It is estimated that this year will see over 2.14 billion people across the world make an e-Commerce purchase according to Statista. Nearly 70% of Americans have shopped online, with nearly a quarter of all Americans shopping online at least one a month. As many merchants closed their doors and shoppers were forced to stay at home, e-Commerce transaction volume grew by almost 10% — growth that had previously been expected to take place over the next decade had happened almost overnight.

This shift has caused many merchants to reevaluate their in-store and online shopping experiences. During this re-evaluation it is important for retailers to understand the benefits and potential pitfalls and barriers facing shoppers and their decisions to choose between in-store and online shopping. Many shoppers value the tactile in-store experience, being able to experience the products and interface with in-store experts to find the product that meets their needs while benefiting from the immediacy of leaving the store with the items they want. However, many online shoppers prefer the convenience of shopping from home, browsing and comparing a wide assortment of products quickly and easily.

It’s important to provide shoppers with the tools to make educated purchasing decisions and a positive shopping experience regardless of how they choose to interact with the brand. One problem many retailers are facing is how to make sure their customers are confident that their safety and privacy will be protected, in-store and online. According to Entrust, in 2020 nearly 80% of shoppers said worries about their personal information and data security were key barriers in purchasing goods and services online, with 32% of respondents saying these concerns have prevented them from purchasing from online stores in the past.

That apprehension is understandable — there are over 1,000 major data breaches a year, with nearly 155 million unique customer records exposed in 2020 alone according to Statista. With more and more shoppers moving online, e-Commerce sites and other points of interest are becoming increasingly more attractive targets for hackers. It’s up to the retailers to provide shoppers with the experiences they expect while maintaining their privacy and security.

LoginRadius recommends that retailers continually reassure their customers of the safety measures in place to mitigate potential security threats, such as…

• Invisible security measures, such as building a website that loads fast and returns minimal errors by implementing website speed optimization, reducing image and content sizes, and using reliable and fast DNS providers.
  
  
• Visible security measures, such as providing shoppers with “trust signals” that help them feel safe, such as an About Us page, customer testimonials, secure payment gateways, clear and accurate guarantees and policies, and consistent branding throughout the experience.

The financing process typically requires sensitive, personal information to be collected before lenders are able to make a financing decision. Versatile Credit’s financing application platform can help provide retailers with the peace of mind that their data is secured and protected while helping shoppers find the financing product that meets their needs. This enables retailers to offer the same comprehensive financing options and ensure that they are maximizing financing opportunities for shoppers, in-store and online.

Reach out to Versatile today to learn more about how we can help you provide secure, comprehensive financing options for your shoppers, wherever their buying decision is made.