‘Trending On TikTok’: Is Your Business Set Up For The Boom in Social Commerce?

The 3 S’s – “speed, scalability, and sustainability are key” for social commerce success

fulfilmentcrowd – a global fulfilment provider, driven by technology, for high growth omni-channel brands – has investigated why TikTok Shop is leading the “social commerce revolution”.

Lee Thompson, CEO at fulfilmentcrowd, said: “TikTok Shop is quickly becoming the go-to for social shopping, especially among the TikTok-obsessed Gen Zs and Millennials who can’t resist a scroll. It provides the ultimate mix of entertainment and shopping, combining AR and live shopping, personalisation powered by AI, and influencer marketing to create a shopping experience that’s fast, seamless, and incredibly effective at driving sales.“

Social commerce sales in the UK are set to more than double in the next four years. Currently, 6% of retail sales happen via social media, but by 2028 that number is expected to hit 13% – equating to over £3.3 billion in extra sales annually, driven by platforms like TikTok Shop, Instagram, and Facebook.

Thompson continued to comment on the logistical challenges associated with social commerce: “For brands, the social commerce market represents an incredible opportunity, but it’s also a logistical challenge. With the bulk of social commerce expected to be driven by TikTok Shop, brands need to think seriously about how they’re going to fulfil all those orders quickly and accurately. When a product goes viral on TikTok, consumers expect to get their hands on it quickly, so if your fulfilment operation can’t keep up, you’ll be left with unhappy customers and lost sales.“

According to a recent report, TikTok is already having a huge impact on the retail landscape – TikTok users are 1.5 times more likely to discover new brands on the platform than on other social media channels. 

Thompson shared three key tips for businesses looking to thrive on TikTok Shop: “Speed matters: TikTok fans don’t like waiting. If you can’t offer fast delivery, they’ll move on to someone who can. Ensure your fulfilment operations are optimised for speed, from packing to shipping. Scalability is key: Social commerce is unpredictable. One minute it’s business as usual, the next minute your product goes viral. Can your fulfilment operation handle sudden spikes in demand? If not, it’s time to rethink your strategy. Returns need to be seamless: TikTok Shop shoppers expect an easy, hassle-free returns process. If your returns management is clunky or slow, you’ll lose customers faster than you can say ‘influencer collab’”.

fulfilmentcrowd also predicts several key trends likely to shape the future of TikTok Shop, including:

1. Expanded eCommerce features – such as more shoppable content
2. Cross-border commerce – such as international shipping 
3. Sustainability and ethical shopping – such as features that highlight sustainable and ethical products
4. Data-driven insights – such as personalising recommendations based on user behaviour 

Thompson concluded: “Social commerce is here to stay, and TikTok Shop is leading the charge. For eCommerce companies, this means adapting to a world where speed, scalability, and sustainability are key. Customers expect fast delivery, easy returns, and eco-friendly options – and if you can’t deliver, they’ll find someone else who can.”

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