the new e-commerce trends in 2022

Covid-19 along with a fast-changing tech landscape has changed the face of traditional businesses and work. Together with government funds, the business finance industry plays a vital role in the post-pandemic recovery. Let’s look at the current trends and what SMEs might find useful in helping to navigate through an uncertain future.

super apps

Super apps are umbrella apps that provide multiple services on a single app thus eliminating the need to jump between different online platforms to get the job done. Unquestionably, one of the best examples is China’s WeChat. Beside messaging services, the app also combines payments, e-commerce, and much more within its application.

The western world is also making moves (albeit slowly) to adopt a similar model. For example, Facebook and Instagram added in-app shopping features. Snapchat also lets you play games, meditate, and book a movie without having to leave it.

According to The Verge, the rise of super apps is driven by a tectonic shift in how the ad-supported app economy works. For instance, Apple introduced their new privacy policy that makes it harder for third-party iOS apps to share data with other companies for advertising purposes. Therefore, it makes ad-driven platforms work harder to keep people in their apps especially for activities involving money.

Additionally, tech giants are swaying customers away from traditional banking for a more seamless experience. Apps like Square, PayPal, and Google have started jumping on the bandwagon to create super applications. These apps have a range of digital financial services and e-commerce (basic bank accounts/open banking, credit and loans, cashless payments, investing services, and peer-to-peer payment options). With all those things, super apps are definitely a thing to watch.

supercharging funds

2021 has been challenging and rocky for many businesses to say the least. Therefore, strong financial management is essential in helping businesses succeed this year and beyond. Not only will this help companies stay afloat but more importantly it will assist growth. Ultimately, it helps to tackle the issue of ready cash flow to ensure that you cover expenses and pay lenders/suppliers on time.

Things that can help improve your cashflow include but are not limited to reconsidering your price model/increasing income, reviewing banking products, assessing overheads and scaling back where possible, switching to user- and environmentally-friendly tech, studying your business performance, learning how to maximise small business marketing, and being mindful of how your decision-making impacts cashflow.

Moreover, you can try to supercharge your business funds during this tough period are through government grants which can help you survive the impacts of the Omicron wave, temporary cashflow boosts provided by the ATO, and alternative financing options such as those supplied by thornmoney.

Metaverse

The Metaverse is a mash-up of people, spaces, assets, information, and objects. To quote an article in the NYPost, “In the metaverse, you’ll be able to swim with the sharks, tour the Parthenon in Athens, or go skydiving – all from your VR glasses. In addition, “you” can be anyone you want, even LeBron James or a jaguar”. However, it’s so much more than just the virtual reality world.

In the Metaverse, you can buy and build assets (land, art, clothing, etc) that purely exist there and that possess real monetary value. This is where the buzzwords “NFT” or Non-Fungible Token, cryptocurrency, and blockchain came to be. Though it sounds like a sci-fi movie, the metaverse will help you connect with like-minded business owners globally. Undeniably, this will in future be the cornerstone for any small business wishing to expand. Surely, it will also help to facilitate a new ‘e-commerce’ experience.

cryptocurrency

The digital currency evolution is definitely changing the way we use money. In detail, last year we saw a breakthrough in cryptocurrency (a secured, digital token without a central issuing or regulating authority that’s transferred cryptographically using blockchain technology). Tremendous focus and attention were placed on the crypto industry thanks in part to popular culture (hello Elon Musk). Furthermore, the upward rise of Bitcoin and Ethereum turned cryptocurrency into a hot topic amongst investors. Although prices are highly volatile, there are some primary benefits for SMEs such as lower transaction fees, merchant protection, increased sales, and customer convenience.

digitalise your cashflow and empower your e-commerce!

Fast and efficient, thornmoney’s cutting-edge platforms means you can complete your loan application in just 15-minutes and receive quick approval. 

Thornmoney offers business line of credit (also known as invoice finance) solutions that allow you to turn unpaid invoices into fast funds within 24 hours since approval. With no lock-in contract, it is as simple as connecting your accounting software with our platform.

If you’re upgrading your fleet or business equipment, our asset finance products might be your answer. Our loans are available with tailored rates for your business and various payment terms up to 5 years. The options include chattel mortgages and rental agreements. Read “What is asset finance?“

Besides, we also offer funds for newer businesses as long as one of the directors has at least 2 years of experience in the related industry.