Internet is changing the way consumers shop and buy goods and services and
has rapidly evolved into a global phenomenon. Many companies have started using
the internet with the aim of cutting marketing with the aim of cutting
marketing costs, thereby reducing the price of their products and services in
order to stay ahead in highly competitive markets. Companies also use the
internet to convey, communicate and disseminate information to sell the
product, to take feedback and also the conduct satisfaction surveys with
customers. Customers use the internet not only to buy the product online, but
also to compare prices, product features and after sale services facilities
they will receive if they purchase the product online. Many experts are
optimistic about the prospect of online business.
In addition to the tremendous
potential of the e-commerce market, the internet provides a unique opportunity
for companies to more efficiently reach existing and potential customers.
Although most of the revenue of online transactions comes from
business-to-business commerce, the practitioners of business –to-consumer
commerce should not lose confidence.
It has been more than a
decade since business-to-consumer e-commerce first evolved. Scholars and
practitioners of electronic commerce constantly strive to gain an improved
insight into consumer behavior in cyberspace. Along with the development of
e-commerce retailing, researchers continue to explain e-commerce’s behavior from different perspective. Many of the studies have
posited new emergent factors and assumptions model of consumer behavior, and
examine their validity in the internet context.
E-commerce is not just only about creating an
online catalogue. The mechanics of e-commerce business is same as any
traditional retail business except orders are booked online. It is a highly
capital-intensive business and requires strong technology, infrastructure,
customer service and expertise. Most of the sales for electronics and IT
products initiate with a research and customers want to evaluate all the
options- brands, price comparison, payment options, ease of buying, service
levels etc. before actual buying. As e-commerce is our core business, our
understanding of the online customer enables us to do a better job in
convincing him to buy on Letsbuy.com. Brands also want to leverage our platform
as we get more than 3 million visitors on our website every month, which is
more than any large format retail store selling electronics in India.
Online retailing in India is growing at a rapid
pace. According to industry estimates, the current market size for pure-play
internet retail is about $100 million, which is expected to grow to $ 1 billion
by 2015. One of the major drivers of this growth will be the strengthening of
the Indian economy leading to a higher disposable income in the hands of people
who will then be more open to shopping on the internet. The other important
factor will be stricter regulation on online transactions by the government,
reducing frauds and resulting in trust building for the medium.
Source: INDIAN MANAGEMENT MAGZINE (THE
JOURNAL OF AIMA,VOLUME 50, ISSUE 11)
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