The biggest disadvantage of selling online is not being able to touch and examine the products available. Amazon is attempting to do away with this disadvantage by taking different verticals offline.
This will allow shoppers to view products physically and accordingly make an online purchase, at traditional stores/ kiosks by Amazon India. Amazon’s offline experiment to sell mobile phones has already begun in Bangalore with experience centres in Vodafone stores, which is its telecom partner.
Arun Srinivasan, category leader of consumer electronics said, “People can look at the phones, see how these function and order it there itself; it would be delivered at their doorstep. We are seeing how it goes before taking it to other stores. This also requires talking and coordinating with different partners such as telecom firms and mobile phone companies.”
In the coming weeks, four new mobile phones will be launched as well as physical experience zones for enhanced online shopping.
Amazon to open more than mobile stores
Using offline distribution for mobile phones is not a first for Amazon. It used offline distributors to liquidate inventory during demonetisation and GST.
Demand for mobile phones has strengthened since then, but it’s not the only top category for the etailer. Online grocery is also receiving a lot of attention on Amazon. And now, with approval of the government, Amazon is all set to launch brick-and-mortar retail outlets in India for the sale of food products.
Other etailer attempts at going offline
- Flipkart plans to expand offline through authorised dealership international brands
- Paytm Mall online-to-offline model
- Zivame through offline studios for unique customer experience
- Myntra and Nykaa have realised the benefits of offline outlets
- Online furniture brands are also moving offline like Urban Ladder through an offline store and experience studios in case of Pepperfry
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