ers you did not expect to be selling online beginning their e-commerce operations because it’s never been easier for any merchant to grasp that untapped opportunity.” Accessibility will be key for more merchants from different industries and shoppers to jump on the e-commerce bandwagon, with both sides looking for a quick, easy and secure online retail experience that is seamless across devices. “Merchants and shoppers alike will want a similar experience no matter what device they are using, and they will only engage technology providers with great support,” Bullock argued. Commuter commerce goes large In 2015 commuter commerce – people buying online during their commute to/from work – became a fast-growing trend. “In line with this, it must be simple for consumers to browse, select items, and enter their preferred payment method on any mobile device,” said Bullock. Bullock believes that in 2016 there will be a significant increase in technology integrations. He points out that retailers do not go to one partner or platform to handle banking, accounting, point of sale, inventory management, payments, marketing and human resources, but rather they choose the best platform that resolves each pain point in their business. “Those services are finally starting to talk to each other and play well together. That means that as soon as you accept a payment, it can immediately show up in your other systems in real time. “This is going to speed up in 2016. The lines between platforms will blur as these systems integrate more seamlessly. This increase in integration will be hugely beneficial to retailers, and it will also improve the shopping experience for customers.”