the mainstream. Today, there are thousands of online shopping apps to choose from.

With the increasing number of online shoppers and their ever-evolving expectations, it has become challenging for top shopping apps developers to make truly efficient and engaging apps. The best way out in this situation is to incorporate the latest trending features in shopping applications.

The idea is to provide as much convenience and safety as possible to shoppers. Modern shopping apps must include some of the latest features like -

1.  Augmented Reality

AR has taken over many industries, and surely it should be incorporated in shopping apps too. The AR technology will help the customers to get a realistic image of the products; they would no longer have to depend on catalog pictures and imagination. The technology can effectively blend all the digital elements with the real world.

AR technology can help the customers to know what products are exactly the best for them. In other words, it helps to remove the previous product barriers and can positively impact your sales. AR improves the overall customer experience and makes them stay engaged always.

2.  Chatbots

It is not a new concept. You would find chatbots on most websites, and it is a must-have in shopping apps. Chatbots can efficiently answer FAQs without the human touch. It has all the pre-feed options that shoppers typically ask. It is one of the most accessible forms of AI. It collects data, tracks the behavior of individual shoppers, and provides a seamless experience to them. They focus on individual customers and recommend products according to their preferences. The personalized approach helps in improving the overall experience of the customers.

The best thing to note here is, chatbots too, can develop a personality based on the data they interject. Chatbots can be used as a perfect representative of your brand, and they provide the customers with the experience they always wanted.

3.  QR/Barcode scanner

While QR or Barcode was not so popular a few years ago, it is not the case at present. QR or Barcode has become a must-have feature, and it is multifunctional too. You can attach Barcodes to your digital or physical products, and on scanning, shoppers will be able to see all the information related to the given product. It can be used for promotions as well, and thus it can help drive more sales to your business.

4.  360 degrees product image

This is a feature that is rarely used in shopping apps, but incorporating this can turn out to be very useful. Shoppers would get a clear understanding of the size and material of the product through this feature.

Just like Augmented Reality, the 360 degrees product features would add a premium feel to your app. It would enhance the overall purchase experience and caters to every need of the users. However, given the nature of this feature, it can only be used in a few categories like decorations, furniture, and apparel.

5.  Image search options

One of the most recent additions to popular shopping apps is the image search option. It uses Artificial Intelligence to analyze images and show matching products that are quite similar to the given images. It is a newfound technology that has a lot of prospects.

The world has turned increasingly visual, and in such a situation, image search is a great feature that would address every customer's need. The use of AI has become truly abundant in eCommerce, and it will continue to be like that for the coming years.

Final Words

Technology is evolving every day, and innovation is driving industries globally. This, in turn, is enhancing the overall shopping experience of the customers.

With online shopping becoming mainstream now, the only way to stay abreast of competition is to launch a kickass app that offers superlative convenience to users. Along with adding the newest tech features, you also need to ensure consistency. So test it regularly for bugs, and minimize the crash rate (if any).

Ultimately it is all about keeping your customers happy!