No two consumers are the same. Some people enjoy the process of buying a product: traveling to the store, asking for help from the staff, picking out the best product on the shelf, and paying at the checkout. But some people prefer going straight to the point—buying what they need as quickly as they can so that they can start using it.
Most consumers prefer a unique shopping experience, which is why it’s only right that they have options, such as eCommerce shops and physical retail stores. However, because most people are getting used to the ease of the digital world, the preference for eCommerce shops is growing by the day.
Here are six advantages that eCommerce businesses have when compared to traditional brick-and-mortar stores:
Convenience
Since eCommerce businesses are open online 24/7, there would be no time constraints for consumers who have strict schedules. Whenever they need to buy something, they could simply place an order online and wait for their packages to arrive at their doorstep. That is easily the epitome of convenience.
Aside from door-to-door delivery, consumers can also benefit from having an abundance of product options on the tip of their fingers because eCommerce platforms are home to a lot of online sellers. This means that if one shop doesn’t have what they need, they can easily switch to another shop without having to travel or spend more energy than they have to.
Safety
With eCommerce businesses, there is less risk for consumers. This is because they would no longer have to travel to and from a retail store to buy what they need. For instance, if you need something from a store that’s an hour away from your house, you will have to commute or drive your car just to get there.
This can put you at risk of being involved in a motor vehicle accident, especially if you’re driving alongside big trucks and vans. If you ever get into trouble while en route, you shouldn’t hesitate to call a truck accident attorney to help you get the right compensation for the damage you have sustained. Shopping online eliminates all these risks to your health and safety.
Payment Options
Nowadays, it’s fairly common for consumers to use alternative payment methods apart from cash or credit. For example, they can use digital wallets, Venmo, Apple Pay, or Google Pay, to name a few. This means that eCommerce businesses can cater to a wider range of people, unlike brick-and-mortar shops.
Of course, plenty of physical retail stores have begun accepting digital payment options through their point-of-sale (POS) systems, but there is still a lot that is limited to cash and credit. But since consumers can simply connect their chosen mode of payment to their eCommerce accounts, shopping will become so much easier.
Accessibility
One of the biggest advantages of eCommerce shops is that they’re everywhere at once. Since they’re not tied to a physical store, they can cater to customers in their local community and other cities or states. This is especially true because courier companies can now deliver to national and international addresses.
And because anyone with an Internet connection can access eCommerce platforms, they won’t be limited to a geographical location. This means that online sellers can have customers from far and wide—something that brick-and-mortar business owners can’t enjoy fully.
Discounts
Most consumers enjoy a good discount. Even if they have the money to spend, it’s more practical for customers to take advantage of the promos, discounts, and other offers that eCommerce stores are providing. This can include anything from free shipping vouchers to cashback promotions.
Of course, bargain deals are not new to consumers. Most retail stores already hold sales and offer discounts to their loyal customers, but that’s usually limited to in-store purchases. However, because eCommerce platforms are available everywhere, more people can enjoy the promos that they offer.
Marketing
Digital marketing is beneficial to both eCommerce and brick-and-mortar businesses. But the advantage that eCommerce shops have over retail stores is that their customers can immediately see their ads on social media and place orders. This means that there will be a fast return on their investment.
On the other hand, if a brick-and-mortar business offers discount vouchers on their social media accounts, there’s the obstacle of having to go to their store to enjoy the promo. The thing with most consumers is that even if they’re presented with a good promo, they’re sometimes still not convinced to use them because they would have to exert more effort than usual.
Of course, both eCommerce shops and brick-and-mortar businesses are essential. Each one caters to a different market demographic that relies on the products and services they offer. However, if convenience becomes the sole determiner of consumer preference, eCommerce businesses will easily have this in the bag.