Sometime in 2025, Gen Z shoppers will officially outnumber and outspend Gen X online. They will drive the majority of eCommerce purchases and be key stakeholders in B2B transactions.
Now is the time to ask yourself: Is my site experience designed to appeal to their style of buying?
Use our simple checklist as a gut check. To be ready for the new majority of digital buyers, your site must be:
AI-Driven
74 %
of adults 18-34 look forward to the improvements that AI can make to their online shopping experience, compared to 53% of those 55 and above
Insight
If you're still wondering whether now is the time to incorporate smart AI tools on your site to attract and convert younger buyers, the answer is a resounding, "Yes!" For example, AI-driven product discovery can generate personalized product recommendations faster and more accurately than traditional search methods.
Source: Harris Poll 2024
Customizable
64 %
of adults 18-44 say that if they could, they’d do all their shopping for products that can be customized and configured online, like furniture, apparel, shoes, and uniforms—and they’d never go in-store to finalize their selections.
Insight
If you have customizable products you must use 3D or 2D photorealistic configuration to enable shoppers to create and see their product in real-time. Let them have control so they can purchase with confidence.
Source: Harris Poll 2024
Digital-First
55 %
In-store is the leading purchase channel for 81% of baby boomers—but it drops to just 55% for Gen Z.
Insight
In-store buying is still important but becoming less vital. Put your best buying experience forth in every digital medium to create a cohesive journey–eCommerce, social and in-store.
Source: Swiftly
Personalizable
71 %
of consumers today expect personalized experiences from brands—and 76% get frustrated when they don’t get that personalization.
Insight
You’re already likely capturing and accessing plenty of data on your customers, but 1st party data will be increasingly important. Use this data to offer a more personalized shopping experience and encourage more loyalty from younger shoppers.
Source: McKinsey
Omni-Channel
2 x
Gen Z and Millennials are twice as likely as Boomers to use omnichannel approaches in their purchase journey.
Insight
An excellent omni-channel experience is essential to help Gen Z shoppers find, browse, research, and purchase products when and how they want. Focus on weaving in social media shopping enablement, ads, and organic content.
Source: Near Intelligence
Self-Serve
73 %
Millennials are now involved in 73% of product or service purchase decisions at their companies, and 74% of millennial B2B buyers have switched vendors to get an improved, consumer-like experience.
Insight
Keep one thing in mind: B2B buyers want to do as much research as they can on their own before involving a sales person. If you sell a complicated product, you must find innovative ways to let them navigate and understand that product online without the help of a person.
Source: PYMNTS.com
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