Top Five Digital Shopper Trends in 2025

February 2025

Technological advances will continue to reshape consumer behaviour in 2025. Now in its ninth year, this annual report explores top shopper trends that will redefine commerce the most in the year ahead. Some of the trends included in this year’s edition dive into the impact of trends like rise of generative AI, social commerce, video-based shopping and budget-focused websites on the digital shopper in 2025.

EUR 1,375
Request More Information

Delivery

This report comes in PPT.

Key Findings

Trend 1: Cheap clicks

The rising cost-of-living crisis and persistent high inflation continue to drive consumers towards cautious spending, boosting the appeal of low-cost platforms such as Temu, Shein and TikTok Shop. These platforms leverage aggressive promotions, social media and data-driven strategies to attract budget-conscious, tech-savvy shoppers, forcing established retailers to rethink strategies.

Trend 2: Social shopification

As consumers spend more time on social media, they increasingly view these platforms as not only places to connect, but also to shop. Social media companies are responding by embracing shopification, integrating more direct purchasing capabilities into their platforms. Some social media platforms are even becoming online retailers in their own right.

Trend 3: Social trust

Consumers initially turned to influencers for authentic and independent reviews, but the growing commercialisation of social media has led to scepticism about the authenticity of their content. To rebuild trust, brands are focusing on transparent practices, reevaluating partnerships, investing in micro influencers and engaging directly with their audience.

Trend 4: Shoppable streams

The incorporation of immersive video elements into online spaces is transforming how consumers experience and interact with brands. By embracing video commerce, brands are boosting sales and creating more engaging customer experiences. This is fuelling the growing ubiquity of shoppable videos, as well as the explosive growth of the livestreaming e-commerce model.

Trend 5: Agentic commerce

Artificial intelligence, including subsets such as generative AI and now AI agents, is impacting nearly every corner of the retail and hospitality industries - much like the internet did decades ago. Recent advancements such as the ability of GenAI to create and AI-enabled agents to automate more complex decision-making processes promises to be transformative.

Why read this report?
Key findings
A snapshot of the global digital shopper in 2025
Leveraging the Retail Reinvention Framework to reach the digital shopper
Consumers actively explore low-cost platforms when seeking budget-stretching options
Temu is reshaping the online landscape and consumer expectations
Retailers are adapting strategies amid low-cost market disruption
Zalando revamps off-price solutions tailored to value-conscious shoppers
Amazon launches its own online “discount store” to stave off Temu and Shein
H&M focuses on enhancing consumer experience amid pressure from Shein
The growing popularity of low-budget platforms forces other retailers to adapt
Consumers increasingly view social media platforms as places to shop
Social media platforms are making their sites more shoppable
ByteDance-owned platforms have revolutionised social commerce
Fast fashion giant Zara see sales spike in China thanks to Douyin livestreams
YouTube encourages Indian content creators to embed shoppable content
YouTube partners with Instacart on shoppable ads in the US
Social media platforms have the upper hand in their tug of war with brands
Consumers no longer view influencers as the most authentic information source
Social media marketing adds value but cannot replace authentic human interaction
Retailers are leveraging micro-influencers to boost transparency on social media
Asos is redefining fashion marketing through micro-influencer strategy
Sephora Squad programme delivers strong results for both influencers and the brand
Halfdays targets women in sports via niche influencers, showcasing authentic advocacy
High-value engagement matters more than number of followers when building trust
Immersive video content has transformed e-commerce
Shoppable videos are helping to power livestreaming’s sales growth
Brands are increasingly integrating video commerce into their own digital platforms
Amazon launches own shoppable channel on its Prime Video streaming service
JD.com introduces lifelike virtual avatars on its livestreaming platform
Victoria Beckham unveils shoppable videos on her brand’s website and social channels
Consumers now expect brands to offer immersive video content
Consumer expectations of greater personalisation becoming more feasible with GenAI
Retailers and others are investing in GenAI -powered agents to deliver personalisation
Retailers such as Walmart are building AI-powered assistants to enhance online experience
Perplexity’s AI shopping assistant takes aim at Amazon and Google Shopping
GenAI -powered agents present new opportunities - and risks
Opportunities for growth
Share:

NEW REPORT GUARANTEE

If you purchase a report that is updated in the next 60 days, we will send you the new edition and data extraction Free!