Food MArketing & Technology In India CC for web-HIgh Res | Page 14

Market Trend
payment to the consumer
since he can choose to pay
by whichever means he
deems fi t. Th e option of
EMI on credit cards (and
now even on debit cards) is
another lucrative feature of
e-commerce websites.
an experience at a brick
and mortar store, at least in
India!
3. No restrictions on timings:
While conventional stores
have an opening and closing
time, e-commerce websites
are accessible round the
clock. You can shop at any
time you want to, and not
just when the shop is open.
Whether you are free at
2 AM or 2 PM, it doesn’t
matter!
4. Growing Trust: Th ere is
a growing trust among
e-commerce
merchants.
Most
e-commerce
merchants have a very active
customer service and sales
and support department.
With big names like Wal-
Mart and Amazon entering
the market, the perception
of the industry has only
become positive in the
minds of the consumer.
Many companies provide
an exchange period of up
to 30 days for returning/
exchanging their products.
Undoubtedly,
returns/
exchange is one area in
which all e-commerce
merchants have to be good.
5. Discounted Pricing: Owing
to the fact that e-commerce
companies don’t need to
A WORD OF CAUTION
SOURCE: www.ibef.org
invest in infrastructure and
human resources, they are
able to pass on benefi ts to the
consumer. Also, since the
number of people visiting
these e-commerce websites
E-commerce platforms
need to have a stringent
quality control mechanism
at their onset
14
Creature Companion | August 2019 • Vol. XII • Issue 8 • Noida
is huge, they are able to off er
wholesale prices. Such an
arrangement is an absolute
delight for the consumer. He
is able to make appreciable
savings.
6. Ease
of
payment:
E-commerce
off ers
all
kinds of payment options.
People can choose to pay
through plastic money,
wallets or cash on delivery.
Th is provides ease of
While e-tailing is doing great in
the country, there is also an ill
that has crept up in the industry.
Th e number of inferior products
available
on
e-commerce
websites has been rising rapidly.
Th ough these companies have
robust returns and exchange
policy in place, such instances
tend to leave a bad taste in
the mouth of consumers.
E-commerce platforms need to
have a stringent quality control
mechanism at their onset.
Th ey need to make sure no
inferior or low-quality product
is showcased on their website.
Most of the time such products
are extremely aff ordable and
maybe e-commerce ventures
need to take a major part of the
blame since all of them want
to off er the cheapest product
to the consumer. However,
it is also possible that since
e-commerce websites off er
millions of products, many of
them may go unnoticed. Th us
the need for robust quality
control arises. Premium brands
need to ensure that old or
damaged products are not put
on e-commerce sites.
If the e-commerce giants
can overcome this folly,
e-commerce will attain even
greater heights and will create
a far more favourable opinion
in the hearts and minds of
consumers.
* Independent Writer