Question

Can displacement reaction replace electroplating?

Answer 1

Essentially, electroplating is also a displacement reaction.

But if your interest is to electroplate a piece of metal, if you want a layer of one metal to form on another metal, then electroplating is the only and simple displacement reaction can not replace it.

In a simple displacement react, the least reactive metal is deposited at the bottom of the reaction vessel.

in electroplating, the least reactive metal is deposited onto another metal.