7 Dropshipping Trends To Watch Out For in 2021

8 min read

The eCommerce landscape is always changing every year, and there are new trends in dropshipping that you have to pay attention to. The COVID-19 pandemic has shone across different industries, but it has been more positive for the eCommerce industry. There has been massive growth in the eCommerce industry in 2020-2021 as a result. The sales have multiplied exponentially, with more retailers taking their business and making more sales online.

Many entrepreneurs have moved into dropshipping. We expect that this spills into 2023, and we see more of this influence in the eCommerce industry. Need proof? According to Statista, the estimated value of the global dropshipping market size is forecast to grow to 476.1 billion U.S. dollars. by 2026.

One of the significant problems that dropshipping entrepreneurs face is what niche to pick or focus on and what to sell. This is a big business decision that affects the business’s consequences and might affect the success or failure of the business. If you are going into the dropshipping business, it is essential to avoid the mistake of choosing a niche or product because of your passion or personal interest. This is important, except you don’t want to build a successful business. If you’re looking to create a profitable dropshipping business, you have to look past your interest and passions. It would be best to do your market research – and in doing this, watch the dropshipping trends.

Here are some of the dropshipping trends to watch out for in 2023.

7 Dropshipping Trends To Watch Out For in 2021

1. Mobile Commerce

There’s been an increase in eCommerce and online shopping from previous years, which is an exciting trend to look into. Since most people browse the internet through their mobile devices, you expect an increase in mobile commerce. More people are starting to shop with their mobile devices.

It is expected that by the end of 2022, up to 54% of eCommerce sales will be through mobile devices. So, there’s a willingness for customers to use their phones to make orders online. They’ve gone past just using their phones to search for and investigate the products they are looking to buy.

Therefore, your websites must be mobile-friendly as this will give dropshipping businesses a higher chance of making more sales. Therefore, this should be your business’s primary focus in 2021; look to give your customers a better customer experience.

2. Social Commerce Dropshipping Trends

The larger number of people on the internet now spend a lot of time on different social media platforms. The number of users on social media is also increasing steadily. Beyond just connecting with people on social media, it has now become a large marketplace.

Apart from promotions and marketing, social media can also be used for making direct sales. For instance, Instagram and Facebook have a ‘buy’ button on their channels to make sales more comfortable, faster and streamlined through these social media. The fact that more people are confident about making online purchases means that in 2021, there will be more sales from social commerce platforms.

Therefore, you have to take advantage of Social Commerce in your dropshipping business to make more sales. This makes it easier for people to recognize your brand and also reduces the amount of cart abandonment. It would be easier for people to abandon their cart if they have to be redirected to another website to complete their purchase.

As of 2022, you already have the following options:

• Start selling on Facebook Marketplace;
• Dropship on Facebook;
• Sell on TikTok;
• Dropship on TikTok;
• Sell on Instagram.

Don’t confuse this with using social media to promote your business – these are new sales channels!

This is an even more significant dropshipping trend if your products are low priced and are mostly impulse purchases such as simple home décor, jewelry, clothing accessories, etc.

3. AI Trends in Dropshipping

The increase in the use of AI in the eCommerce industry now plays a significant role in online stores as it is used to provide a personalized customer experience. AI uses data from customer behavior, such as purchase history, to make recommendations for brands. Many stores now take advantage of AI to streamline their processes and operations and find customers.

There are many benefits of AI that brands have discovered, so it has continued to be a trend in eCommerce. It drives sales, generates leads, saves time with repetitive tasks, etc. These and many other benefits are what you stand to gain from using AI in your dropshipping business.

4. Payment Options

One of the things that affect the online purchasing decisions of customers is the payment options. While there are different payment methods, you have to be sure which your customers prefer. Otherwise, they are likely to not pull through with the purchase and abandon their cart.

Some of the best payment options which eCommerce businesses use are PayPal, Master Card, Visa Card, Google pay, etc. Also, the possibility of international transactions is increasing, and this gives rise to third-party platforms.

With the increase in payment options available, customers want this option to reflect on your website. To remain competitive, you have to simplify the checkout process, but you can’t have just one payment option. Also, you have to make sure that there are no hidden or unexpected charges incurred during payment.

5. Sustainability

According to marketer David Hayes, when writing for the write my assignment platform, most customers are making sure that the brands they patronize support sustainability. This has led to an increase in ‘Green Consumerism,’ and is, therefore, something you can’t ignore in 2021. This is even more common among younger consumers that take an interest in finding environmentally friendly products and solutions.

Customers are becoming more enlightened about environmental sustainability and want to see such practices in brands they patronize. So, you have to look for ways to appeal to these environment-conscious dropshipping trends. You can do this by:

• Using fair-trade organizations to source products.
• Provide eco-friendly alternatives to your product offers.
• Use recycled sheets and other eco-friendly packages. 
• Avoid sending physical receipts.

6. B2B eCommerce

It is expected that B2B eCommerce will increase in 2021. Although it has been rising significantly for a while, 2021 will be the year when the growth is accelerated. The work environment changes mean that there’s more demand for several B2B purchases, and these businesses tend to do these online.

This means that it will be lucrative for brands that are into dropshipping B2B products as they will make more sales in 2021. What dropshippers need now is an understanding of their potential customers, including their past shopping experiences and their current needs. You have to know that B2B pricing needs, marketing, and sales vary from B2C, and you have to appeal to your customers.

7. Branded Dropshipping Trends

This will be more rampant in 2021, with many large marketplaces becoming less accommodating. As brands use these platforms for their online sales, it has become more competitive and more expensive.

So, to boost their profit and increase their sales, we’ll see companies focusing on selling their branded products. This will give them fuller control of their operations and brand image, even though it may become more costly to market their product. Besides, brands can still continue their presence on marketplaces by following multichannel selling practices.

Conclusion

It is expected that eCommerce will experience massive growth in 2021. So, if you are considering going into dropshipping, then this is an excellent time to start dropshipping now. While you have to pay attention to marketplace practices, you have to also look at the common dropshipping trends before making your decision. This article provides you with some of the common trends in dropshipping for 2021, proving that it is a business you should look to start.

About the author:

John Peterson is a journalist with four years of experience providing professional writer service and essay writing service in the London magazine “Shop&buy.” He is a professional mini-tennis player, and he has written a novel, “His heart.” You can find him on FB.