E-commerce industry is a very competitive, challenging and
rapidly growing domain compared to any other industry. Today selling goods
online is getting more better.This is attracting more and more customers to try online
shopping leading seller to go online. By that online sales is headed with strong competition.
Many creative people put lot of efforts to come up with new ideas to keep buyers stick to their brand. Eventually attrition between the brands begin. Many industries to keep up the brand in the market; started trying with new creative and attractive techniques on buyer such as mobile apps flexible payment methods, comfortable delivery/return options, Cash on Delivery, etc. These flexibilities to the customers have done pretty much revolution in the e-commerce industry.
I was thinking of where this creativity or what we call ideas would land up in future. Let’s say after 5 years from now, what would be the options a customer would be getting if he thinks of buying online. How exactly an e-commerce website from one out of thousands would attract the customer. What exceptional thing would make him to choose one online seller on other.
Many creative people put lot of efforts to come up with new ideas to keep buyers stick to their brand. Eventually attrition between the brands begin. Many industries to keep up the brand in the market; started trying with new creative and attractive techniques on buyer such as mobile apps flexible payment methods, comfortable delivery/return options, Cash on Delivery, etc. These flexibilities to the customers have done pretty much revolution in the e-commerce industry.
I was thinking of where this creativity or what we call ideas would land up in future. Let’s say after 5 years from now, what would be the options a customer would be getting if he thinks of buying online. How exactly an e-commerce website from one out of thousands would attract the customer. What exceptional thing would make him to choose one online seller on other.
Let me put down some features that could be something, which
will blow away all other seller from one single seller,
1. Interactive Online
Selling (IOS) :
Consumers are more comfortable when they interact with the
product they want to buy. Imagine you are buying something at store.
A sales person comes to you and tells you all the technical,
functional specification and makes you complete knowledgeable about the
product. You feel so confidence and comfortable to buy that product.
So how this is achieved on the website? Some website provides
video demonstration of the product. Which will demonstrate technical and
functional specifications of a product.
Wait a minute "what
if I have a question or a query?" Will this demo video is going to
answer your question and make you confident enough to buy the product??
What would be the solution? Well
may be in future, we get a feature, live streaming to a sales
person. He will answer your questions and make you confident to buy that
product.
2. Online Trials (OT) :
When you are buying some cloths of new brand you go for
trail to make sure, it’s a perfect fit for you. Many times we see some specific
size cloth of one brand, which is perfect fit for you, may not be perfect fit
from some other brand. Now, how you are going to make sure this, when you are
buying online.
Just imagine in
future a website having feature may be using webcam measure your body size and
suggests you the real size, which fits for you. And through the webcam you can
see yourself inside the cloth you are planning to buy.
3. Mood Message Suggested Shopping
(MMSS):
Let’s say I type in a text box saying "I am feeling sad". The system can
suggest me "Hey checkout this melodious
song which will kick off your mood".
If he feels likes it then he will stream it and enjoys the
music. In future ecommerce sites can tie-up with music streaming website and
make this possible.
In case user say doesn't like song, slap the suggestion. Again,
system will suggest "how about thriller movie in PVR".
If he thinks yes can click and buy
tickets with some offers from BookAMeShow and move on. No, then it can go
on.
4. Online Voice Command Servant
(OVCS) or Online Servant (OS):
There are many things to buy vegetables some cloths, flowers,
chocolates .I don’t have time. I want to do it on the go or may be when I am
driving...??
Voice command is a wonderful feature can make this possible for you.
You : Add 1 kg tomatoes to the cart.
OVCS: "1 kg tomatoes added to cart".
You : Add $$$ chocolates
200gms 2 pack to cart.
OVCS: "$$$ chocolates of 200gms 2 pack added to
cart".
5. Locate Deliver Boy (LDB):
In some situations the delivery boy is somewhere near to
your location because the road closed or he couldn't find the exact address .He
calls you and ask for directions.
You know the location
very well then great, you can guide him to reach you. If you don’t or you are
new to the city or location?
What if a feature in the website allows you to locate
the delivery boy?? Locate him and collect the package.
Anyways imagination has no end .Technical
challenges may hit the growing feature but can't stop.
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