Mobile commerce is still unchartered territory for many retailers, but it’s predicted to be worth more than $3 trillion by 2017. 'Tinder for shopping' app Grabble is luring shoppers in with a swipe-based interface that brings a whole new meaning to the term ‘impulse buy’.

From Instagram to emojis, the power of visuals over words in offering immediacy and access is intensifying. Now, instead of opening up Google or asking Siri a question, Blippar lets you discover a wealth of info through your phone’s camera. But are people ready to give up text when they search?

Having long been the go-to site for bargain hunters, eBay is evolving to cater to those that want a little more bang for their buck with a new feature called eBay Collective. It’s a section of the site that uses artificial intelligence to help high-end shoppers find items for the home.

Global e-tail is set to be worth $2.5 trillion by 2018, and the number of companies using the internet to sell directly to customers is similarly set to boom. How might using heat maps, pared down product ranges and gamification help them capture a larger slice of the e-commerce pie?