Gamification has been around in the e-commerce industry for a while. After all, it’s one of the best ways to attract customers and boost engagement. The problem is, what happens when everyone’s doing the same thing? When it’s all point systems and freebies, how does an e-commerce business stand out?
Gamification in e-commerce is evolving, and it’s crucial that you look for new trends to get an edge on the competition. Sometimes, it’s a good idea to look at other successful online sectors for inspiration.
Progress Trackers and Mini Games
There are some cool case studies in the e-commerce industry that you can look at for examples of using gamification in new ways. Mini-games are on the rise, with Casper using quizzes to help guide users to the products that are best suited to them. Sephora has also introduced spin-to-win games that are designed to keep customers engaged and drive purchases. The French company has also introduced missions that give people a chance to enter lucky prize draws as well.
Progress trackers are nifty tools that allow customers to keep track of their scores on an e-commerce site. They work similarly to point systems, but this format is more reminiscent of the gaming industry. That’s because users can see their progress bar fill up and visualise when they will level up next. The excellent thing about these is that sites can implement their own tasks that result in progress points, such as filling carts and completing purchases.
Learning From the Gambling Industry
The gambling industry is an excellent place to look for some untapped ideas when it comes to gamification methods. Sites in the booming sector have always enjoyed fierce competition with one another, and some of the top online gambling sites have found the edge with their varied gaming options. Developers in the sector have boosted engagement with spinning wheel offerings like Crazy Time, which could easily be replicated in the e-commerce sector.
The online bingo sector has boomed alongside casinos, and this offers ideas for gamification as well. With bingo back firmly in the mainstream, e-commerce sites could use mini-bingo games to offer customers a new way to win prizes. By using well-known bingo sayings like ‘Two Little Ducks’ and ‘Two Fat Ladies’, it could be a great way to tap into the booming crowd.
Incorporating AI Algorithms
Artificial intelligence is playing a huge role in the e-commerce industry already. It’s being used to deliver personalised product recommendations for customers and in customer service mainly, but it could also play a part in the future of gamification.
The futuristic technology may be able to offer bespoke gamification experiences for different users, based on what it thinks will appeal to them most. For example, one user may be more interested in mini-games, while another may prefer to level up through progress points.
The best way for e-commerce businesses to get an edge is to understand that gamification is evolving and look for new methods to implement it. Incorporating ideas from booming sectors like bingo could work, and it’s also good to look to using new technology like AI.
