As per a Salesforce report, 66 percent of customers expect companies to understand their unique needs and expectations
E-commerce has become an integral part of the lives of modern-day consumers. The trend of online shopping is firmly established and shows no signs of slowing down in times to come. In India, the e-commerce market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 27% to reach $163 billion by 2026. With each passing day, more and more consumers are actively joining the online shopping wagon, drawn by the sheer convenience that it offers. Consumer satisfaction and experience are of paramount importance in e-commerce, and thus the industry continues to evolve and innovate by enhancing its features and offerings – all in a bid to deliver greater value to its customers each time.
The mention of e-commerce aggregators is noteworthy here, as they play a pivotal role in elevating the overall consumer shopping experience. These aggregators bring together a plethora of products from various sellers across the country, creating a unified platform for customers from where they can easily buy their desired items, without having to switch to different websites. Not only do consumers gain access to a diverse range of products, brands, and styles, but they can also conveniently compare prices, read authentic reviews, and make well-informed purchase decisions – all on a single platform. Moreover, they can delve into numerous exciting deals and discounts offered by the brands featured on the platform.
E-commerce aggregators are also revolutionizing the search experience for customers by incorporating advanced functionalities such as filters to refine their search results. These players stay ahead of new-age technologies and gather crucial customer data originating on the platform to create personalized shopping journeys for each individual buyer. For instance, based on the previous searches and preferences of customers, it offers them personalized recommendations. In this evolving world of e-commerce, personalization is a key expectation of today’s consumers. As per the Salesforce report, 66 percent of customers expect companies to understand their unique needs and expectations. Thus, e-commerce aggregators have been going the extra mile to create seamless, tailored, and satisfying experiences for customers.
Besides this, another key expectation of modern-day consumers, which is continuing to grow over time and will define the success of e-commerce models in the future, is speedy, efficient deliveries. Again, this is where e-commerce aggregators play an active role at the back end by efficiently managing the logistics operations and supply chain optimization. They employ leading technologies such as predictive analytics, Artificial Intelligence (AI), etc. to optimize delivery routes, schedules, and other aspects to ensure quick, timely product deliveries. The use of AI enables them to efficiently predict lead times, transportation delays, and other supply chain disruptions. As a result, one can proactively make adjustments to ensure smooth operations.
Moreover, as soon as the product is ordered on the platform, e-commerce aggregators bestow power in the hands of consumers by allowing them to easily track and monitor their orders and deliveries. The entire journey of the product, right from the time it gets dispatched from the warehouse until it reaches its final destination, can be tracked in real-time. The complete shipping information including the routes taken, etc., is shared with the buyers, which gives them complete visibility into the process.
Founder,
eTrade
Efficient use of next-gen technologies such as AI also enables e-commerce aggregators to effectively manage the inventory levels at the back end. By analyzing data on consumer demand patterns, current market conditions, etc., and by predicting future trends, the use of AI allows e-commerce businesses to accurately predict product demand. This insightful knowledge further allows them to optimize their inventory levels and steer clear of undesirable scenarios such as stock shortages or surpluses.
Clearly, e-commerce aggregators lay a much stronger emphasis on enhancing customer experiences. Marching ahead, as the industry gears up to witness further disruption and explosive growth, many more unique offerings and features are likely to emerge, which are going to raise the bar of consumer experiences. The further evolution of technology could provide an icing on the cake. The future certainly looks bright and promising!
