With 2024 coming to an end, the Inovretail team are taking the opportunity to reflect on what we’ve seen this year and the retail trends we expect to see in 2025. The retail industry continues on its journey of innovation and adaptation. In our opinion, it’s anything but predictable, so it’s important that we are constantly keeping up with trends and technology that benefit our customers and keep everyone in the know!
At Inovretail, we’ve had a front-row seat to witnessing these shifts, with our ground-breaking Seeplus software aiding in this. Let’s take a closer look at what’s been and what we believe is to come.
2024: Encouraging Adaptability
This past year has seen businesses embracing adaptability like never before. Consumers wanted both convenience and omnichannel experiences that felt personal and intuitive for better shopping. Retailers who thrived in 2024 leveraged market research and real-time insights to anticipate customer needs, streamline operations, and personalise shopping experiences:
Q-Commerce Proved its Staying Power
One standout trend was (and continues to be) demand for instant gratification. Instant delivery and Q-Commerce dominated consumer preferences. Customers expected their purchases to appear almost as quickly as the thought entered their minds, with 75% of customer expecting express 2-hour delivery as an option (more on this below). Seeplus enabled our partners to optimise inventory, improve last-mile logistics, and deliver with lightning speed - delighting customers and staying ahead of competitors.
Tech-Powered Personalisation Took Precedence
This year, shoppers craved personal, unique and curated experiences. From product recommendations to personalised discounts, retailers used data and advanced systems to achieve these requirements and stand out to their target market.
Machine learning helped optimise sales and delivery and at Inovretail, Seeplus empowered retailers to harness the power of customising consumer journeys and offering insights into preferences and potential market gaps.
Sustainability Remained a Top Priority
Customers demanded transparency and eco-friendly practices, pushing retailers to adopt greener supply chains and sustainable products. From using eco-friendly alternatives, to using bulk transport methods and locker collections, many companies demonstrated that a lower carbon footprint could also lead to higher customer loyalty.
Retail Trends to Watch in 2025
Here are some of the retail trends that we believe will shape the new year:
The Q-Commerce Boom Continues
Instant delivery isn’t going anywhere. In fact, it’s set to become even bigger. Customers will expect same-hour delivery for an even broader range of products, and retailers will need to meet this increasing demand while balancing operational costs. We believe that this year, Seeplus will help to play an even larger part in setting the standards for Q-Commerce and enable businesses to be part of the innovative collective of retailers making the shift to instant delivery within 1-hour, getting ahead of the curve and accessing smarter retail insights.
As Q-Commerce gets bigger, it’ll also level up. We’re likely to see the expansion of order fulfillment hubs and dark stores, so that more stock can be delivered to areas slightly further away to target audiences. In addition, with sustainability still a clear focus, eco-friendly packaging and green delivery couriers will likely start being offered as standard.
The Circular Economy
On this note, 2024 laid the groundwork for sustainable retail, but 2025 is the year circular commerce takes the spotlight. More brands are embracing the ‘rent, reuse, recycle’ model, reducing waste and extending product life cycles. From subscription services for clothing to robust buy-back programs for electronics, the circular economy is reshaping consumer-brand relationships. This shift will require robust tracking and delivery data management - a challenge that Seeplus is already solving for our clients.
‘Phygital’ Shopping Experiences
In 2025, the blending of physical and digital - dubbed ‘phygital’ - shopping experiences is set to reach new heights. Think along the lines of interactive store displays, AR fitting rooms, and QR codes that provide instant product details. Retail spaces will become immersive environments designed to engage customers in ways that online-only shopping cannot replicate.
We’re seeing more and more AI-enhanced in-store experiences across the globe, from robotic store assistants to dynamic pricing models that adapt in real-time based on demand. Predictive analytics will continue to help retailers forecast trends and deliver hyper-personalised experiences.
Community Driven Commerce
Brands will now be thinking of deepening their focus on building communities around their new products and partnerships. This could take the form of loyalty programs, social media engagement, or even local pop-up events. Retailers will succeed by fostering genuine connections that go beyond transactions. In 2025, making your mark will be as challenging as ever, so collaborating with Inovretail’s Seeplus software, in partnership with Uber Direct, is a great way to set yourself apart and leverage your reputation within a like-minded community.
Live-To-Door Shopping
Live shopping involves real-time video presentations where hosts showcase products. This usually occurs on social media, dedicated live shopping platforms, or the retailer’s own digital channels. Customers can join live product showcases hosted by brands or influencers, make purchases in real-time, and receive their items at their doorstep within hours. As brands prioritise personalisation and instant gratification, live-to-door shopping is emerging as a dynamic way to engage consumers through immersive experiences and an engaging purchasing process.
In 2024, we saw live commerce gaining traction globally; in 2025, it’s expected to converge with ultra-fast delivery, setting a new standard for retail immediacy and representing more opportunity for ecommerce businesses to build trust, interact with customers, and provide a more customer-focused shopping experience.
Get Ahead of the Q-Commerce Curve
While many of these retail trends are our predictions, Q-Commerce is an unwavering constant: people value their time and the instant gratification of 1-hour delivery fulfills this. Infact, 94% of consumers say that 1-hour delivery would encourage them to shop with the retailer again and 92% would recommend online.
As retailers continue to innovate this year, a key focus will be on making delivery even faster, more reliable, and likely, more sustainable. The brands that succeed over the coming months will be those that prioritise their customer demands with speed and flexibility. Investing in robust Q-Commerce strategies will reap the rewards of increased customer loyalty and higher sales.
Get in Touch
At Inovretail, we’re excited to continue pushing the boundaries of what Q-Commerce can achieve. The possibilities for 2025 are endless, but the demand for instant delivery isn’t going anywhere. Our Seeplus software ensures that our clients can deliver on the promise of instant gratification without compromising efficiency. Are you ready to adapt and innovate?
Get in touch via our email hello@inovretail.com, or book a demo to see how
our software works today!
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