User Experience Trends You Need to Know in 2020

User Experience Trends You Need to Know in 2020

Today, almost everything is done online. People shop, talk with their friends, work, book flights and hotels, join communities, and share pictures of their kids. That's why user experience is an essential aspect of online interaction. Businesses and different platforms that have many users shouldn't overlook it. Defined as an overall experience, emotions, and attitude toward a particular product (in this case, a website or an app), UX can make or break a business.

According to UX statistics, there are over 2 billion active websites in the world that are viewed by 4.4 billion people. The biggest catch is that 53% of customers will judge a website in only three seconds. That's how long people are willing to wait for a page to load. And that's why website speed remains one of the most important UX trends in 2020. But speed is not the only aspect of UX that website owners should focus on. 

Data Protection and Privacy

Users' data has become priceless. Companies collect it via their websites and apps and use it in such a way that people think they have no privacy. In a way, they're right. That's why the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) has become one of the most valuable directives in attempts to govern digital data collection. 

Regarding the users' privacy, UX trends will include simplified forms to minimize data collection, making privacy a default setting, and removing the pre-selected boxes that trick users. 

Microcopy

Microcopy presents bits of information on the interface that guide users through a process. It clarifies things and increases the usefulness of the forms they are filling out. The best example of microcopy is when users fill out a longer form, click the Done or Subscribe button, and realize they made a mistake. They need to go through the entire form again and find what they submitted wrong, which usually makes them abandon the form page. Microcopy explains each field and helps users fill out any form correctly and quickly.

Design for AR and VR

Pokemon Go was only the beginning of mixed reality, and it served to showcase the power of AR. Nowadays, AR is gaining momentum. 

One of the best examples of use cases today for AR is IKEA's app that allows users to envision how the furniture they plan to buy fits into their home décor.

 AR and VR will undoubtedly become the tools people will use daily. Even now, companies are leveraging them to improve conversions and help their customers solve problems.

Website Navigation on Mobile Screens

The website traffic that comes from mobile devices is on the rise. More and more people are using their phones to shop, and that's why ecommerce platforms must focus on providing better UX for their customers on mobile. Enabling visitors to easily navigate a website on smaller screens by making it more fluid and responsive should be imperative for companies focusing on both B2C and B2B relationships.

Video Content

A video remained one of the most powerful ways of communicating with customers. Still, the most important thing is to post meaningful video content. For example, videos can answer FAQs, present a product, show company culture, or simply be a way to say thank you to those who interact with a brand. Properly created and strategically placed videos boost UX and increase engagement with the brand.

AI and Chatbots

Customers seem to have no patience and want to be in touch with a company at all times. This is where AI and chatbots come in handy to cover for customer support. Virtual Customer Service can guide people to individual pages, provide the necessary information, and answer simple questions. 

While chatbots still have some limitations regarding the advanced conversation, the consumers' needs will only push this aspect of UX toward improvement in the future.

Summary

The year 2020 brought some changes when it comes to user experience online. AI and chatbots will become more common, as they present a perfect way for customers to communicate with companies anytime and anywhere. 

AR and VR implementations will also increase as more and more industries are starting to see the impact they have on conversions. 

Microcopy will help guide the users, simplifying processes, and improving data privacy.

Still, some aspects of UX remain the same. Videos are always welcome on a page, and improving the website's responsiveness for mobile devices will remain imperative. What ecommerce store owners can do is learn from the past and present and implement changes for the future, creating experiences that impact their customers.