#How retail market changed after the Internet revolution

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Retail Revolution: E-Commerce Unleashing the Power of the Internet

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The Complete Manual for Sears Credit Card Login

A well-known company like Sears has always catered to the various demands of its customers. This dedication is strengthened by the Sears credit card, which enables quick financial decisions and fast purchasing. Let's study the many features of this financial instrument and dig into sears credit card login depths. The History of Sears Credit Cards In the late 1800s, a little mail-order catalog company called Sears opened its doors. It became a national retail juggernaut with several outlets throughout time. Sears launched its credit card after seeing the need to provide more for its clients. This served as a link between Sears' dedication to quality and its devoted client base rather than merely being a financial instrument. Advantages of the Sears Credit Card The Sears credit card is different from other store cards. It is filled with characteristics that satisfy every consumer's need. Special Discounts An exclusive membership is what owning a Sears credit card is like. Cardholders often receive the first crack at exclusive specials and discounts. With the Sears credit card, you're always in front of the line, whether it's Black Friday or simply a mid-week deal. Points & Rewards for Loyalty You earn loyalty points for each dollar you spend. Build up enough of these, and before you know it, you'll have enough money to buy that thing you've had your eye on. Additionally, sporadic extra point occasions boost your skill in collecting points! Money Flexibility The Sears credit card offers alternatives for monthly payments, sometimes with promotions that cut interest or even give interest-free periods, whether it's a single large purchase or a series of smaller ones. Why Should You Choose a Sears Credit Card? The Sears credit card stands out in a market crowded with choices for credit cards, but why? Widely Recognised The Sears credit card has widespread acceptance, unlike certain store-specific cards. Many of Sears' connected retailers also honor this, thus it is not only restricted to them. Simple Application Procedure Obtaining this card is simple thanks to an easy online application procedure and quick customer support. Security Steps The security of your financial information is crucial in the current digital era. Modern security features on the Sears credit card ensure that your purchases are not only secure but also easy. Knowing the terms and conditions The Sears credit card has its own set of terms and restrictions, just like any other financial instrument. Although they may seem to be small print, recognizing them may save problems in the future. Reviewing them often may also keep you informed of any changes. Using Your Sears Credit Card to Its Full Potential Some expert advice might be useful in maximizing the potential of your card. Recurrent Updates For cardholders alone, Sears often launches special promotions. Keeping current might result in more savings. Utilizing the App The Sears credit card mobile app offers more than simply statement reading. Your gateway to exclusive app-only discounts and a convenient method to handle account management while on the move. Online shopping using a Sears credit card The Internet revolution has changed how people purchase. Here is how this change corresponds with the Sears credit card. Trustworthy Online Transactions Every online transaction you make is protected from possible risks by cutting-edge encryption. Exclusive Online Deals You have the key to a gold mine of discounts on the internet thanks to your Sears credit card. How to Deal with Potential Problems? Not everything in life is rosy. Here's a helpful guide in case your card is having problems. Card Lost or Stolen Reporting immediately is essential. Your card will be instantly disabled by Sears' dedicated hotline, preventing abuse. Unresolved Charges Don't worry if you find an error in your statement. Your worries are allayed by Sears' effective dispute resolution procedure. Your credit score and the Sears credit card Conscientious cardholder may increase their credit score in addition to enjoying the advantages of the Sears credit card. An effective financial profile may be achieved by timely payments and prudent spending practices. The Sears Credit Card's Future The Sears credit card is ready for new updates due to changing customer requirements and technology improvements. The future is bright, whether it's connecting with digital wallets or providing more personalized incentives. Experiences with the Sears Credit Card personally The Sears credit card has been nothing short of a blessing for someone who often shops at Sears. It has improved my purchasing experience, from the exclusive offers to the security of the transactions. Conclusion The Sears credit card login is a shopping assistant as well as a financial tool. It's no surprise that it's a favourite among many given its wide range of features and advantages. The Sears credit card is certainly something to think about if you like shopping or are searching for financial freedom. FAQs What is the Sears credit card's interest rate? Promotional offers and the applicant's creditworthiness might affect the interest rate. For the most recent information, it is recommended to visit the official Sears website or speak with their customer support. How do I make a Sears credit card application? Applying is simple. You may submit an application on the Sears website or in person at a Sears location. The Sears credit card has an annual charge, is that right? Normally, there isn't an annual cost, but it's always a good idea to review the terms and conditions or check with Sears customer care in case there have been any modifications. What is the minimum age to apply for the card? The minimum age for candidates is 18 (or 19, in certain areas). Additionally, you must have a valid SSN and satisfy other creditworthiness requirements. Read the full article

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Website v/s App- What works best for an E-commerce industry

It’s 2020, the year of revolutions and life-altering events. People are locked in, and businesses are adopting innovative ways to sustain the pressure. The era of digital transformation made it look easy for companies to find new ways of prospering. In the E-commerce world, Mobile Apps and E-commerce websites changed the game for how businesses were conducted. Unlike a few years ago, consumers can shop from brands across the globe without worrying about it being too expensive. E-commerce platforms also went the extra mile to ensure ‘No-contact’ deliveries, in concern of the pandemic we’re all in.

Globally, E-commerce sales account for almost 10% of the products sold. That small percentage accounts for a whopping 2.3 trillion dollars. The E-commerce market share is expected to increase to 11.9% – up from 3.5% a decade ago! It became all the more imperative for businesses to capitalize on this trend.

The next important question was to choose between a Mobile App and a Website. Improving customers’ shopping experience became one of the most critical deliverables for companies. In this blog article, we shall address the user preferences, retention rate, and conversion ratios for your E-commerce business.

Mobile Apps Vs. Websites

Research suggests that 70% of all Americans who own Smartphones are directly responsible for 71% of the country’s digital traffic. In the last three years, the number of Smartphone users is projected to be more than 3 billion worldwide. This number is expected to shoot up by several hundred million in the next few years. Moreover, 90% of mobile time is spent on apps, and only 10% browsing the rest of the internet. In the E-commerce space, the contrast is even more glaring. Mobile app users spend an average of 2018 minutes per month shopping, compared to 10.9 minutes per month for website users.

It is likely to expect a further shrink in website usages as more E-commerce businesses move towards Mobile Apps. As technology evolves, so will the growth of E-commerce Apps. With companies trying to make their users’ purchasing experience better by incorporating multiple payment methods and innovative technologies, it is all the more likely that Mobile Apps will grow further.

Let’s compare the user preferences, retention rates, and conversion rates of M-commerce Apps and M-commerce websites.

User Preferences

Consumers prefer Apps on account of better user experience speed and convenience. Compared to other businesses, Mobile Apps within retail and E-commerce are launched the most after news-apps. When it comes to shopping online, more than 61% of millennials embrace in-app shopping, followed by moms and other multiculturalism sections.

On the internet’s 30 most-visited assets, apps have a slightly higher edge than mobile websites. This means that apps are as frequently used as websites. One probable reason for this trend could be that users start out using a brand’s website and then switch to their app after engaging with it for a while. In other words, E-commerce websites are better suited for driving initial engagement. However, the latter stages of the consumer journey are best served by M-commerce Apps.

Conversion Rates

According to Criteo, Mobile Apps close the deal way better than M-commerce websites. People view products in apps 4.2 times more than they do in sites. Apps also push more people down the purchase funnel, with 3x higher conversion rates and 1.5 times more conversions per session.

Another major factor determining an ideal customer experience is shopping cart abandonment. Purchasing via E-commerce sites can be painful if not done right. Shopping cart abandonment rates are way higher (about 73.4%) on desktops than on M-commerce Apps. One of the possible reasons for that is that customers are annoyed when given too much information to fill out during checkout. M-commerce Apps solve the problem by saving user data and enhancing their journey.

Retention Rate

M-commerce Apps have several advantages over the Websites. You can send push notifications and alerts personalized for your customers, driving more engagement. Apps icons are more visible when users explore their phones, keeping your brand awareness high. Also, apps can retain user data, enabling minimized load times and speedy checkouts.

According to research, 40.4% of all users buy more from a brand after downloading its application. 45.9% end up visiting their physical store more often. These numbers indicate why users choose apps over M-commerce Websites.

In all, it’s too soon to declare the end of mobile-optimized E-commerce Websites. Customers still find some brand through their stores or word of mouth. This means that a Website would continue to be a crucial part of your business’ success, even when apps dominate the market.

Source https://bit.ly/34w5Noq

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History and type of banking system in India (Banking system type and history in India)

Bank is an important part of our life today. It has become so important that without them we cannot even imagine our financial management. The history of the banks of our country bringing modern and new technology every day is no less interesting. If seen from the general definition of banks, since the Rig Vedic period, there has been the existence of money saving agencies and the institutions that pay interest on them. The origins of banking in India can also be traced back to the ancient Mahajan tradition, which used to lend money to people at the time of need and used to transfer people's money to them through hawala while going abroad and coming and some money in return. Used to charge. Similar entities are also mentioned during business dealings with Egypt and other such ancient civilizations, but there is not much research and reference material available on them. The modern banking that we are using today,

History-Of-Banking-In-India

 History of banking in India

Banking System history in India in hindi

Banking system in ancient India  and history of banking (Banking system in ancient India or History )

In ancient India, when civilization was at its peak, it was dominated by opulence and money. In such a situation, an organization like bank was needed to manage the money.

In the Vedas, there is mention of a post named Kusidin, which used to manage money in those times. It is also mentioned in the sources and the natives.

It makes sense that this manager of wealth remained a major source of transactions between people from 2000 BCE to 400 BCE for about 1600 years.

Meanwhile, references to the expiry or evils of this institution were also found in these sources, which shows that over time their credibility was affected and in time they were finished.

There is also mention of lending on interest among the natives, the agreement for lending is mentioned here like a loan letter or a loan page.

Kautilya also mentions these loan letters in his book Arthashastra, he addresses it as a loan article.

The Mauryan period comes as the state government starts doing banking work, the evidence comes out. It is mentioned that through the order letter, the state used to give the promise letter to the traders to repay the money.

Later this practice was adopted by the traders as well and by 185 BCE such claims came into common practice.

Banking system in medieval India during medieval India

The letters of credit which came into vogue in the Mauryan period remained in circulation in the medieval period, especially till the Mughal period, and were used a lot.

There are two types of debentures mentioned in Mughal documents, the document A Indutlab was issued on demand whereas the document A term could be cashed only after a certain time, it was like a fixed deposit of that period.

These documents were issued from the royal treasury but parallel to this, another system was born which was also called Mahajani.

In this, a person used to lend arbitrary interest by lending money. It was during this period that merchants started using the bill for the first time for foreign trade, which can be called an ancient form of credit card.

Introduction of modern banking in India (Modern banking system in India)

The beginnings of modern banking in India can be traced back to the beginning of the colonial period in this country, when the Dutch, British and French came to India for the purpose of trading about 200 years ago.

Out of these, only the British got an opportunity to set foot here. With business, he needed a bank to manage his income and currency and the British East India Company first laid the foundation of 3 banks in India.

Since the influence of the British first increased in Bengal, so the first bank opened in Bengal in the name of 1809 Bank of Bengal.

He then started the Bank of Bombay in 1840 and the Bank of Madras in 1843 in his other areas of influence, Bombay and Madras Presidency. After the revolution of 1857, when the East India Company was abolished in India and the rule came directly under the Queen of Britain, these three banks were merged together and renamed Imperial Bank.

This Imperial Bank became the main bank of India after independence, which was renamed in 1955 to State Bank of India. It was a public sector bank in India.

After independence, banking in India (Banking in India after independence)

The Government of India felt the need of an institution to regulate banking institutions as a country and also to manage government currency, the Reserve Bank of India was nationalized in 1949 and its role as a central bank even after independence. Kept the same

The Reserve Bank was also given all the rights to regulate banking in India. After this, there was a big change in the banking sector of India when the Government of India nationalized eight regional banks in the country through the State Bank of India Act in 1959 and made them a subsidiary of State Bank of India.

State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur, State Bank of Travancore, State Bank of Hyderabad, State Bank of Indore, State Bank of Mysore, State Bank of Indore and State Bank of Patiala are the main ones.

Inspired by this successful nationalization, the Government of India took a similar step on 19 July 1969 and nationalized the major fourteen banks of the country.

This was a bigger step than before, it increased the credibility of Indian banks and strengthened the Indian banking system.

After this, after a long time, on 15 April 1980, six private banks were nationalized.

The Indian banking sector made a big leap in 1993 when the Reserve Bank of India allowed domestic banks to carry out banking activities and private sector banks now started serving the Indian public like public banks.

How much banking does the world's economy run ?

If you are asked to tell about a bank, then it will be your opinion, a place where you keep your money safe and do financial transactions. But here you are right but very limited. Yes, sir, apart from this common transaction, there is much more in the form of banking in the whole world. Banking functions are also different and the medium of service they provide is also very different. You may not have even heard the name of some of these banks. Here some of them are being told, so that you know how important role our banks play in the world economy.

Types of banking in India (T ypes of B anking System in I ndia ) 

By the way, one thing should be made clear while talking about the varieties of banking, that there is not much difference in their work so that you can draw a thick line of difference between them. Rather, due to the very thin difference, their way of working changes and they provide their services to different types of clients.

Retail Bank (R etail Banking )

These are the banks about which we all know and they serve the largest part of the world's population.

These banks work for the common man and manage their money.

Any person can open their savings or current account here after some paperwork.

This bank pays interest on savings to its customer and levies interest on the loan given when needed.

This bank provides facilities like debit cards, credit cards and checks to its customers in the name of convenience.

The business structure of such a bank basically works on the business model of providing money at low interest and providing high interest.

Commercial Bank (C ommercial Banking )

As the name itself suggests, this bank basically works for providing commercial services.

Its customers are only traders or businessmen who open an account here.

Such customers need different types of services and bank guarantees for transactions tailored to their business, which such banks provide.

Such banks manage transactions of large amounts and also manage them.

Investment bank (I Nvestment Banking )

Investment banks are known for their financial expertise and this is why businessmen use their services.

If a business man wants to get his company listed in the stock market or wants to find an investor for his company, then such banks help him.

These banks provide investment to their customers and many times they also get the investment guarantee given to them.

Such banks give ratings to their customer's business as well as suggestions to improve it further.

Central Banks (C Entral Banking )

Central banks are the main body handling the world's currency system.

Every country in the real world creates such an institution to handle its currency, which should monitor its currency and work to make it valuable.

The Reserve Bank of India performs the role of Central Bank in India.

Much of the strength and weakness of the economy of any country works on the policies made by these central banks.

The central bank manages the currency and monitors its illegal use and devaluation.

The Central Bank also licenses the functioning of all banks in its country, and also creates ideal guidelines to work for them.

Credit Unions or small loan company (C redit U nion banking )

Credit unions or small loan organizations are basically a self-help group that works just like a bank.

It can only serve its members instead of the general consumer.

Such organizations lend money to their members on the basis of neither profit nor loss and take payment from them in easy installments.

The money lent by these organizations is also collected only with the cooperation of the members, on which no interest is charged or very little interest is paid.

Online Bank (O nline Banking )

Such banks have become popular after the introduction of Internet, and they provide all their services through the web.

Here also the customer opens the account and carries out his financial transactions through his online account.

It has just started in India, online wallets and mobile wallets in our country can be considered in the initial stage of online banking.

These banks are growing rapidly around the world and it is expected that in the coming ten years half of the world's population will join such a bank.

Mutual Banking (M Utual Banking )

Mutual banking is very similar to credit union banking, but where credit unions lend only for doing business, mutual banking gives loans to its members keeping in mind the personal needs.

In this banking also, the work of borrowing and lending is done only among the members, and it also works on the principle of neither profit nor loss.

In this type of banking, money is provided from one member to another and the same process is repeated again and again.

This type of banking is more prevalent in developing and backward countries because the licensing process for this is very easy or not.

[alohatechnologyblog]

Internet Of Things: Challenges For The Modern Enterprise

The Internet of Things is said to trigger the third major technological revolution in history after the Industrial Revolution of the 1800s and the Internet Revolution of the 1990s. The ability to harness data from any and every kind of device in the system, and exploit the data to achieve a larger outcome, is changing the way we live our lives or run our businesses.

Although various kinds of sensors are being used from a few decades, the combination of data gathering and analytic softwares, which IoT services represents, is relatively newer. It offers unlimited possibilities for extracting real-time information, and build superior systems or manage business better. And Aloha Technology is at the forefront of IoT innovation and business process adaptation.

Common challenges faced by ISVs

From a data architecture point of view: With more and more organizations implementing BYOD or ‘bring your own devices’, the data architecture for an IoT system must factor various devices, instruments and a host of softwares, along with their native operating systems. This gives the system the flexibility to gather or capture data from any source, anywhere in the enterprise.

From an infrastructure point of view: The above point implies that data-gathering devices must be liberally embedded all over the offices and physical infrastructure of the organization. Aloha Technology offers IoT integrations in the form of RFID tags, Bluetooth beacons, and a host of sensors to measure temperature, humidity, pressure, movement, etc.

Server-side programming languages:

Fleet Management: From cargo-ships to an assortment of vehicles used on the road, every vehicle can relay its position to a cloud-based system using sensors

Preventive maintenance:  Vehicles and hardware equipment such as instruments or devices can be monitored for the possibility of breakdown or the need for repair

Retail business While RFID tags can monitor customers’ movements; facial recognition software can analyze their expressions. This is then used to drive discounts or offers

Farm Productivity: By monitoring climatic data, farmers can be advised on when, and how much to irrigate their fields

Implementing an IoT System: Requirements and Challenges

Infrastructural preparedness: Public and private infrastructure remains the biggest hurdle for most business organizations around the world. An IoT system generates a lot of data which must be relayed to the cloud or to other systems through the internet. This calls for robust, high-speed internet connections and a mature communications infrastructure. Metros in India and most countries are adopting 5G which offers high data speeds required to maximize RoI from an IoT system.

System and Data Security: An IoT-based system generates and interacts with a lot of data, some of which are sensitive, such as facial recognition information, bank and financial transactions, movement or availability of humans in a particular environment, etc. Such data can reach the hands of hackers and criminals who may use it for harmful intent. We at Aloha Technology believe that it is then imperative that security is thoroughly planned and executed before commissioning an IoT-based system.

Component Visibility: The above point automatically implies that administrators of an IoT-based system have clarity on which are the devices plugged into or not plugged into the system at any point of time, to weed out unauthorized devices or users.

Lack of standards and best practices: Despite its widespread use, IoT is still in its infancy, so standards and best practices are yet to evolve. By partnering with Aloha Technology, organizations can overcome challenges with calculated experimentation while making innovations easier to integrate and use.

Looking ahead

The earliest adopters of IoT have been Healthcare, Energy, Utilities, Manufacturing, Financial Services, Hospitality and Agriculture. Other industries will follow suit with the IoT market getting crowded. There are more than 400 IoT platforms and by 2020, funding for IoT-related ventures is expected to reach USD 290 billion. This will create a vibrant ecosystem for business organizations, end-users, solution providers and third-party vendors who will add value in various ways, thereby enriching the IoT ecosystem. Talk to Aloha Technology and see how you can integrate IoT into your business strategy.

Source: Aloha Technology Blogs

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Aloha Technology Mobile Application Development Company | App Development

Aloha Technology Opportunities in PAAS-Based Software Products Reviews

Aloha Technology Inaugurates New Development Centre and Campus at Pune

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IFA 2019 Showcased How Technology is Shaping our Future

Every year, Berlin plays host to IFA - one of Europe’s oldest industrial exhibitions. It has evolved over the years to give a glimpse of the most innovative products in technology that will set the trend for the next few years. This year I was delighted to represent Servify at the annual event where I experienced the convergence of global tech inside Messe Berlin.

Here are my key takeaways after spending three days at IFA 2019.

Smart Home Goes Mass Market

While AI and Smart Home technology isn't exactly new, it has still been a niche product so far. Only a few are able to afford these high-tech innovations and use them. This year, I feel, smart home is beginning to go mass market. Products are now available at affordable price points, are easy to set up and connect and easy to use via smart apps.

The idea of smart home automation has lingered on the fringes of our society for long and now we will see even more affordable products from this category in the market. One of our customers, Medion, is an example of one such company. Now getting solutions for smart cooling/heating, security, and much more - will be available 'on-demand' to the masses.

Smart Home to Smart City

An unexpected innovation while roaming the booths of smart home automation was to discover the Smart City initiative. There were displays of Smart City platforms that can control every aspect of city life, on the backbone of Mobility and Connectivity. Throw in IoT to the mix and we can see how some of these astounding ideas can easily take shape and be implemented without too big an investment.

Of course, while we have seen how connectivity and IoT is shaping up, we haven't fully seen the mass adoption of e-mobility. Perhaps an Internet of Mobility revolution is imminent. First home appliance manufacturers are entering this business segment, with Vestel being one example.

E-Mobility Scoots Over

2019 has been a clear breakthrough year for electronic powered vehicles. At IFA, many OEMs showcased scooters, e-bikes and other e-mobility devices. Some which weren't expected to enter this line of business, like Trekstor which have their roots in PC business.

SHIFT Automotive – held on September 10 & 11, saw the convergence of startups, car makers, big tech and city planners.

Smartphone and TV are Converging

Streaming content is now the main way of watching TV. Cord-cutters are invested in the content-on-demand services that the traditional way of consuming content is becoming less appealing. This is changing the classical TV eco-system into a platform play.

Smartphones were where streaming really took off and it is no surprise, that now almost every OEM at IFA has Android TV in their portfolio. It feels like TV becomes a smartphone with a large screen, where users have access to their favourite apps as well. A number of TV manufacturers are not clear yet, if they go for Android TV as mass market or if they should develop their own Linux-based TV platforms. Differentiation is key, but so is scale and time to market. We’ll see...

OEMs are also coming up with new formats, along with adding more pixels - giving rise to unique high-resolution TVs. The one that clearly blew me away was the transparent TV by Panasonic.

Offline Retail goes Device Lifecycle

During IFA, I also spoke to offline retail chains, which have the challenge of attracting millennials. This target consumer base typically buys from online retail channels.

All of the offline retailers are working on online offerings and on leveraging their local footprint for establishing an attractive, sustainable services business.

There is a clear need for a mobile first, device lifecycle offering with attractive VAS to improve their proposition especially to Millennials.

-Thomas Mueller

President - Europe

[craftsfinder-blog]

Just Where To Discover Stunning Arts As Well As Crafts

Just What Are 'Arts & Crafts'?

Usually, the term crafts & arts describes handmade items that have actually been made independently with the intent of producing a piece of artwork or a design. People engage in arts & crafts as crafters and artisans - that is, those who make their living by producing and also marketing handmade objects - along with many hobbyists who do it just for their very own pleasure. Obviously, there can additionally be a surprise benefit if you can make your own presents instead of having to acquire them. Arts & crafts are deeply rooted in local and also ethnic societies, so the specifics of what sort of things make up arts & crafts differs considerably across the globe. Visit this link: https://craftsinsider.com/ for more information.

How Much Time Have Arts And Also Crafts Been Around?

The origin of crafts and arts may be discovered in simple bartering purchases; expert artisans and also crafters would certainly trade their skill for nourishment. The artisans and also crafters would then pass their knowledge on to the next generation via a pupil - a help that grew up with the artisan for the sole function of learning their trade. Artisans who passed their expertise on in this fashion include iron employees, glass blowers, weavers and also blacksmiths.

Naturally, this all changed with the industrial revolution. Many of the adoringly hand crafted items that were previously made by crafters and artisans could currently be inexpensively created in huge amounts. As a result, arts & crafts as an extensive profession swiftly passed away out; individual artisans and also crafters could simply not compete with industrial performance. Today, those people that specialize in the previous staples such as glass blowing or weaving are rare, as well as usually produce costly items, in contrast to their practical forbearers. Ultimately arts & crafts is primarily comprised by hobbyists and tiny merchants.

Just how Do You Discover Arts As Well As Crafts?

Crafts and arts are generally easy to find. Craftsmens commonly participate at arts & crafts fairs in order to have the chance to sell their items, and allow buyers the chance to browse and shop from a range of different kinds of arts & crafts.

Festivals and also fairs are good destinations to search for arts & crafts. Several vendors will certainly rent cubicles at these events in order to get to a broad audience. In addition to shows and also fairs, long-term arts & crafts shopping centers are likewise simple to discover in a lot of cities. Often, these shopping malls consist of a collection of semi-permanent booths rented out by numerous craftsmens and crafters.

Obviously, if the buyer understands precisely the type of thing he or she is trying to find, the Internet can be an excellent resource for locating the ideal arts & crafts product. A growing number of craftsmens and also crafters are now posting their products on-line with the capacity sight photos and also read descriptions of their one-of-a-kind products. Nonetheless, while on-line retail sales have actually taken off in other industries, arts & crafts purchasers typically like the experience of searching for as well as seeing the distinctive products in person, which has actually reduced its adoption in this field.

Art generally refers to arts, such as glass creations, paintings as well as sculptures. The people behind the production of these items have actually normally obtained formal training at art colleges or have examined art through various other programs. These art items are generally costly.

Crafts, on the other hand, are typically thought about to be smaller in scale, or colloquially called 'grassroots' in their creation. Those who produce crafts are usually doing so based upon given knowledge without any official education and learning. This obviously does not indicate that they are any type of much less gifted than artists. 'Arts & crafts' after that is the combining of these two creative trends; grassroots items made by highly proficient artisans and also crafters.

One Of The Most Common Arts And Crafts Objects

As mentioned over, there are actually many variants as well as iterations of arts & crafts objects on the planet. However, most arts & crafts can be fitted into a couple of basic groups: handmade jewelry, pottery, woodworking, metalworking, and sculpture are some standard categories right into which most arts & crafts can be set up. Various other usual types of arts & crafts include cross-stitch, weaving, crochet, knitting, needlework, jumble, quilting, macramé, as well as others. Still much more usual kinds include porcelains, wood, steel, needlepoint & fabrics, and also glass jobs. Still others are based on paper and paper products, consisting of scrap-booking, calligraphy, collages, and origami.

[athena-pettit-00]

Secret things you didn't know about Athena Pettit

Athena Pettit, a technology expert, discusses how technology is changing the business world and will grow continuously in the coming future.

The business world stayed pretty much the same for a century after the Industrial Revolution, but it's probably pretty safe to say that's never going to happen again. The exponential rate at which technology is developing, mutating, and adapting is so fast that you can't help but be swept away in a tidal wave of progress—whether you're ready for it or not.

You might not think you've come that far, but if you had access to a time machine and went back less than ten years, you'd be shocked to see:

A lack of centralized work communications to maximize efficiencies regardless of location (think Slack).

The relative non-existence of new formats for marketing businesses like Instagram.

No Internet of Things or voice searches for products and information.

Non-usage of short-form video sharing for personal and business.

Technology has changed every aspect of the way any business operates, and never before in history has that change occurred so fast, says Athena Pettit.

The Way You Communicate And Share Information

Communication and the sharing of information are critical for every business. Today's environment offers more ways than ever, and the technology available makes it faster, easier, and more efficient. With applications like Slack, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, social media platforms, chatbots, and more being leveraged daily, you have pros and cons. Sales enablement allows tracking buyer-seller conversations and receiving analytics based on user behaviors. Deeper intelligence makes it easy to obtain customer information and use it to enhance the customer experience.

Mobile-First Business Environments

Mobile-First is here to stay. Intelligent devices or tablets with the right software allow for remote management of every aspect of your business. Everything from your sales enablement, content marketing, and customer relations through back-end processes like shipping and invoicing is at the click of a button. But mobile isn't just for you—it's also for your consumers. With the rise of Generation, more people are using mobile devices to buy, sell, shop, find local businesses, and share their retail experiences with friends, acquaintances, prospects, and Instagram strangers daily. 

Use of AI

AI is reshaping the world in business and consumer markets and is a mainstream of daily living. This application of technology has changed business processes in nearly every industry and has become an imperative strategy for those wanting to maintain a competitive edge. There are many things AI can do, from machine learning (massive amounts of data are processed quickly and put into digestible context for people) to security, CRM, and even the financial and real estate sectors. In the sales enablement space, AI is used to track buyers and predict their intent to purchase by looking at their search patterns, what they view and open, and more. 

Decreasing Cost/Increasing Functionality

Two things have come together to create a "buyer's market" regarding software solutions for your business. First, the hardware and software necessary to develop these software solutions have become increasingly easy to use and afford. Secondly, the number of tech-savvy and entrepreneurial minds who can exploit such crumbling barriers has multiplied exponentially. A back-end inventory system that once took a multi-million-dollar company a year to create in the not-too-distant past takes a couple of weeks for a few recent college graduates to put together. These solutions are offered at affordable rates and are often simple enough that businesses don't need to hire dedicated employees or sign long-term service contracts to use them.

Regardless of your personal opinion—Luddite or technophile—the rapid advance of technology will not slow any time soon. More and more businesses that fail to adapt will find themselves left behind, while the savvy ones who learn to keep up will reap the rewards. You don't have to rebuild your business from the ground up—some kernel of merit has allowed you to enjoy success thus far. You have to understand how technology affects your business (for better or worse) and how to apply advancements to play them to your advantage.

[webrickshawsblog]

5 Types of Marketing Any Small Business Can Execute

Imagine you have a product with you and are not telling anyone you want to sell them. How will even people know that you have some items ready for sale? It is tough to sell something or to inform the customer about a product or service without optimal marketing techniques. In ancient times, people used to drum beat and educate the customer about launching the product or service and issued notices later.

Before the printing evolution, it was costly; the printing cost was so high that only big businesses could afford them. After the industrial revolution, printing technology became more affordable, and newspapers became the best advertising and marketing method. Later, TV came into the picture and ruled for several decades. TV Changed the face of marketing and advertising as a whole. But the real game changer was the internet. In the internet era, anyone could market their product from anywhere in the world. People become more connected, and the outcome of every marketing technique becomes so visible.

Now, big corporate to small-scale businesses use tricks and trades in marketing to attract consumers. Here are five types of digital marketing tricks any company can try

SEO The process to increase the visibility of your website with the blogs and content and bettering the ranking in web search can be called SEO management. There are thousands of sites, and to be distinct from others or overtake others isn't easy.

Content marketing Content marketing is the cheapest marketing technique available and contradicts its cost. The effectiveness of content marketing is very much impressive. According to the studies, content marketing has overtaken almost all the marketing tools in the retail and fashion beauty industries.

Email marketing

Email marketing has a better targeting rate than many other methods of marketing. Email marketing campaigns are used to sell high-end products to retail products. There are many email marketing tools selling thousands of campaigns each day.

PPC Marketing Pay-per-click marketing is, again, a digital marketing technique. Customer clicks will direct conversions and sales, so attracting their attention and getting clicks are important.

Social media marketing

Social media content marketing is flourishing every day by grabbing consumers' attention; in the social age, people spend more time on social media than in real life. Twitter, Instagram, Facebook,tik tok sells more product than websites reasonably. Videos, pictures, endorsements, and influencer campaigns are all more effective than most conventional marketing methods.

You can contact one of the best digital marketing agencies in UAE to run effective marking campaigns, increase your sales, and build a genuine customer community.

[thefinancialpyramid]

8 Ways Technology Is Changing Business

The business world stayed pretty much the same for a century or so after the Industrial Revolution, but it’s probably pretty safe to say that’s never going to happen again. The exponential rate at which technology is developing, mutating, and adapting, especially throughout 2020, is so fast that you can’t help but be swept away in a tidal wave of progress — whether you’re ready for it or not.

You might not think we’ve come that far, but if you had access to a time machine and went back less than 10 years, you’d be shocked to see:

A lack of centralized work communications to maximize efficiencies regardless of location (think Slack).

The relative non-existence of new formats for marketing businesses like Instagram.

No Internet of Things or voice searches for products and information.

Non-usage of short-form video sharing for personal and business.

Technology has changed every aspect of the way any business operates, and never before in history has that change occurred so fast.

→ Watch Now: How Modus Helps Toro Drive Sales [VIDEO]

Below you’ll find eight ways in which technology has fundamentally changed business (for better or worse). And we’ve added two bonus technology changes too…

1. The Way We Communicate + Share Information

Communication and the sharing of information are critical for every business. Today’s environment offers more ways than ever, and the technology available makes it faster, easier, and more efficient. With applications like Slack, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, social media platforms, chatbots, and more being leveraged daily, there are pros and cons for all of us. Sales enablement provides the ability to track buyer-seller conversations and receive analytics based on user behaviors. Deeper intelligence makes it easy to obtain customer information and use it to enhance the customer experience.

Communication is effective when technology digs into customer information to help us create personalized messaging. Automated communications using a variety of channels help businesses boost marketing productivity and reach customers, as well. But we need to be mindful that, taken too far, we could lose the ability to build customer relationships — and lose the human touch in our brands.

2. Mobile-First Business Environments

Mobile-First is here to stay. Smart devices or tablets with the right software allow for remote management of every aspect of your business. Everything from your sales enablement, content marketing, and customer relations through back-end processes like shipping and invoicing are all at the click of a button. But mobile isn’t just for you — it’s also for your consumers. With the rise of Generation Y (Millennials), more people are using mobile devices to buy, sell, shop, find local businesses, and share their retail experiences with friends, acquaintances, prospects, and Instagram strangers every day.

This new paradigm has rewritten the book on marketing to prospects. Technology has also increased the ease with which we can all stay in touch. Whether it’s having your co-workers and employees available via text/video chat at a moment’s notice or being able to send targeted promotional email blasts to prequalified customers when they’re shopping at nearby businesses, the rise of mobile technology has blended almost seamlessly with communication software to create a hyper-real web of real-time information.

3. Enablement of Remote Working

Although remote work has grown steadily over the past 15 years, Covid-19 forced companies not already promoting a remote work environment to make the transition more quickly than expected. And it’s likely a good thing that is here to stay:

Companies of all types — private, public, nonprofit, or startup — continue to recognize the bottom-line benefits of integrating remote work into their business strategies,” said Sara Sutton, founder and CEO of FlexJobs. “With improvements to technology and increasing demands from employees in a tight labor market, we fully expect to see the momentum around this important workplace continue to grow,” Sutton concluded.

Companies had to pivot quickly to ensure their teams had access to the right technology and infrastructure to support remote log-ins, the bandwidth to handle video conferencing, and project management tools so that teams could continue to work on projects and update status together. Instead of managing by hours spent in the office, leads had to shift to measuring employee output. There’ve been a lot of benefits to this new normal. Not only is it easier to attract and retain talent, but it’s also increased productivity. One interesting two-year Stanford study showed an incredible productivity boost among remote workers equivalent to a full day’s work each week! And there’s more; it’s saved high costs in real estate, cut back on carbon emissions, and makes companies more agile and scalable.

4. Use of AI

AI is reshaping the world in business and consumer markets and is a mainstream of daily living. This application of technology has changed business processes in nearly every industry and has become an imperative strategy for those wanting to maintain a competitive edge. There are many things AI can do, from machine learning (massive amounts of data are processed quickly and put into digestible context for people) to security, CRM, and even the financial and real estate sectors. In the sales enablement space, AI is used to track buyers and predict their intent to purchase by looking at their search patterns, what they view and open, and more. Some worry that AI could eventually force joblessness, but the general thinking is there will be a need for job creation and new roles emerging to facilitate the transition to this new environment. For example, as AI replaces long-standing workflows, people’s need to integrate them will be a necessity. AI is coming along at lightning speed, and although the effect is unknown at this point, it will likely have a significant impact on the economy.

5. Decreasing Cost/Increasing Functionality

Two things have come together to create a “buyer’s market” when it comes to software solutions for your business. First, the hardware and software necessary to develop these software solutions have become increasingly easy to use and afford. Secondly, the number of tech-savvy and entrepreneurial minds who can exploit such crumbling barriers has multiplied exponentially. A back-end inventory system that once took a multi-million-dollar company a year to create in the not-too-distant past takes a couple of weeks for a few recent college graduates to put together. These solutions are offered at affordable rates and are often simple enough to use that businesses don’t need to hire dedicated employees or sign long-term service contracts to make use of them.

6. Buyer Enablement

With buyers spending the first 60+% of their buying journey on their own with a magnitude of content and stakeholders and decision-makers multiplied in different business groups, buying in today’s world has become complicated. The newer approach of buyer enablement, if done correctly, allows the buyer to be a champion of the product inside the organization. This requires the seller to partner alongside the buyer to help them determine the ultimate business problem that needs solving and to offer up the most relevant information at precisely the right time. If sellers keep their buyers’ needs as their top priority throughout the buying journey and position themselves as a trusted advisor, they are nailing buyer enablement.

7. Increased Collaboration

The inability to chat in the break room, walk down the hall to a co-worker’s office, or even gather together in a meeting room in front of a whiteboard has drastically increased the need for collaboration. A McKinsey Global Institutes Report found that over 60% of work time is spent collaborating, gathering information, or responding to emails. With this in mind, there is no shortage of collaboration tools that companies have glommed on to like Google Drive/Docs, Slack, Microsoft SharePoint, and OneDrive, Monday.com, and many, many more. These simplify how we can work together for team discussions, file sharing, project collaboration, tasks, and storage. Alignment of people and goals is the primary responsibility for these tools, and they are here to help provide real-time insight into projects and help us become more efficient.

8. Cloud Computing + Digital Transformation

The rate of change is accelerating faster than ever before. Digital Transformation “drives foundational change in how an organization operates, optimizes internal resources, and delivers value to customers. Cloud technologies provide the foundation for becoming more agile, collaborative and customer-focused”. Cloud computing allows businesses to move some of their operations to third-party servers accessible via Internet connectivity. This allows for variable data packages and rapid (on-demand) expansion and mobility without the fear of downtime, crashes, or permanently lost data. Companies adopting the cloud can innovate quickly, scale efficiently and even bring new market capabilities more quickly. This has allowed small to medium-sized businesses access to resources that would have been cost-prohibitive for them in the past and evened the playing field when competing against corporations with far more funding.

Bonus #1: Increase in Business Ops Productivity

Teams are working more closely together toward the common goals of meeting or exceeding growth targets. Through the alignment of service, sales, marketing, and IT, business operations evolve and implement more streamlined business processes to bridge organizational gaps. As mentioned above, digital transformation has been critical to increasing a business’ productivity. Adding new tech to the stack helps decrease costs through time savings, speed to market, inventory management, and reduced production costs have helped businesses optimize to bring value to the enterprise and generate revenue. Forbes says:

The companies that do invest in this function (Business Operations) can make better use of automation technology and increase their efficiency and engender happier, more inspired employees as they’re safeguarding themselves with greater adaptivity. Those who aren’t are only taking on more risk.”

Bonus #2: Decreased Downtime

The rise of technology does have downsides. It seems like there isn’t any downtime for individuals to recuperate anymore. Even the coveted American tradition of vacation has become a thing of the past. We always have access to email, text messages, or “work” via laptops or tablets. And while your intention may be to get away from things for a while, it’s more likely than not that you’ll succumb to the temptation of “checking in” at least once. And when you do, it’s over.

Technology is a Wave: You Can Either Ride or Wipe Out

Regardless of your personal opinion — Luddite or technophile — the rapid advance of technology will not slow any time soon. More and more businesses that fail to adapt will find themselves left behind, while the savvy ones who learn to keep up will reap the rewards. You don’t have to rebuild your business from the ground up — there’s some kernel of merit that’s allowed you to enjoy success thus far. You have to understand how technology affects your business (for better or worse) and how to apply advancements to play them to your advantage.

Credits: Orrin Broberg

Date: July 09, 2021

Source: https://www.gomodus.com/blog/eight-ways-technology-changing-business

[hirereactjsdeveloper]

What Are the Top 10 Android App Development Trends

Android has gone a long way, and its narrative is nothing short of inspiring, having ushered in a revolution in the mobile app development market. Android's smartphone OS market share has risen to over 85% since its launch in 2008. Furthermore, shipments are predicted to increase at a CAGR of 2.4 percent over the next five years, with shipments topping 1.41 billion in 2022. It's critical to understand mobile app development trends and their repercussions on the Android ecosystem before diving in and riding the waves of change or hiring a mobile app development company to design an app. Rather than simulating changes, collaborate with a top mobile app development company to get the benefits.

 What Are the Top 10 Android App Development Trends?

 The following are some of the most cutting-edge mobile application development trends to help you create a new universe of mobile apps.

 1. Instant Apps for Android

Android users can use Google Play Instant to try out an app or game without installing it. Instant Apps are as easy to use as a website and function directly from the cloud because they don't require users to download them. As a result, these apps don't take up any additional space on your smartphone. These programs clear off the unneeded apps from your cellphone. Google recently released several new tools for Android app developers that make it easier to create smaller, faster-downloading apps that allow potential users to try out new apps without having to install them.

 2. MotionLayout

If you want to bridge the gap between layout transitions and complicated motion, MotionLayout is the way to go, as it is constantly introducing new features to Android development.

MotionLayout is a tool that helps you manage the motion and animation of your widgets in your app. It combines the property animation framework, TransitionManager, and CoordinatorLayout into a single package.

 3. EMM and APM

Application Performance Management (APM) and Corporate Mobile Management (EMM) are two aspects of enterprise mobile app development that strive to improve the speed of a mobile app. With the rapid expansion of mobile app development, users have high expectations for the quality of these apps. It ensures programs' security and safety and provides quick data transfer between mobile devices.

 4. Multiplatform Kotlin

Kotlin Multi-Platform libraries enable multiplatform logic to be reused in common and platform-specific applications. Multiplatform programming support is a crucial benefit that reduces the time spent building code for sometimes incompatible and disparate systems while maximizing the flexibility and advantages of native development.

 5. 5G a Next-generation Technology:

Compared to 4G networks, 5G technology offers incredible speed and capability. 5G technology, with a data transmission speed of 100 GBPS, embodies data communication for building a high-performance and feature-rich app to increase corporate performance.

 6. Google Assistant/chatbots

Chatbots will be in high demand in the coming year. After all, chatbots revolutionize how businesses communicate with customers and solve problems. Chatbot development is being adopted by several companies, including on-demand services such as food delivery, eCommerce, and retail. Furthermore, chatbots are altering how businesses communicate with clients via mobile devices. Chatbots make it possible for mobile app services to answer consumer requests instantly. Food delivery services, transportation services, and internet shopping are among the demands.

 7. On-demand Apps:

People's lives have been irreversibly impacted due to the epidemic, resulting in a surge in demand for on-demand solutions. Several businesses, including healthcare, travel, retail, hotel, supermarket, and many more, are embracing on-demand apps to reach their target audiences. In the following year, on-demand Android application development will continue to grow.

 8. The Architecture of Android Apps

Google's architecture standards lay out the best practices for developing Android apps and the architecture that should be used to create high-performance and reliable apps. The Android architecture components are a fantastic place to start when creating stable apps. Mobile app developers can use Architecture components to build apps with less boilerplate code and more focus on the code that makes the app distinctive.

 Android app architecture will assist Android app developers in creating solid apps and will clear up any confusion around design patterns for Android, such as MVC, MVP, or MVVM.

 9. Flutter

Flutter, developed by Google, allows you to create attractive native apps for iOS and Android using a single codebase. The Flutter framework is a mobile SDK that provides reactive views without needing a JavaScript bridge, thanks to a revolutionary architecture that includes customizable and extendable widgets.

 10. Android Jetpack

Android Jetpack is a collection of libraries, tools, and tutorials that help developers create high-quality apps quickly. These components enable you to follow best practices, eliminate boilerplate code, and simplify challenging activities so you can focus on the system that matters to you. All previous support libraries, architectures, and structures are combined in Android Jetpack to address significant challenges such as app management and backward compatibility. Google organizes everything into a single pack with four primary categories: architecture, foundation, user interface, and behavior.

 Some More Popular Trends

Virtual and Augmented Reality:

With the combination of AR/VR and AI, Android app development trends are taking the next step by providing breakthroughs in immersive technologies, such as its Visual Positioning Service (VPS). It is one of the most recent AR technologies for detecting and simulating visual features in the user's environment.

 Machine Learning

Many smartphones will execute advanced technology jobs such as landmark identification, image labeling, barcode scanning, face recognition, and text recognition, thanks to the latest Android development trends, including Machine Learning Artificial Intelligence (AI). Users will be able to ease their job with AI features on Android phones and provide a terrific user experience.

 Blockchain Technology

Blockchain technology is making waves in a variety of businesses. It is projected to evolve in terms of security, public and private blockchain architecture, and consortium architecture. By 2024, the blockchain mobile app development market will have grown to USD 20 billion. The popularity of blockchain and blockchain app development is surging to new heights.

 In the end

While Android application development trends come and go, it is critical to assess the most recent technological advancements and seize possibilities. However, it is crucial to avoid the desire to follow all trends. Before taking the plunge, carefully evaluate numerous issues such as technical skills, funding, company requirements, and infrastructure.

[digitamizer]

How has e-commerce business evolved in India?

Introduction – E-Commerce Business

The evolution of e-commerce business in India has been nothing short of a revolutionary journey. The 21st century has witnessed a digital revolution that has significantly transformed the way business operates and consumers shop. The buying and selling of goods and services online has emerged as a prominent force in the global economy. In India, the journey of e-commerce has been particularly remarkable, marked by exponential growth, technological advancement, policy changes, and changing consumer behaviors.  I will explain more about the evolution of e-commerce in India, spanning from its inception to its current state, exploring the key milestones, challenges, and prospects.

Origin and Early Beginning – E-Commerce Business

 

The beginning of e-commerce in India was in late 1990 and early 2000 propelled by growing internet penetration and technological advancement. Initially, in first wave of e-commerce was marked by the establishment of online marketplaces, mainly selling books, electronics, and other consumer goods.  Companies like Rediff and Indiamart started selling online their products mainly business-to-business (B2B). IndiaPlaza and Rediff shopping was there for end users. eBay joined later after acquiring Bazee.com and it was consumer to consumer (C2C) selling website.

However, these platforms faced many challenges limited internet access, lack of trust in online transactions, lack of awareness, payment gateway issues, logistic hurdles, and infrastructure issues.  People used to purchase from stores due to a lack of trust in online transactions.

The Growth Phase and the evolution of models – E-Commerce Business

 

The e-commerce business was a new business model emerging in India. Initially, all selling companies had their focus on B2B but very soon this business model started gaining popularity in business to consumers (B2C) or end users. The turning point of e-commerce in India was in early 2000 with the establishment of Flipkart. Sachin Bansal and Binny Bansal started Flipkart in a small apartment in 2007 as an online bookstore. Flipkart was an online bookstore before expanding to an online marketplace.

Flipkart started the Cash on Delivery payment model which was a huge success and helped to build trust among consumers who were reluctant to use their Devit or Credit card to make the payment. This marked the beginning of a new era of e-commerce in India. Later on, other players like Snapdeal, and Paytm Mall also entered to make the market more competitive and give more offerings to customers.

Infrastructural Challenges and the Mobile Revolution – E-Commerce Business

 

In the early days, one of the significant challenges faced was inadequate infrastructure, including limited Internet connectivity and payment gateways. However, the proliferation of smartphones and the subsequent mobile Internet boon in the 2010s acted as a catalyst for -commerce growth.  Companies capitalized on this by developing mobile apps and responsive websites, making shopping accessible to a larger population.

This shift in consumer behavior led to a surge in mobile app-based shopping and paved the way for various business models, including food delivery, ride-hailing, and hyper-local services.

Government Initiative and Policy Changes – E-Commerce Business

The Indian government also played a significant role in shaping the e-commerce business. The introduction of Goods and Services Tax (GST) in 2017 streamlined taxation and logistics, making cross-state of goods more efficient. However, the government also introduced policies to ensure a level playing field between online and offline retailers, which led to certain regulatory challenges for e-commerce giants.

The Indian government played a crucial role in shaping the e-commerce ecosystem through policy changes and regulations. The introduction of FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) regulations in e-commerce brought about significant shifts in how online retail operated. These regulations aimed to balance the interests of online and offline retailers and ensure fair competition.

In 2018, the government implemented new e-commerce regulations that restricted the sale of products through entities in which e-commerce platforms had equity stakes and prohibited exclusive deals. These changes aimed to prevent unfair competition and promote fair trade practices. While these regulations posed challenges, they also pushed e-commerce companies to innovate and adapt to the evolving regulatory environment. Further information can be accessed using below link:

Funding and Investments – E-Commerce Business

 

The growth of e-commerce in India was fueled by substantial investments from both domestic and international investors. Companies like Flipkart and Paytm Mall secured significant funding rounds, enabling them to expand their operations, build robust technology infrastructure, and offer a wide range of products and services. These investments not only supported the growth of e-commerce platforms but also fostered the development of the supporting ecosystem, including payment gateways, logistics, and technology services. . The success of Flipkart drew the attention of global players like Amazon, which entered the Indian market in 2013. This influx of funds not only fueled the expansion of existing players but also led to the emergence of various niche e-commerce platforms, catering to specific product categories.

Challenges and Evolution in e-commerce

Despite its rapid growth, the e-commerce sector in India faced several challenges. These included:

Changes in Consumer Dynamics

The changing demographics and increasing disposable incomes contributed to the growth of e-commerce. Additionally, the convenience of shopping from home, access to a vast array of products, and the availability of reviews and ratings influenced consumer preferences. Social media also played a role in shaping purchasing decisions, as consumers often relied on peer recommendations and influencer endorsements.

Logistics and Infrastructure

Logistical challenges posed a significant hurdle for e-commerce companies. However, innovative solutions emerged, including third-party logistics providers and technology-driven solutions for efficient last-mile delivery. Companies started investing in warehouses and fulfillment centers to ensure faster and reliable delivery of products.

The Rise of M-commerce and Digital Payments

Mobile commerce (m-commerce) gained immense traction as smartphones became more affordable and accessible. Digital payment solutions, such as mobile wallets and UPI (Unified Payments Interface), revolutionized the way transactions were conducted. This shift towards digital payments not only enhanced the shopping experience but also facilitated the growth of online transactions.

Counterfeit Products and Trust

The prevalence of counterfeit products on online platforms raised concerns among consumers about product authenticity and quality.

Data Privacy and Security

As online transactions increased, ensuring the security and privacy of customer data became crucial to building trust in the e-commerce ecosystem.

Competition and Profitability

Intense competition led to price wars and heavy discounts, making it challenging for e-commerce platforms to achieve profitability. Additionally, maintaining customer loyalty in a crowded market became an ongoing concern.

Innovations and Technologies in E-commerce Business

Artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and data analytics play a crucial role in enhancing customer experiences. Personalized recommendations, virtual trial rooms for fashion, and chatbots for customer support became common features. Delivery mechanisms evolved with the experimentation of drones and autonomous vehicles.

Impact on Traditional Retail

The rise of e-commerce brought about a paradigm shift in consumer behavior. Traditional brick-and-mortar retailers faced challenges as consumers gravitated towards the convenience and variety offered by online platforms. Many retailers adapted by establishing their online presence, embracing an omnichannel approach.

Challenges and Future Outlook

While the journey of e-commerce business in India has been transformative, several challenges persist. These include intense competition, profitability concerns, regulatory complexities, and the need to establish sustainable business models. However, the future outlook remains promising. The growth of Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, advancements in technologies like AI and AR, and the push towards digitization by the government all point towards a bright future for e-commerce in India.

In response to these challenges, e-commerce companies adopted innovative strategies. They focused on enhancing customer experience, expanding product categories, investing in technology-driven solutions, and collaborating with traditional retailers to create omnichannel experiences.

The future of e-commerce business in India appears promising, driven by factors such as increasing internet penetration, digital literacy, and the growing acceptance of online transactions. The rise of direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands, the integration of augmented reality (AR) for immersive shopping experiences, and the expansion of rural markets are expected trends.

Impact of COVID-19 on e-Commerce Business

The COVID-19 pandemic acted as a catalyst for the e-commerce business in India. Lockdowns and movement restrictions led to a surge in online shopping, as consumers turned to e-commerce platforms for their essential and non-essential needs. This period highlighted the resilience of the e-commerce ecosystem and the industry’s ability to adapt to challenging circumstances.

Conclusion – E-commerce Business

The journey of e-commerce business in India has been a transformative odyssey, marked by remarkable growth, innovation, and challenges. From its modest beginnings in the late 1990s to becoming a thriving ecosystem that impacts millions of lives. E-commerce has redefined the retail landscape. As India continues to embrace digital transformation and connectivity. The e-commerce sector is poised to reshape commerce, consumption, and economic opportunities for years to come. However, realizing this potential will require a concerted effort from stakeholders. This also includes businesses, government bodies, technology providers, and consumers, to address challenges and unlock the full promise of e-commerce in India’s dynamic economy.

The evolution of e-commerce business in India is a testament to the power of technology, innovation, and adaptability. From its humble beginnings as online directories to becoming a multi-billion-dollar industry. The journey of e-commerce in India has been marked by perseverance, creativity, and resilience. As technology continues to evolve and consumer behaviors shift.  E-commerce is poised to play an even more integral role in shaping the Indian retail landscape.

Digital Marketing Services , SEO and E-Commerce Solutions in Delhi, India

Author – Farhanul Haque

This article is written by the Founder of Digitamizer who has been working in the e-Commerce Sector Since 2006 and is also a certified Digital Marketing Professional from IIT, Delhi, India.

[coopdigitalnewsletter]

6 Oct 2021: Shortages in the entropocene. Metaverses. Facebook.

Hello, this is the Co-op Digital newsletter. Forward it to a friend who’d like to read about what the internet is doing to retail businesses, people, communities and society.

[Image: Keiichi Matsuda]

Shortages in the entropocene

Another fortnight of driver, petrol, goods and gas shortages. You can draw out the chains of cascading failures. Policy and market structure leads to lower gas reserves, and to reduced resilience, and to energy price volatility, then to fertiliser production stopping, then CO2 production stops, then to food packaging shortages... Policy and market structure leads to a shortage in HGV drivers, and then to shortages of food and every other thing that is delivered, including petrol. Brexit and the virus as amplifiers of most of these shortfalls.

But you might summarise it all like this: industrial policy and supply chains were optimised for conditions that have abruptly changed, and it’s now clearer that they’re too brittle. Supply chains and the web of jobs and capital need to be more resilient for a more volatile future. And consumer expectations may need a reset. It looks as if higher prices will be inevitable. Will shoppers happily pay higher prices if they get reliability in return?

Metaverses

Adam Warburton, Co-op’s Chief Product Officer, wrote this great piece for the newsletter:

The first stage of the internet was the mainframe, then came desktop computing, and then mobile. We now live in an era of internet-everywhere given cloud services like Amazon Web Services and Azure make information permanently accessible anywhere. Each evolution of the internet takes between 5-10 years to mature, so we're only really seeing the internet-everywhere era mature now. Looking ahead, the next stage is an immersive internet, which moves from us being surrounded by the internet, to us being in​ the internet. That's where metaverses start. 

There are already early metaverses; no doubt your children play Roblox, Minecraft or Fortnite. These games have metaverse tendencies, in that they create an immersive world where players are not themselves (they have a digital avatar) and they interact with other avatars and build and shape the world around them. If you've seen the movie Ready Player One, then you'll know what I mean. As is often the case, industries like gaming can lead the way in new tech.

In reality, the last 18 months working from home has created a small-scale Co-op support centre metaverse: we all existed online with purely digital interactions, and with with mixed reality backgrounds. Change the video from your face to a digital avatar, and we've essentially been in our own mini-Minecraft. We're seeing Facebook take this a stage further with Horizon Workrooms, a combination of Virtual Reality and work to create virtual collaborative spaces for businesses. It's not connected to your Facebook profile; you could be anyone inside Horizon, working for any company. Virtual reality for work might seem like a stretch (and to be fair, work meetings may not be the most exciting VR future you’d have hoped for), but we know that the nature of work has changed:

“in 2018 a work destination was, for the vast majority of people, a physical space; suddenly, though, for millions of white collar workers in particular, it’s a virtual space. And, if work is already a virtual space, then suddenly virtual reality seems far more compelling. In other words, virtual reality may be much more important than previously thought because the vector by which it will become pervasive is not the consumer space (and gaming), but rather the enterprise space, particularly meetings.”

We'll see this go further. There's debate around whether this will all amalgamate into a single metaverse or multiple metaverses, with portability and transfer of assets key; meaning I can port my avatar from Horizon into Roblox or another metaverse, for example. 

There are interesting use cases for businesses. Will people order food inside the metaverse to be delivered in the real world? How do you deal with someone's estate when some of their life is now in a different reality? New legal precedents will be set, and how will we insure our metaverse assets? (side note, there's already a metaverse insurance startup YuLife). 

All of this might be useful stimulus to think about where digital and technology go next. And of course, this might be completely wrong and the next internet era might take a different direction. Microsoft is betting on metaverses, and Zuckerberg says Facebook is becoming a metaverse company.

If you'd like to read more, these are the articles I'd recommend:

Metaverses, by Ben Thompson

Are We in the Metaverse Yet?, New York Times

Matthew Ball’s metaverse primer - lots of detail.

Thanks Adam!

Facebook: difficult week

Last week, media started running stories based on information released by a Facebook whistleblower: “FB chooses profits over safety”. When organisations get big enough, incentives pull them in what you’d charitably call challenging directions. They have outsized effects, unintended consequences, and too often damage to wider society.

Then on Monday, facebook.com, WhatsApp, Instagram and FB’s internal tools all went offline for about 6 hours. Technical details here and here, but the simple version is that some FB engineers made some configuration changes that took Facebook’s network off the internet.

When organisations get big enough, their operations get complex and eventually big failures happen. Big tech firms could cut out single points of failure etc by adding suppliers, but they generally find it harder to trust third parties to provide key bits of their service. Partly this is because they consider using networked software to provide fine-grained access to things as a core competency, and partly it’s because the other providers are their competition. The bigger picture is that (regardless of FB’s behaviour) fb.com, Insta and WhatsApp have become critical infrastructure for communities and small businesses. A sense of how critical: some people estimated ecommerce was down 27% during the outage.

Amazon: difficult products

So many cameras, in search of a vision: Amazon launched various things that use cameras, including a robot that’ll follow you around your house tracking your behaviour, and anyone else’s too. When it sees you looking at it, the robot’s screen will display your to-do list. Obvious privacy concerns, but also some “what’s the point” ones. (The point for Amazon is perhaps clearer: get you to be less reliant on your non-Amazon mobile phone for your computing.)

Elsewhere, the presence of a Ring doorbell may signal to burglars that your household has higher value contents. Again, unintended consequences.

Various things

Morrisons to scrap home deliveries from 50 stores with 1,400 staff affected - "we must now adapt and make some changes to the size of our online operation to meet our customer demands."

Pret to hire 3,000 staff after cutting same number in 2020.

Doordash doubledash - Deliveroo meets supermarket delivery.

A ‘game-changing’ revolution taking shape in communities across the UK - mainland UK’s most remote pub is community-owned.

Co-op Insurance celebrates 15 years of carbon offsetting as Co-op Group launches new net zero target.

Most workers don’t expect full-time office return.

Co-op and Co-op Digital news

Introducing Co-op’s Customer Experience Strategy team - “We need to consider CX across the whole customer journey”.

Inclusive meetings: encouraging collaboration from all.

“We don’t chase profit”: Steve Murrells, CEO of the Co-op Group, on running the UK’s biggest mutual.

Thank you for reading

Thank you friends, readers and contributors. Please continue to send ideas, questions, corrections, improvements, etc by replying or to @rod on Twitter. If you have enjoyed reading, please tell a friend! If you want to find out more about Co-op Digital, follow us @CoopDigital on Twitter and read the Co-op Digital Blog. Previous newsletters.

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IoT in Retail Applications, All The Challenges, and their Solutions

The world is 24/7 connected today, and IoT holds the potential to make buying and selling of goods and services easier for sellers and buyers. For example, your voice assistant at home can order specified products for you as soon as your smart refrigerator sends a notification to it. It may also order a bulb for your home as soon as it stops working. However, it all depends on the number of connected devices and appliances you have at home. Retail IoT is evolving in every segment of retail and e-commerce. According to Markets and Markets, The global IoT retail market is expected to grow from USD 14.5 billion in 2020 to USD 35.5 billion by 2025, at a CAGR of 19.6%.

When we talk about how we experience IoT as a consumer, we come across it many times. Some of the engaging IoT and e-retail / e-tail experiences include trying eyeglasses or sunglasses virtually. Some brands scan your body fit and measurement to suggest apparel sizes on their applications. Gone are the days when very few retailers were using such features. A considerable percentage of retailers are into digital transformation now. Retailers are converting their stores into connected stores. In the past few years, consumers’ lifestyles have become more adaptive to e-commerce and e-retailing platforms.

Hence, we must accept the drastic change in consumer behavior who are exploring the internet at its best. IoT retail and e-commerce are grabbing the opportunity and are connecting the unconnected world for global trade.

The digital transformation in e-retail is not just limited to consumers. Retailers have been deploying IoT in every possible way for smooth operational and manufacturing processes. It has become crucial for the industry to hold and update the technology for customer satisfaction. The Internet of Things is the new revolution after the internet and mobile networks in the IT sector. IoT-enabled devices use the internet to exchange data. It helps e-retail businesses to carry their workflow and operations efficiently.

Retailing includes both B2B and B2C sales of products and services. According to Intel Corporation, 8.3% of the entire usage of IoT is in the retail sector. Companies are now required to alter their business models to capture in-store and online sales. For this, digital transformation in distribution channels, product shipping centers, etc., is a must. Or we can say that proper integration and implementation of e-retail can do wonders. Let’s get into the details about applications of the Internet of Things in retail.

Applications of IoT in Retail/ E-Retail

Retailers are adopting the IoT to improve the consumer experience worldwide. The revolution of IoT offers opportunities to retailers and e-retail in the following areas:-

Inventory Management System

IoT devices allow businesses to streamline their operations. The tracking and handling of inventory become more accessible with the monitoring of connected products. Smart retailers are getting well equipped with warehouse inventory management software. Since connected products are traceable in real-time, the data alerts the manufacturers of low and slow-moving stock. The sensors and RFID tags make it easier to manage the inventory in real-time. In addition, there is a reduction in human errors as the system automatically stores all other information without human intervention.

With the help of IoT in retail, managing inventory becomes more accessible. Such as introducing smart shelves that inform about overstock and under-stock. Also, there are temperature monitoring sensors and other sensors that examine the forklifts and other maintenance issues. Therefore, an efficiently managed inventory ensures the availability of products to the consumers on time.

2. Logistics

We all want our products to reach us in time. It is just possible because of efficient and effective logistics. Technologies such as RFID and GPS allow tracking every stage of a shipment, including journey and weather. But, there can be an unforeseen delay in the shipment sometimes. We all have been facing such delays for the past one year due to lockdowns in this pandemic. Well, all thanks to the retailers who kept us updated about the delivery status. All this was possible with the help of IoT that sends automated messages about the shipment.

In logistics also, sensors can be deployed as per the need. For instance, temperature control sensors in the delivery van of frozen products inform drivers as soon as the foods start getting warm. It enables him to take action on time. Hence, IoT ensures smooth transportation of products as the success of any e-retail business demands uninterrupted and seamless supply chain management. The sensors and detectors track every step in transit for the safe delivery of products.

3. Customer experience

The Internet of Things connects retailers to customers through e-retailing like never before. Every shopping experience can be a digital experience. It has given rise to “Internet of Me”, which is about a one-off network. It describes how businesses create products that are specifically designed, built, and customized for an individual. This way, retailers can differentiate themselves from their competitors in front of customers.

Some brands are working hard on it by gathering as much data as possible about the consumers and potential customers. It helps them in offering a personalized experience for customer satisfaction and engagement. Hence, deploying IoT in e-retail can give a lot of information about consumer behavior. It enables the businesses to be ahead of competitors in approaching the target group. The information gathered should also be about shopping habits and preferences to create suitable marketing campaigns at individual levels.

4. Supply Chain Management

With the help of the “Industrial Internet,” data is directly sent from products to retailers. It helps to identify the issue in products even before it reaches the customer. Then there is data visualization technology which enables the employees to track the whereabouts of the products in the supply chain. Also, the prices of the products can be fixed using this technology. The price change is instantly done based on product promotions, demand, and turnover.

Deploying a fully integrated pricing system enables pricing synchronization between shelves, registers, and channels. Through this, prices are verified consistently between e-retail and brick & mortar stores.

5. Marketing

Smartphones play the most crucial role in the purchasing process. Sharing a prevalent example, we start getting personalized messages from a food delivery app or a grocery app if we do not order through them for an extended period. Those SMS and push notifications are reminders from the app that it’s been several days since you ordered something. In addition, it offers special discounts to you for the following order. Now that is what we appreciate sometimes.

If mobile apps and websites for e-retailing don’t deliver what the user wants, most people would prefer to go back to stores. Hence, IoT plays a significant role as it detects the device that belongs to an individual. It allows marketing to the individual as per the data collected. The targeted groups’ daily actions, shopping habits, and preferences are tracked and used to create other marketing campaigns. IoT devices contain much information about customers. That is the reason we see a lot of personalized advertisements sent our way.

6. Dynamic Pricing and Promotions

Earlier, keeping an eye on competitors was a tedious process for businesses. However, today because of IoT and e-retail, it has become a matter of a few minutes. Companies can now beat the competition from moment to moment by applying dynamic pricing to their e-retail apps as well as in stores. Promotions are easy to alter according to what and when competitors are offering. That is the reason you see a lot of promotional activities these days in e-retailing also. Every other day we see new offers by the brands on our favorite e-retail apps and websites.

IoT Retail – Challenges and Solutions

IoT in retail has now enabled cashless and cashier-less stores. The smart shelves, sensors, and detectors monitor customers and merchandise. You can collect the items and exit the store with your account automatically being charged. However, IoT retail security and privacy concerns still push back the customers with all of these possibilities. The main challenges are in terms of security, infrastructure, and data management.

Security

The IoT technology is still not fully mature and requires long-term focus and improvement. There are certain areas where digital transformation in retail is still struggling to improve. You may not like to hear this, but cyber security is a primary concern for customers and retailers.

Though IoT security is now effectively developed, it still leaves questions about safety in customer’s minds. There are still many concerns for data privacy that inhibit the use of connected devices for making purchases.

For this, Retail companies are dealing at their level and calling for government intervention to provide better guidelines. It has also led to the adoption of blockchain by a small percentage of consumers. Such groups of consumers are more knowledgeable about cryptocurrency and use them for making transactions. Using a Cryptocurrency wallet is much safer regarding security, data privacy, identity, and authentication. Moreover, many e-retailing apps accept cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, or Cardano these days.

However, to provide a safe and secure customer experience, retailers should work closely with IoT software developers. They should make sure that the sensors and apps are designed with a robust security mechanism. For example, there should be completely secure passwords along with more advanced security infrastructure like end-to-end encryption. There should also be regular software updates and regular scans for bugs and vulnerabilities.

2. Infrastructure

A lot of retailers lack the infrastructure and network components required by vast volumes of IoT data. To have a digitized retail store and a well-functioning e-retail app, they should have a robust network, end-user solutions like barcode scanners, cloud solutions.

All these things require considerable investment.

But you need not invest all at once and can follow a step-by-step approach of transforming into a successful digitized retailer. Then, gradually, you can become more sophisticated with your IoT solutions.

3. Data Management

Carrying out real-time data communication and management on time becomes a huge challenge for retailers due to a lack of expertise. Generally, companies suffer due to a lack of technical and analytical skills to get valuable insights from the huge data collected from IoT.

In such a scenario, businesses should hire domain experts who can handle data management processes.

By overcoming such challenges, retailers can make their IoT investments profitable and gain a competitive edge in the market.

Conclusion

The IoT technology evolves drastically over time and has a tremendous impact on e-retail and in-store shoppers. If IoT technology is integrated into businesses, it will benefit both their customers and the bottom line. Additionally, for developers and designers, the fundamental essence of work lies in innovation. A great user experience is essential for e-commerce or e-retail apps, or a retail store.

However, when the IoT has become even more prevalent, web developers must work on harnessing the increased data on offer. Eventually, this will lead to more intelligent, wise apps capable of offering personalized browsing experiences. If you want to know further about IoT in retail and how to leverage it for your business, feel free to contact our experts today.

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