A new consumer survey by HSO reveals that many retailers are still not able to live up to their customers' expectations of a seamless, omni-channel service.
Internet Retailing, Omnichannel Retailing
Internet retailing, also known as e-tailing, is the sale of goods and services through the internet. It can include business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) sales of products and services. Online shopping or e-shopping is a form of electronic commerce which allows consumers to directly buy goods or services from a seller over the Internet using a web browser. Internet retailers can be purely digital, meaning there is no physical store for a customer to enter. However, an e-retail business can also be a brick-and-mortar shop with an online presence. Omnichannel retailing is a retail strategy that integrates multiple channels, such as brick-and-mortar stores, online stores, and mobile apps, to create a seamless shopping experience for customers.
59% of consumers expect retailers to use technology to gain all-round view of their purchasing history
Nov 22, 2016
What does the future hold for the ecommerce market?
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By Matthew Robertson, Co-CEO, NetDespatch.
It is more than 20 years since the first online purchase and, depending on your source that item was either a Sting CD purchased by a man via one of the first ecommerce sites, NetMarket, or a large pizza purchased from the American restaurant chain, Pizza Hut.
Over a quarter of UK consumers wait for sales to shop
Nov 15, 2016
Over one in four people (27%) say they 'always' or 'usually' wait for sales to kick in before they shop, according to new research conducted by IMRG, the UK online retail association, and digital insights company Toluna.
Indiska boosts e-commerce offerings with new customer experience management solution from Tieto
Nov 15, 2016
Indiska, a Swedish retailer offering a lifestyle concept through self-designed fashion and home interior products, has boosted its e-commerce presence with a new Indiska.com online shop built by Tieto powered by SAP Hybris.
92% of consumers are unhappy with retailers returns policies on Black Friday
Nov 15, 2016
62% of UK consumers will be shopping on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, new research by Omnico has found.
Omnico questioned 1200 consumers about their plans for Black Friday (25 November) and Cyber Monday (28 November), as part of the second Omnico Retail Gap Barometer which explores how retailers are meeting changes in shopper behaviour.
Online retailers under pressure from Generation Consumer for cheaper and more convenient fulfilment options
Nov 15, 2016
Modern retailers risk a 'race to the bottom' by satisfying growing desires for anytime, cheap deliveries without balancing the associated costs across their organisations for managing stock, delivery and any associated returns.
Kitchenware retailer puts Peoplevox e-commerce fulfilment on the menu
Nov 08, 2016
Peoplevox, the e-commerce warehouse management (WMS) and fulfilment software specialist, has announced kitchenware online retailer FortheChef as its latest Client.
Severalnines keeps the tills ringing at eCommerce platform vidaXL
Nov 08, 2016
Severalnines, the database infrastructure management software provider, has announced vidaXL, an international eCommerce platform where you can "live it up for less", as its latest customer.
It’s time to rethink retail
Nov 08, 2016
Cybertill CEO, Ian Tomlinson, talks omni-channel retailing: blurring boundaries, converging sectors and convenient choices. Here are 5 things to consider in 2017.
Fear of supply chain collapse keeps many online retailers in unhappy relationships
Nov 08, 2016
According to William Walker, sales director of Berkshire-based Walker Logistics Ltd, online retailers continue to employ under-performing fulfilment services partners for far longer than they should because of a misguided fear that switching to another supplier will result in a hiatus when customer orders will go unfulfilled.
Internet Retailing
Internet retailing, also known as e-tailing or online retailing, is the sale of goods and services over the internet. It is a type of electronic commerce (e-commerce) that allows consumers to purchase products and services directly from retailers without having to visit a physical store.
Internet retailers can sell a wide variety of products, including clothing, electronics, books, home goods, and more. They can also offer a variety of services, such as online payments, shipping, and returns.
There are many different types of internet retailers, including:
- Pure-play retailers: These retailers only sell products online. They do not have any physical stores.
- Multichannel retailers: These retailers sell products both online and in physical stores.
- Marketplaces: These retailers provide a platform for other retailers to sell their products.
Internet retailing has become increasingly popular in recent years. In 2022, global e-commerce sales were estimated to be $4.9 trillion. This number is expected to continue to grow in the coming years.
There are many reasons for the growth of internet retailing. Some of the reasons include:
- The convenience of shopping online.
- The wider selection of products available online.
- The lower prices that can often be found online.
- The ability to shop from anywhere in the world.
Internet retailing has a number of advantages for both consumers and retailers. For consumers, it offers the convenience of shopping from home, the ability to compare prices from different retailers, and the opportunity to find products that are not available in physical stores. For retailers, it offers the opportunity to reach a wider audience, reduce costs, and improve customer service.
However, there are also some challenges associated with internet retailing. Some of the challenges include:
- The need to protect customer data.
- The need to ensure that products are delivered on time and in good condition.
- The need to provide effective customer service.
Omnichannel retailing
Omni-Channel Retailing is the evolution of Multi-Channel Retailing, but is concentrated more on a seamless approach to the consumer experience through all available shopping channels, i.e. mobile internet devices, computers, brick-and-mortar, television, radio, direct mail, catalog and so on. Retailers are meeting the new customer demands by deploying specialized supply chain strategy software. To use all channels simultaneously, retailers using an omni- channel approach will track customers across all channels, not just one or two.
Omnichannel retailing is a retail strategy that integrates multiple channels, such as brick-and-mortar stores, online stores, and mobile apps, to create a seamless shopping experience for customers. This means that customers can start their shopping journey on one channel and seamlessly transition to another channel without having to start over.
For example, a customer might start by browsing for products on a retailer's website, then use the retailer's mobile app to compare prices, and finally visit a brick-and-mortar store to make a purchase. The retailer would track the customer's journey across all channels and make sure that the customer's information is consistent across all channels.
Omnichannel retailing is becoming increasingly important as more and more customers are using multiple channels to shop. A study by Salesforce found that 73% of customers use multiple channels during their shopping journey.
There are many benefits to omnichannel retailing, including:
- Increased customer satisfaction: Customers appreciate being able to shop however they want, and they are more likely to be satisfied with their shopping experience if they can seamlessly transition between channels.
- Increased sales: Omnichannel retailers are able to reach more customers and sell more products by offering their products and services across multiple channels.
- Improved customer loyalty: Omnichannel retailers are able to build stronger relationships with their customers by providing them with a more personalized and convenient shopping experience.
