We have entered a new era where the variety of possibilities for promoting a business is nearly limitless. E-commerce is one of them, and it is continually changed by new ideas, strategies, trends, and best practices, sometimes outpacing our capability to cope. This is where technology comes in to help the company progress. In a nutshell, technology is the foundation of E-commerce.
Big Data, AI, and machine learning (ML) have the potential to strengthen small businesses and reshape them to compete effectively in a competitive market.
For example, the internet is rapidly evolving into a living creature, providing people with directions, allowing them to compare shops online before going to the store, and allowing customers to check HD visuals to better understand the product before purchasing it. It assists in bringing everything together in one location. Millions of interconnected systems, dependable mobile internet encounters, social interactions taking place on smartphones and tablets, and the rollout of 4G connectivity in mobile networks have all contributed to the emergence of “Mobile Commerce,” an expanded form of e-commerce.
The pervasive rushed and quick lifestyle has caused humans to maximize time and energy in more intelligent ways, such as generating a grocery list by simply dictating everything in words, and a variety of other options. Isn’t it fascinating? Artificial Intelligence, or AI, is intertwined with everything. According to Gartner, roughly 80% of all consumer transactions will be governed by AI technology in the near future, with no human intervention. Because of substantial improvements in e-commerce, merchants are actively resorting to chatbots, smart logistics, recommendation systems, and digital assistants to give round-the-clock help to their online clients.
The most basic function of AI in e-commerce is intellectual product suggestions, which influences customer decisions based on previous transactions, searched items, and web browsing patterns. Apart from these advancements, AI-enabled systems also make use of data analytics, supply chain automation, omnichannel solutions, email marketing, and inventory management.
Accessibility to the Electronic Payment Services (EPS) system through mobile money and other financial services is crucial in developing nations like India for micro, small, and medium-sized firms to connect to the international market (SMEs). Convenience has recently become a required value feature connected with E-commerce. In the real world, EPS is what allows small and large merchants to accept different payment forms. Digital payment alternatives such as Apple Pay, Google Wallet, PayPal, and Square Wallet have all attained new highs in terms of security. Moreover, EPS allows rapid order processing and delivery, resulting in productivity improvements in both B2B and B2C models.
The government’s objective of positioning India as a preferred investment opportunity, bolstering local industry and manufacturing while promoting exports, is compelling, and the eCommerce sector is a vital and powerful valuable ally. The enterprising spirit of the Indian SMB is unrivalled. Over the years, we’ve seen STD booths transform into mobile recharge centres, stationery shops transform into digital printing centres, and now we’re seeing Kirana stores transform into online businesses, making a sale in-store, accepting digital payments, delivering to their doorstep, acting as delivery and pickup points, and more.
E-commerce is already generating large-scale jobs and sustainable livelihoods, facilitating B2C exports and incorporating MSMEs into national and global supply chains. India’s e-commerce sector generates $850 billion in revenue, supports 50 million people, and links the country’s ecosystem of 30 million small and medium companies with their customers. FDI in e-commerce has fostered the production of a comprehensive supply and delivery infrastructure, has had a positive impact on the industry, has promoted “Make in India,” and has aided developments so that clients in all serviceable pin codes can obtain the same consumer experience.
The next major thing will always be out there, as technology will never cease advancing. The alternatives change as the digital consumer experience evolves. Massive improvements in e-commerce operations were driven by digital supply chains, demand-driven predictions, customization plugins, and augmented reality, and they continue to fuel the e-commerce industry’s expansion and growth. More data sets will be generated as a result of increased digital engagements, and developing technologies will continue to move the E-commerce industry forward. As a result, a growing number of clients will encounter well-organized products along their journey.
In our rush to be tech-savvy, we often overlook the role of technology for the local market, which lacks high-tech understanding or financial backing. Only when technology empowers those around us will we be on the verge of a technological revolution.
Expanding online activity, penetration of smartphones, and increased market awareness would all help to drive the growth of E-commerce in India. E-commerce platforms must integrate technology if they wish to have a clear handle on customer preferences, behaviour, and purchasing trends, as well as build the most viable plan based on this knowledge. There are a variety of ways to improve search, customization, and personalization, all of which are quickly becoming necessary skills for E-commerce success.