How To Boost Your E-commerce Business This Holiday Season?

The e-commerce industry in India has changed how business is conducted. A variety of market niches are online to increase the ease of people and reduce the distance between them. Approximately 150 million people now purchase online due to the buying habits shifted by the pandemic. The global e-commerce industry is further anticipated to increase by 21.5% in 2022 to reach US$ 74.8 billion and is projected to reach US$ 350 billion by 2030.

“E-commerce and mobile commerce have dramatically changed the way brands reach customers, making it faster and easier for customers to make purchases on the fly while avoiding the hassle of going to the store.”

–          HIL DAVIS, Co-founder of J. Hilburn

As the holiday season is right around the corner, you are expected to increase yearly sales by up to 40%-50%. But this is also the time to face the competition. There are certain steps that you need to take if you want to stay ahead of your competitors. People living near or far are waiting for the deals to be grabbed and to surprise their family and friends.

Don’t wait! Get Started!

Top Tips To Enhance Your Store For The Holiday Season

Get Prepared for Incoming Traffic

The busiest days for online stores are the holidays. There is always incoming traffic for your products, and nothing could be more detrimental than a site outage at a crucial moment, so make sure your supply is full.

Check up with suppliers early to make sure you’re adequately stocked, especially for potential gift goods. Do not let your customers wait or get disappointed that their must-have gift is out of stock or on backorder.

Also, work on the speed and security of your website. Revenue is directly related to the speed at which your website loads. Your site must be stable and scalable to be able to meet the demands of your visitors. Check the most recent statistics with your e-commerce provider to determine your level of coverage. Review your integrations with external parties. Don’t add anything after testing them to make sure they can manage the load.

Surprise & Delight Customers

The holidays are the ideal time to retarget past visitors and draw in new ones to your website. Create a reason for your traffic. You must first have a solid sales plan to start the holiday season. 

  • Choose gift baskets, ana r exclusive specials and consider the marketing approach to delight your customers. 
  • Increase the number of your sales channels. There are other places to share holiday happiness than your e-commerce shop. Think about additional sales channels.
  • Include BIOPS (buy online, pick up in-store) for consumers who like online shopping but need their purchases the same day, BOPIS is a fantastic solution.
  • Enhance your delivery strategy in order to be ready for the increased traffic.
  • Outsource 3PL as they are quick and also allow you to concentrate on your business-related tasks rather than shipping queries.

Prepare Strategic Holiday Marketing Campaigns

Choose a lovely festive theme and decorate the homepage of your website accordingly. The entire website does not need to be redesigned. With design adjustments, you may improve your website to offer seasonal enchantments and meet the expectations of your visitors. Work on just the primary parts and use your creativity to the fullest. 

You can set up a timer to count down the days or till the end of your holiday campaign. This tactic increases the festive atmosphere by creating a sense of urgency that the holiday is approaching and that customers need to make their purchases as soon as feasible.

Personalization increases your chances of increasing sales. Keep in mind that individuals do not spend time reading impersonal advertisements. Construct your campaign in a way that makes people feel that the offer is just for them.

Increase Customer Assistance & Experience

Consumers today want to be able to get what they require quickly and with as little hassle as possible. That implies that your website must offer solutions that are tailored to their particular demands and a smooth checkout process. 

Is your online shop capable of the task?

Let’s look at some essential ways you may improve your website to offer seasonal enchantment and meet and exceed client expectations:

  • Increase the quality of your retail experience
  • Streamline your merchandise strategy
  • Personalize the shopping experience
  • Help them find the desired products
  • Improve checkout
  • Allow multiple payment options

Create a Flexible Return Policy

According to a poll, 96% of customers will return to businesses that make exchanges and returns as simple as possible. So, make sure that your return policy is clearly visible. People purchase at Amazon because they are familiar with their return procedures. Nobody likes dealing with returns, not consumers and definitely not retailers. 

You can also enhance your cart conversion if you highlight the fact that your shop will accept returns for items purchased during the holiday season. Building trust is key, so make sure your return policy is completely open-book and equitable.

How Can We Help?

ANS Commerce is a full-stack e-commerce enabler that provides high-end solutions and services to help businesses increase their revenue and achieve their goals. We are a team of dedicated professionals skilled in assisting clients from scratch. Whether you are a growing business or are new to digital services, we will guide you, enhance your knowledge, and help you create your own space in the online world.   

  

Drone Delivery in E-commerce: How Can It Change the Future of Logistics?

Technology is changing its face drastically, and e-commerce, being the most advanced sector, is experiencing a high level of enhancement. Consumers are purchasing things with the touch of a button and are getting their products as fast as possible. But this is not enough!

Consumer expectations are increasing with cultural enhancement and technological innovations; they are willing to acquire the product instantly whenever they require it. Thus, merchants and retailers are considering creative methods to shorten delivery times in order to boost their revenue and conversion rates.

What Are Drones?

Drones are referred to as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or unmanned aircraft systems. A drone is essentially a flying robot that can be remotely controlled or fly on its own using flight plans that are controlled by software, onboard sensors and a global positioning system (GPS).

UAVs were frequently linked to the military. They were first employed as platforms for weaponry, which was more contentious; anti-aircraft target practice; and information collection. Today, drones are employed in a variety of civilian capacities, such as search and rescue, surveillance, firefighting, monitoring traffic, tracking weather, photography, videography, agriculture, delivery, and others.

Drones in E-commerce

Drones for delivery can propel the e-commerce sector to new heights. The use of delivery drones can not only help businesses save time and money on the last mile but can also satisfy the urgent demands of their clients. Thus, retailers are considering using drones to shorten delivery times in order to boost their revenue and conversion rates.

The market for delivery drones is expanding as a result of rising demand for quicker deliveries, drone technology breakthroughs, and the growing desire to cut carbon emissions. They are becoming more and more prevalent in contemporary logistical operations than the traditional delivery routes. Thus, by 2028, the market for delivery drones is anticipated to reach a value of $1.29 billion, growing at a CAGR of 40% from 2021 to 2028.

Stakeholders of the Drone Delivery Ecosystem

  • National Aviation Administration (primary stakeholder for any aircraft traffic management operation)
  • International Civil Aviation Organization
  • The company that owns drones
  • Drone pilots (who fly drones)
  • The ground support team (manages drone launch pads and the loading and unloading of packages)
  • System for registering UAS (including capabilities for registration, operator and pilot information)
  • Aerial vehicle traffic control (UAS and operator identification; UAS traffic flow management; airspace management; flight operation management; metrological, spatial, and obstacle info management, etc.)
  • Businesses that produce drones (UAV/drone makers)
  • Technology companies that offer a range of services, including mission planning and altitude permission, drone flight planning, and real-time drone flying)

Early Adoption by Retail and Logistics Industries

Drone technology is a tool that the retail and logistics sectors use to build innovative and scalable delivery strategies. Drone delivery services have already been made available on the platforms of major industry players like Amazon, UPS, DHL, Walmart, and others. Specialized drone delivery companies and technology suppliers like Wing, Zipline, and Matternet also help the sector.

The Benefits of Drones in E-commerce

Improves customer experience

With faster and hassle-free delivery, drones would elevate customer service to a whole new level. Since merchants would own and manage the drones, there would be no need to rely on outside carriers to deliver goods. Customers will receive their purchases at their doorsteps more quickly as a result, which will enhance the customer experience.

Reduces carbon footprint

The traditional delivery system involves the transportation of goods from the warehouse to the consumer, which not only requires a lot of time but also the consumption of fossil fuels, causing an increase in pollution, traffic and unnecessary hassle. With drone delivery in use, the use of fuel for delivering items will be reduced. 

Enhances the supply chain

An enhancement and up-gradation will be required in supply chain procedures if drones start making deliveries. In most situations, drones will take the role of carriers, necessitating the development of new systems to match items with drones and load goods onto the aircraft before they take off for various consumer locations. To operate these drones in accordance with aviation regulations and the company’s service standards, personnel will need to be educated.

Caters delivery challenge

There are many places where delivery of products is not possible by traditional methods due to challenging conditions or lack of road facilities. Drones make it simpler to get through these areas, whether it’s tough terrain like hills, mountains, or rainforests. 

Drone delivery has many other applications and will continue to expand in the years to come. To fully achieve this potential, businesses will need to continue to engage in drone delivery initiatives and technological advancements. Laws are constantly changing due to their widespread. So, drone pilots and companies must review the rules of their nation and the area in which they are using the equipment.

How Can ANS Commerce Help?

ANS Commerce is a full-stack e-commerce enabler that provides highly curated services to brands to extend their reach and enhance their sales. We believe that it is just hard for businesses to connect due to a lack of resources on the technological, product, and operational fronts. Thus, we provide in-depth assistance with brandstore, performance marketing, marketplace management, and warehouse and fulfilment. Our curated services are highly customized to help you acquire the kind of assistance you are looking for and get commercial benefits without any hassle. Request your DEMO now.

How Can Augmented Reality Enhance the Customer Experience in the E-commerce Industry?

Technological innovations have brought great variation in the shopping experience of people. From offline to online, further different browsing options at various sites have made it easy for people to make purchases just by sitting at their place. However, the sensory experience was still a big challenge, which made replace and return more prominent.

Well, with Augmented Reality in the queue, things are no longer the same. With this technological advent, people can actually sense their products. It allows customers to experience the services or preview their items and acquire in-depth and comprehensive information about their items of choice—from the comfort of their homes.

According to the report, the augmented reality industry is expanding and is worth $30.7 billion, with roughly 810 million active smartphone users.

What is Augmented Reality?

AR (Augmented Reality) is a technology that overlays a computer-generated image over the user’s real-world perspective to give them a more accurate representation of reality. This entails incorporating digital data (sounds, pictures, and text) into the user’s current surroundings.

The idea is to blend the virtual and real worlds and offer the user a sense of seamless integration. These virtual assets might be in the form of 2D or 3D images, music, films, and so on.

“I do think that a significant portion of the population of developed countries, and eventually all countries, will have AR experiences every day, almost like eating three meals a day. It will become that much a part of you.” 

— Tim Cook

Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality: What Is the Difference?

Augmented reality and virtual reality are two concepts that are sometimes used interchangeably since they have many similarities but also some variances. Virtual reality (or VR) requires the user to wear a headset with earbuds that totally replaces the actual environment with the virtual world. Virtual reality aims to remove the user from the current world as much as possible. 

Quick Tip: Although virtual reality has business uses in product creation, teaching, architecture, and retail, the bulk of VR applications are now centred on leisure, particularly gaming.

Augmented reality, on the other hand, combines the virtual and real worlds. Most apps use the screen of a smartphone or tablet to do this, with users directing the phone’s camera towards an area of interest and the screen displaying a live video of that scene. The display is then filled with helpful data, such as servicing instructions, navigation data, or diagnostic data. 

Quick Tip: AR is more commonly used in entertainment applications, but now it is also being used for providing expert assistance, transforming shopping experiences and predictive maintenance. 

Augmented Reality in E-commerce

AR has piqued the curiosity of investors, businesses, and the general public in recent years, particularly when Mark Zuckerberg purchased Oculus. Many web companies, such as Sony, Samsung, and Google, are now investing heavily in augmented reality.

E-commerce is expected to take a huge leap with this technology as augmented reality can bridge the gap between conventional brick-and-mortar retailers and current e-commerce companies. Customers may see the product as they would see it in person using augmented reality. It’s a breakthrough that gives online shopping a more genuine feel while also increasing e-commerce sales by enhancing the shopping experience.

This [Retail] is a sector where AR is revolutionising the way we shop by bridging the gap between digital and physical worlds. A radical store re-invention will offer retailers new ways to increase convenience and personalisation, and consumers the opportunity to experience re-envisioned shops. 

–Muchaneta Kapfunde

The Benefits of Augmented Reality

Here’s why augmented reality is more important—and how they’re already helping early adopters.

Personalized Experience

AR allows customers to see how items appear on them. They show what sizes might fit them, or illustrate the real size of a product in their area, as well as other features that address the issues with online shopping. Instead of seeing mannequins wearing the items in an online store, buyers can view themselves in all of the ensembles to evaluate which ones would look best on them.

Reduced Return Rate

AR offers consumers the unique option to test before they purchase since it provides an immersive experience with 3D visualizations, virtual try-on, and product demos. As a result, augmented reality technology aids in the battle against high return rates by allowing customers to make an informed purchase, resulting in a decrease in return rates.

Improved Customer Satisfaction

AR’s immersive experience allows e-commerce firms to not only interact with new customers but also to create a long-term and trusted relationship with them. This technology helps boost consumer interaction with e-commerce firms, leading to increased sales.

High Conversion Rate

It is one of the most notable advantages of augmented reality in e-commerce. If users have a clearer picture of the product they are going to buy, they are more likely to convert. Augmented reality in e-commerce allows store owners to provide a more immersive and engaging product experience, which leads to higher conversion rates.

Those who browse sites that use augmented reality (AR) technology are more likely to make a purchase. So, bring it to your store and leave the rest to us. 

Role of ANS Commerce

At ANS Commerce, we assist businesses in enhancing their brand’s position through higher sales. We assist organisations in focusing on their core competencies while also delivering other services such as performance marketing, marketplace management, warehousing, and fulfilment. We give e-commerce consultancy for the brandstore through technology interventions so that they are aware of the present gap and may use the best industrial practise to optimise the funnel.

We also assist businesses with our core product, Kartify, which provides the foundation for establishing an online presence without any hassle. You can request a DEMO now.

How Cryptocurrency can Transform E-commerce Industry?

Cryptocurrency, also known as “virtual currency” is drastically making its way into the market. There are lots of investments taking place every day showing people’s interest in cryptocurrency worldwide. According to a report, the worldwide cryptocurrency industry is expected to increase at a CAGR of 12.8 percent, from $1.49 billion in 2020 to $4.94 billion in 2030.

“The Blockchain Technology could change our world more than people imagine”

Jack Ma, Co-founder of Alibaba

With all of the hoopla around cryptocurrencies and blockchain, it has become essential to understand what cryptocurrencies are and how they can be utilised for online transactions.

What is Cryptocurrency?

Cryptocurrency is a digital currency that works by encrypting data. It is not regulated by the government or any bank, instead, it employs a decentralized system to log and verify transactions. You can also say that all the transactions are handled peer-to-peer.

Every transaction is validated by network users, and in most cases, such transactions become public records to prevent the same user from spending the currency several times. Understanding that each coin is unique and that certain currencies offer greater safety and privacy than others is crucial to adopting cryptocurrency.

Top Cryptocurrencies in Use

Bitcoin

Bitcoin is the original cryptocurrency developed by Satoshi Nakamoto. Through a digital transaction system, Nakamoto sought to decentralise the financial industry and return authority to the people.

“Every informed person needs to know about Bitcoin because it might be one of the world’s most important developments.” 

Leon Luow

Ethereum

Ethereum is a currency that was established as a result of the development of bitcoin, however, it is more energy-efficient. Vitalik Buterin, the project’s inventor, intended to create a platform that would completely revolutionise the internet.

Dogecoin

Dogecoin was started as a joke, a Doge meme by software programmers Billy Markus and Jackson Palmer. However, with time it has grown from a humorous take on cryptocurrency to a viable investment option, beyond its creators’ expectations.

XRP (Ripple)

XRP, commonly known as Ripple, was created to let users transmit money digitally without the high transaction costs and conversion periods associated with bitcoin. It is a decentralized digital asset that is operated by a network of peer-to-peer computers. 

How can Cryptocurrency be Used in E-Commerce?

E-commerce and cryptocurrencies complement each other well, according to the technologically informed customer. With the growing demand for digital payments among internet customers, it is an alternative method for individuals searching for a quick and easy method to pay for products and services.

There is no need to travel to a bank, withdraw money, or even input credit card information before completing payment at checkout when using bitcoin. Digital payments are being driven by the same need that has fueled online shopping, and if done correctly, might be a terrific complement to your present offerings.

Benefits of Cryptocurrency in an E-commerce Industry

Large Market Base

The number of people who own and utilise cryptocurrencies is steadily increasing throughout the world. Allowing consumers to pay using their crypto wallet on your site might broaden your target demographic and attract new client traffic. Early acceptance of crypto payments may provide you with an advantage over your competition and allow you to win the loyalty of this customer base before your competitors. 

Quick Transactional Service

Unlike credit card systems, which take a few days to batch out and process, Bitcoin is handled instantly, allowing you to access payments much faster. Fast transactions can help your company’s cash flow run more smoothly.

Low Transactional Charge

Blockchain transactions are significantly less expensive than regular e-commerce transactions. When brands use Razorpay or Paypal to handle transactions, they pay an average of 3-5 percent per transaction, compared to roughly 1% for bitcoin transactions. The costs will vary depending on whether you accept cryptocurrencies into your personal wallet or through a third-party source like Coinbase, but they will almost certainly be cheaper than those charged by PayPal or credit card companies.

Anonymous Transactional Ease

By employing encrypted wallet addresses, cryptocurrency enables anonymous purchases – it’s essentially the same as using unmarked cash. This lets your consumers purchase things without revealing their personal information, and it allows you to conduct business without fear of violating any privacy laws.

High-Security Assistance

Unless you have the merchant’s permission, it’s tough to reverse a bitcoin transaction once it’s been completed. This gives shops additional protection against E-commerce fraud since there is no middleman, such as a bank, who may remove cash from your account without your permission.

Stores Accepting Cryptocurrency

A number of well-known companies, markets, and payment processors have already begun to accept Cryptocurrency as payment.

eGifter- eGifter, a prominent participant in the field of gift card exchanges, was one of the first to take bitcoin in 2014. The company’s leadership has long believed in bitcoin’s ability to revolutionise payments. It is expanding its digital currency payment options by adding dogecoin and litecoin to the mix.

Overstock- Overstock was the first big online retailer to adopt bitcoin in early 2014 by taking crypto payments in the United States.

PayPal- In March 2021, PayPal introduced “Checkout with Crypto,” a tool that lets PayPal’s US clients pay online businesses with their cryptocurrency. All cryptocurrencies may be held in the PayPal digital wallet and converted to fiat cash with no additional transaction fees at checkout.

Expedia- Expedia has begun accepting payments for over 700,000 hotels and lodgings using (more than 30) cryptocurrencies, thanks to a collaboration with crypto-friendly travel booking site Travala.

eBay- eBay revealed earlier this year that they are considering adopting cryptocurrencies as a means of payment in the future. 

Many E-commerce stores have also started accepting Cryptocurriencies as payments such as Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce and Magento.

How to Accept Cryptocurrencies in E-commerce Store?

Accepting cryptocurrencies in your eCommerce business can be done in two ways:

Personal wallet- You’ll need a virtual wallet if you want to accept cryptocurrencies through your personal wallet. You can purchase a hardware wallet or download most wallets fast to your phone or PC. A hardware wallet is a physical safe that keeps bitcoin on a specific hard drive within the device. It’s actually the only safe hardware device for storing a user’s private key.

Third-party payment processor- Third-party payment processors like Coinbase or BitPay, manage the full payment process, much like credit card payment processors.

One advantage of using a third-party payment processor rather than a personal wallet is that they may convert cryptocurrencies into cash instantaneously, avoiding price fluctuations.

Role of ANS Commerce

We are a full-stack brand E-commerce enabler that helps businesses with curated solutions like brandstore, performance marketing, marketplace management and fulfillment. We provide high-level customized service to our clients and customers and help them dominate the industry with seamless integrations. Our experts skilled in taking care of all your demand will work professionally as your extended team and will help you increase your ROI with zero hassle.  

Are NFTs Transforming the E-commerce Industry?

NFTs or you can say the Non-fungible tokens are changing the functioning of the digital world at a very high pace. According to Statista, the sales volume of NFTs is increasing progressively in different segments worldwide. Its high capabilities and benefits have made every company curious and e-commerce being the most blooming is stated to have a big impact in near future.

Want to know how? First, you must understand what NFTs are. 

What are NFTs?

NFTs are Non-fungible Tokens. The term “non-fungible” refers to an item that cannot be exchanged for another of equivalent worth. For example, a $20 bill can be traded for two $10 bills, or one bar of gold can be exchanged for another bar of the same size, which are some instances of fungible items. Whereas NFT is one-of-a-kind, that is a non-replaceable digital item. However they can be copies, like the painting of Monet can be copied, but the original remains the same.

Any digital item, from images and graphics to films and music, can become an NFT with the sole ownership rights. When you purchase an NFT, you are purchasing a token rather than the actual asset. Your purchase includes the rights to the item or information within it, as well as a publicly verifiable certificate of ownership on the blockchain.

Why should E-commerce integrate NFTs?

Corporations, trade groups, sports teams, and venture investors are all showing an excessive amount of interest in NFTs. As e-commerce is a highly promising sector merchants are also ready to come up with more strategies for integrating NFTs in e-commerce. Designing multi-sensory items, upselling value-added packages, and delivering the instant pleasure of a virtual equivalent of a real purchase via NFT can ensure a company’s long-term viability. 

“When a business utilizes resources wisely, it becomes better able to widen the margins between revenues and expenses.”

Hendrith Vanlon Smith Jr

Advantages of NFTs in E-commerce

Several e-commerce businesses are willing to build NFT integration solutions keeping in mind the advantages it provides. Let’s see a few –

  • As it functions in a centralised environment, it removes the participation of third parties and large commission distribution.
  • It provides excellent revenue generation possibilities for various business models
  • You get a permanent record of ownership and transactions in the public domain
  • As the system is programmable, creators could earn new forms of royalties
  • The digital economy can be reshaped and expanded to different segments of the market
  • The brands can trace the provenance of fine products
  • Instant ownership of gaming, sport and art can be attained
  • A more transparent economic ecosystem can be created
  • An easy possession and transfer of augmented reality can be seen

Examples of NFTs

Many digital areas have reaped the benefits of the exceptional adaptability of NFTs. Let’s explore a few newsworthy NFTs to completely comprehend this new form of the digital product.

  • Beeple’s “First 5000 Days,” marked the most remarkable NFT sale of $69.3 million at Christie’s
  • CryptoKitties, a breedable collection of lovely digital kitties, generated approximately $7 million in just 24 hours in September 2021

However, not all NFTs produce millions. E-commerce NFTs with less spectacular examples are also noteworthy.

  • Fred Segal’s Los Angeles-based shop, Artcade offers a dynamic retail experience with an NFT gallery for physical and digital products for sale
  • Royal, founded by 3LAU, a music producer and Justin Blau, a DJ, is an NFT platform for artists to collaborate with their fans so that they can co-create and co-own music. Fans can sell music rights and receive royalties using NFTs
  • RTFKT, recently acquired by Nike, sells cryptocurrency in the form of NFT-based shoes. They were able to sell 600 pairs/NFTs in less than six minutes, netting $3.1 million
  • Shopify allows its merchants to mine and sells NFTs directly on the platform. The function was first used by the Chicago Bulls in July 2021
  • Neuno, an Australian startup, has created a platform that allows consumers to purchase NFTs using credit cards

Potential of NFTs in E-commerce

NFTs have the potential to boost online commerce, which is predicted to dramatically develop in the coming years.

Pre-launching – NFT Tokens can be used to pre-launch physical things generating publicity and excitement before the launch of a new product, allowing you to build a loyal following of early adopters.

Branding – Integrating NFTs with real-world items can help brands appeal to both early adopters and traditional clients. For example, Nike’s NFT-based sneakers provide buyers additional opportunities to interact with digital purchases.

Trailing – The NFT technology can speed digital sales and provide lifetime product data tracking, previously unavailable in e-commerce.

Value Adding – Hybridised product variety of NFTs and physical objects in E-commerce businesses, can bridge the experiential gap due to the time taken in delivery.

Authentic Verification – Due to blockchain-based verification methods, clothing that uses NFTs for both personal signature and deed of ownership will have a higher perceived value.

Loyalty Program – Supplying NFT-based collectables to the customers can add value to the loyalty programme as it can allow consumers to use their hard-earned points in several ways.

ANS Commerce & its Services

Businesses need to maintain their identity and direct relationship with the customers, especially when the new models are emerging now and then. We at ANS Commerce provide end-to-end service to the businesses for performance marketing, marketplace management and warehousing & filfillment so that you can maximise your reach without undergoing any hassle. You can effectively work on your core services and different business models while we take the responsibility for enhancing the visibility of your business online. So, request your DEMO now!

Is Social Commerce the Future of E-commerce?

The digital transformation has paved new ways for E-commerce businesses to boost sales with Social media platforms. With a genuine feeling of community and connection, it has integrated purchasing and selling opportunities to help executives generate revenue. 

“Communication is at the heart of e-commerce and community”

– Meg Whitman, Hewlett-Packard CEO

What better way to communicate with your customers than Social media platforms? All you need to do is understand what Social Commerce is and how your business can get benefitted? 

What is Social Commerce?

The purchasing and selling of products or services directly within a social media platform is known as social commerce. It includes everything from product discovery to the checkout process- your entire shopping experience.

According to The State of Social Media Investment Report, 77% of customers are likely to pick a business that has a great social media experience. Furthermore, executives largely believe that social commerce is driving a growing share of their company’s marketing-driven income. So, don’t let your company get left behind in the next digital transformation wave.

What distinguishes Social Commerce from E-commerce?

An online purchasing experience is referred to as e-commerce. However, social commerce allows customers to make purchases while interacting on social media. To create your sales prospect list, social selling entails establishing relationships on social media.

Today, mobile devices account for more than half of all the internet traffic and the researches show that mobile users leave carts at a considerably greater rate than desktop users. So, streamlining your checkout experience is critical as shoppers shift to tiny screens for routine transactions.

This is where the concept of social trade enters the picture. It eliminates the potential for abandoned transactions by eliminating drop-off places.

Importance of Social Commerce

Many people are unsure if social e-commerce would benefit their company. In fact, from growing revenue to improving customer interaction and website traffic, it offers a myriad of business advantages for your company. Let’s discuss a few-

Makes Purchase Frictionless

The customer journey is made easier by social media stores, which reduces friction in the process from discovery to purchase. Look at it, click on it and buy it.

At the end of the day, every mouse click is an opportunity for potential consumer to alter their mind. If consumers have to click from your ad to your website, add the product to their basket, and then enter their payment card information, that’s a lot of time for them to lose interest.

Remove the processes that aren’t essential and bring shopping to them.

Offers Shopping along with Socialization

Unlike a conventional e-commerce binge, shopping on social media is a far more participatory affair. Consumers can simply consult with their friends before making purchases; flaunt their new high-tops, drop comments, read remarks and get engaged with other consumers as well.

Social commerce is the next best thing for people who miss the social side of a day at the mall.

Refines Target Audience

With so much client data available on social media, you have a fantastic chance to fine-tune and focus your advertising. In a manner that traditional e-commerce and marketing cannot, social commerce allows you to bring particular, ready-to-buy items in front of the exact individuals who would adore them.

Your exquisite furniture can be promoted directly to the ones who are in search of them. Cool young parents may blast adorable baby-sized clothes straight to their feeds.

Boosts Reviews and Recommendations

If your company is new to selling online, your social media profiles are a great way to start building that all-important social proof. Your customers won’t be able to test or try on your merchandise if they shop online. Reviews can help you make an informed buying decision.

Using social media to manage your end-to-end customer experience provides a positive feedback loop that affects your bottom line, as it draws new followers into your funnel.

Enhances Authentic Engagement

One of the most important advantages of social commerce is increased engagement. People are encouraged to connect with businesses through two-way dialogue through social commerce. This not only allows consumers to interact with your company but also allows them to utilise social media as an effective customer care channel where problems may be resolved.

People that interact with a firm regularly are more inclined to suggest it.

Social Commerce Platforms

Facebook and Instagram are the two major platforms that have incorporated social commerce capabilities so far. Pinterest is also participating well, leading consumers to product-specific pages, while both Youtube and TikTok are experimenting with “shop now” buttons. Twitter is also experimenting with a new card style that includes a big “Shop” button.

Try exploring these platforms, if you want to stay ahead of the game.

Facebook Shops

Facebook’s social commerce offers a very low entrance barrier. Shops are completely free to create and are hosted on your Facebook business profile. To encourage organic brand discovery, the Facebook Shop tab on the platform’s mobile app displays goods based on user preferences.

You can immediately sync your whole inventory list in seconds if your e-commerce solution is enabled as a partner platform. If not, a spreadsheet can be used to upload product information.

Instagram Shops

Instagram Shopping is linked straight to your Facebook Shop. Users must link their Instagram business account to their Facebook business profile to create a shop. Users can then upload an existing product catalogue or build a new one after that.

Because of its visual character, Instagram provides additional opportunities for innovative social commerce marketing. Shoppable posts and Stories that link straight to in-app product pages can help brands generate attention. Purchases are made within the app or on your website, just like on Facebook.

How ANS Commerce can help?

We are a group of learned professionals with extensive expertise in a wide range of sectors. We understand the sort of help you need when you’re new to social media sites. Whether it’s to raise brand awareness, enhance return on investment, or retarget people based on their preferences. We look after the requirement of every brand to encourage purchases.

Performance Marketing, Marketplace Management, Warehouse & Fulfillment, and e-commerce consulting are some of the services we offer to assist you to ease your marketing burden. So, request a DEMO and start improving your online presence right now!

Financial Year: A Quick Guide to its Features and Relevance!

Do you know we have two starts in one year?

The new year is celebrated on January 1st, but solely for the purpose of setting resolutions or renewing previous vows. For the Indian government, many enterprises, investors, and taxpayers, the financial year begins on April 1st.

What is a Financial Year?

A financial year, also known as the Fiscal year is a 12-month period used by the government, corporation or organization to compute how much money is generated, spent, and so on. It is basically the period in which income is earned.

In India, the financial year runs from April 1 to March 31. The year from April 1, 2022, to March 31, 2023, is commonly referred to as FY 2022-23, or may alternatively be referred to as FY 2023 depending on the ending year.

On the 31st of March of each Indian financial year, companies learn about their financial health.

Note- The colonial British administration established the present fiscal year in 1867 to match India’s financial year with that of the British Empire. Other colonies like Hong Kong and Canada also follow the same. 

Why did the Indian Government maintain British Authority after Independence?

There are several reasons why the Indian government maintained British authority after independence.  Some of them are:

Religious

Because the start of the fiscal year coincided with the Hindu new year, known as Vaishakha, the government chose to keep the date the same.

Agricultural

Because most crops are harvested in February and March, the financial year was not modified in order to receive an accurate estimate of revenue from the agricultural sector.

Merchandize

The end of the year i.e., November and December are the seasons of the festival, and merchants and retailers are active with their sales at this time. As a result, they are unable to do accounting and file tax returns at the same time.

Why should you be concerned?

As a company, you can make new financial resolutions on January 1 and start investing right away, but the taxation on your investments will follow the April-March cycle. Your tax returns are filed for every financial year from April to March. The deadline for making tax-saving investments under Section 80C, such as PPF, ELSS, etc., falls on March 31. All tax-related changes announced in the Budget of any year are applicable for income earned from April 1 of the following year.

So, you need to remain on the edge!

Requirement of Financial Year

In terms of your financial model, you must meet specific conditions. Following are the requirements:

  • The length of your FY cannot exceed 371 days (53 weeks)
  • Form T1139 is used by sole proprietorships and most partnerships to change their fiscal year
  • Corporate fiscal periods are more difficult to amend in most situations, requiring them to file a letter seeking the adjustment to the relevant tax services office
  • As long as the chosen year fits the 371-day criteria, new firms can choose any tax year-end as long as it is their first tax year
  •  Within 53 weeks after formation, new firms must pick a tax year-end

Consult a specialist before deciding on a fiscal term for your company due to the legal and financial implications.

Importance of Financial Year

The money earned in one accounting year (referred to as the preceding year) is taxed in the next accounting year (called assessment year) which most firms and commercial organizations follow for many reasons such as –

  • It is the time period during which the company assesses its revenue and expenditure
  • It is the time when the company puts forth its financial and economic objectives, as well as the methods to achieve them
  • It is the time when the company draws a financial statement to determine your business financial position over a specific period of time
  • It is the time when you can promote regularity and facilitate data comparability to study the virtues and faults
  • You can lead more investment by presenting the company’s income stream to the investors and assisting them to realize the worth of your firm

How can you Track your Financial Performance?

Evaluating essential financial records in order to acquire a better understanding of how the organization is operating economically is known as financial statement analysis. While there are many various forms of financial documents that may be examined as part of the financial year process, the following are some of the most significant, particularly for managers:

Balance sheet: It is a financial statement that shows a company’s assets, liabilities, and equity at a certain point in time.

Income statement: It describes a company’s sales, costs, and profits over a period of time.

Cash Flow Statement: A statement that shows how actions from the balance sheet and income statement affect cash flow. It is divided into three categories: operating, investing, and financing.

Annual Report: A document that discusses a firm’s activities and financial situations. It often includes the papers stated above, as well as extra insights and narratives from important corporate officials.

6 Important things you must do before the financial year ends

How ANS Commerce can help?

Taking the right financial decision is a must to run a smooth business and grow successively. So, you must not let external stress hamper your internal work. We, at ANS Commerce, know how difficult it is to manage production along with sales. Therefore, we help companies make smart investments to broaden the range of services and diversify sales. Whether it is performance marketing or marketplace management or simple warehousing and fulfilment, we take care of all the hard work for the companies so they can smoothly carry out internal functions.

5 Incredible Business Lessons You Can Learn from Holi

One of the major festivals of India, Holi is celebrated every year with the onset of spring to commemorate the triumph of good over evil. It is celebrated with full enthusiasm in various regions where people of any religion, creed, and caste greet each other and share their love with sweets (Gujiya). With great joy, people smear colors on each other, spray colorful water, and toss color-dipped water balloons.

It is the Happiest (H) Occasion (O) of Love (L) and Interaction (I) that not only brings the pleasure of natural colors to life but also some important lessons that can help you manage business better with the commencement of the new financial year.

Burn Old Attitude

Holi is a two-day festival, Holika-Dahan and Dhulhandi. On Holika-Dahan, people assemble around bonfires to commemorate the way Holika sat on fire with the mindset to deceive her nephew and didn’t give any second thought to her decision. Her unidirectional and self-centered step took her own life marking the defeat of evil.

Holika-Dahan is about letting go of outdated mindsets that have been ingrained in us for a long time. It is important to give a new angle to your business, talk about the changes that you can bring to enhance the culture and environment of your place so that you can take your business to the next level.  

Enjoy Diversity

The festival of Holi brings all the shades of Gulaal together to celebrate the arrival of spring, hence fertility. Smearing and splashing all sorts of colors on each other is something that makes this festival more special. Holi won’t be the same if it would have been monotonous or a festival with no color!

Therefore, we should embrace diversity, whether it is regarding employees or products in your business so that you have a larger reach to bring assets. It can optimize the return and reduce the risk of failure.

Although, it might happen that you are not ready to introduce a new product or are unable to come up with a new idea. Look for different strategies to increase the awareness and value of the product that you are having. 

Embrace Achievements

People serve festival delicacies like Gujiya, phirnis, and Thandai to start the new season. This makes you feel good about yourself and the community you’re in. This also helps create a hopeful future by building an environment of love and trust.

Often while focusing on long-term goals, we forget to embrace small achievements that are stepping stones to success. You must consider its importance. Celebrating these small successes can help you share love, create bonds and generate new links that are hard to create.

Spend Time with Stakeholders

Festivals provide an opportunity for us to reconnect with family and friends and spend quality time with loved ones. It reconnects the bond and spreads good vibes that are essential in building a community and creating a positive environment.  

It’s prudent to follow the same when it comes to your partners and investors so that you can connect with them, understand their strategies and come up with the ideas to enhance growth. It creates a bond of trust, mutual benefit, and long-term success.   

Avoid Over-enthusiasm

The festival of Holi is all about celebrating a good time using natural colors. But some people may apply chemically strong colors, which can be difficult to remove for a while or sometimes create allergic reactions. Therefore, it is essential to enjoy the occasions with care.

The joy of success should not take you to the level where you begin taking harsh decisions in your business. All the love, connection, and bond you have made while building up your business can go in vain with your over-enthusiastic approach. You must remain conscious and think twice before making any decision.

How to Execute?

To build a successful business you need to create a healthy environment and for that, you need to invest the time in your core services. There are several things for which you need to remain available and make instant decisions. So, taking charge of everything on your shoulder can be burdensome. It is important to find reliable partners that can take care of your market presence and manage all your logistic needs. 

ANS Commerce is a full-stack e-commerce solution that can help you build a strong online base and manage all your on-ground requirements without any hassle. Whether you need assistance for performance marketing, marketplace management, warehousing & fulfillment, or simply need an integration-ready proprietary brand store, we will instantly help you out. 

Our technical experts will personally assist you and provide you with all the information that is important to plan new strategies, implement ideas, and leverage brand awareness. Our end-to-end service doesn’t function without your satisfaction; therefore our experts will always approach you for your confirmation. So, request your DEMO now!   

Play Safe, Stay Safe!

Holi hai!

Are E-commerce Metrics Crucial? Track The Top 7 That You Should Not Avoid In 2022!

The most successful businesses are not built in the blink of an eye. There are many metrics that need to be filled and checked along the way to observe the performance and make the right decisions. No business can survive unless they keep track of their performance and improve with time. Offline businesses used to be complicated and time-consuming so the most wonderful thing about digitalization is, it is easy, quick, and user-friendly. One can easily track the determinants that reflect a company’s present status and help make futuristic decisions with data-based information.

E-commerce metrics might be new to the ones who have recently started their online store but is as important as building a site itself. 

Running a business without metrics is like sailing a ship without navigation, you won’t know where you are and where to go. You may end up at the wrong destination or might drown on the way.

However, obtaining the knowledge of the right metrics is further a concern. It is important for you to know that not all metrics are equally relevant while you are working online. You need to consider only the important and the precise ones in order to not get lost in the pool of information.   

Here we have come up with the seven most important e-commerce metrics that are tried and tested and can serve as the foundation of your business analysis.

Top Seven E-commerce Metrics

Customer Acquisition Cost 

Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) or Cost per Acquisition (CPA) is the overall amount you pay to bring a new customer or client. Since many new businesses begin by spending a lot of money on sales and marketing to get new leads, it is also known as the “Startup Killer”. It is vital to control CAC as you might end up spending a lot for only a small percentage of leads.

To measure it you can divide the total cost associated with the acquisition by total new customers during a particular time period.

Quick Tip – A gradual increase in the measure of this metric is a sign of warning, so a bottom line should be drawn before investing in any kind of paid campaign or marketing strategy.

Site Traffic

You cannot have buyers if you do not have traffic to your site. There are many ways in which a business can market its product. You need to track the number of impressions and the reach of your marketed product to drive the followers or the subscribers to your site.

It is critical to keep track of people that are coming to your site as it carries a number of indicators that can help you increase the traffic. You will come to know the source of traction, will be able to pinpoint the demography, and understand the marketing channel that is working best for your product so that you can plan the strategy accordingly.   

“Website without visitors is like a ship lost in the horizon.”

Dr. Christopher Dayagdag

Conversion Rate

It is very important for online brands to determine the conversion rate as not all visitors come for purchase. There are many sites that experience high traffic but low sales. So, only driving traffic is not enough, you also need to persuade your visitors to place the order. You need to make sure that all the activities from small to big are just right. From the display of the product to purchase, every step is an opportunity for you to engage the customer and encourage them to purchase.

To measure the conversion rate of your site, you can divide the total number of customers by the total unique visitors, multiplied by 100.    

Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO) is further a process for the improvement of conversion rate, which is done by determining the page views, visitors’ behavior on your website and checking the sales funnel.

Quick Tip – Check if the visitors are able to navigate their way around your site, use buttons for call-to-action and where exactly are they dropping off to buy.

Cart Abandonment

It is the rate at which customers abandon the cart after the selection of their product. In other words, it is the total number of sales that you are losing. Therefore, it is critical to track them independently to determine whether the checkout procedure is the basis of the problem or whether something else is at fault.

Intuitive cart management includes persistent pages, no hidden fees, urgency messaging, estimated delivery date, and enough payment options, which you must check in order to reduce abandonment rates.

Is Cart Abandonment Crippling Your E-commerce Business? Learn more!

Total sales

Our metrics are incomplete without this, as all our efforts work to increase the total sales of the company. All your efforts go vain if, after all the hardcore work, you are not able to make your sales.

When it comes to total sales, it’s important to know what factors impact your figures and why. This contains the performance of each of your sales channels as well as the trends of your sales over time.

Quick Tip – You can split the data of your entire month and check day-to-day sales in order to understand which day you made the most of it and why? Check the trend and build a strategy to increase the sales likewise.

Average Order Value

When your consumers check out, they pay for the products in their basket. AOV is typically the average price that customers spend on a single order. It’s a crucial metric to understand when it comes to determining marketing performance and should be tracked over time in order to see how it changes.

To determine the AOV, you need to divide the total sales by the total orders completed over that period.

You can increase your AOV by performing the loyalty programs, selling the add-ons, or displaying questions related to the fundamental business model, etc.

Customer Retention Rate

The percentage of repeat customers (those who have placed orders more than once) among all your customers is known as the customer retention rate.

Repeat customers are the life of any e-commerce. In case you are losing your customers more rapidly, you must understand that something is wrong, either with your product or customer service. Look for the reason and a solution because keeping the old customers happy and engaged is less expensive than gaining the new ones.

Quick Tip – Repeated customers play a role of word-of-mouth that promotes your business around without costing a penny.

Knowing the e-commerce metrics stated above can help you determine your flaws, find areas where your plans and tactics may be fine-tuned and form a strategy to boost your store’s performance. Remember, precision and consistency matter a lot so take the help of the latest analytical tools and make it a habit to review them on a frequent basis.  

How Can ANS Commerce Be Your Partner?

It is hard to track all the e-commerce metrics and study analytics while performing the core function of your business. ANS Commerce helps businesses take the stress off their shoulders with high-class services such as Brandstore, Performance Marketing, Marketplace Management, Warehouse & Fulfilment as well as e-commerce consultation. We handle everything from your product reach to conversion rate and leverage customer retention with positive reviews and ratings. So request for DEMO and enhance your presence online to accelerate your business growth now! 

How To Build Your Own Direct-to-Consumer Brand?

In recent years, businesses have come to understand that if they want to take a leap for high-end success they need to look beyond the traditional methods. They need to go for more efficient, tech-friendly methods to expand their boundaries and engage consumers from every corner.

As the demands of the consumers increase, brands too are trying to reach consumers in a way to serve with better communication and more ease. Owners have now started shifting their focus to direct-to-consumer services and providing assistance that was otherwise hard to fulfill due to over expenditure of resources. 

Stepping up with direct-to-consumer services, the e-commerce market size in India has reached $84 Bn in 2021 and is expected to reach $200 Bn by 2026.

(Source)

What is Direct to Consumer Brand?

The brand that has its own manufacturing or CPG business i.e., it develops its own product and services, distributes directly to its customers without the involvement of any third party is considered a direct-to-consumer brand. It is also known as DTC or D2C brand that sells directly through online mediums.

How are D2C brands different from the rest?

In order to understand the customer and fulfill their needs, D2C brands have to be very nimble. They need to connect with customers and engage them with the variety of their products as well as services and make the purchase possible. They need not have a physical store, acquire an inventory space, make a big catalog or put a load of capital. They can engage the customers online, take their orders, provide the service and get feedback without any hassle.    

Is D2C a fad or a long-term trend?

Will customers continue to flock to direct-to-consumer businesses in the same way they did in recent years?

Will retailers adapt and reclaim their footing?

Can manufacturers continue to run D2C or, at the absolute least, use a hybrid method while certain retailers evolve?

However, the main question is – Is it really worth it for your firm to go D2C in the long run, or is it simply a fad?

There’s no doubt that direct-to-consumer businesses are hot right now. With the popularity of firms like Bare Anatomy, Gonoise, Mamaearth, it seems like a new D2C startup pops up around every corner. But it doesn’t imply D2C is a passing phenomenon as if it were a fashion trend that will fade away shortly. The recent development of direct-to-consumer (D2C) businesses is everything but random. D2C businesses have thrived in recent years because they are better equipped to meet the changing expectations of today’s clients, such as delivering more customized and authentic service.

Going D2C isn’t some sort of “magic bullet” that will propel every company to success. Implementing the D2C paradigm without first understanding what it implies is a recipe for disaster. Therefore, you should know exactly what you want to provide your clients and how to utilize the D2C model to make the shift possible.

Advantages of D2C brands

No middleman – Unlike traditional methods, D2C requires no middlemen. The companies do not have to depend on the distributors or the retailer to make their products reach the end consumers.  

Reduce cost – As there is no involvement of a third party, the cost ultimately reduces. Moreover, the requirement for the store or inventory also reduces. So you get the products at a very competitive price.

Save time – Customers can directly approach the brand store online, select products, and place orders. There is no lengthy or tedious task that you need to handle or wait to get a product.

Direct Contact – With no middlemen, there is no manipulation. The feedback of the customer is directly able to reach the brand and brands get a better understanding of their customers. It also eases their effort to experiment with new products.

With D2C, brands are coming closer to customers, bringing down the price and saving time, eventually creating a whole win-win situation. Nearly 55% of consumers have started to buy directly from brands.   

Willing to start your own digital direct-to-consumer brand?

Well! It is not hard to take a leap and interrupt the status quo. The path of business is always filled with challenges but to succeed you must not give up on your will and cross all the hurdles.

Quick Tip – Having no middleman can be challenging, as you need to compete with the retail giants such as Walmart, Amazon that have high recognition and significant resources. Therefore, laying a roadmap can help you walk step by step to your success. 

Start your own D2C brand in 7 simple steps

Look for a Reason

Before you decide to build a D2C brand, have a rationale for why you should join the industry in the first place. Identify a daily objective, simplify your decision, and create a story that resonates with the audience both functionally and emotionally.

Defining the purpose for your company’s existence is the first step in articulating your brand identity. Why should customers be interested in your company? Beyond generating money online, what is your mission?

Analyze your Market

Focus on your product and consider how it addresses a typical consumer pain point. Search for a compelling proposition, strong enough to get someone’s attention. If your product is already popular in the market, you will be up against a lot of competition.

Alongside, take some time to write a business strategy while you’re researching your market. Encourage others to talk about your goods by soliciting reviews and testimonials.

Include Offers to Persuade

After you have transformed your idea into an actual product all you need to do is persuade consumers to purchase it. 

Customers get persuaded once you offer them help. To save time, effort, and money, you should use a subscription model that attracts more customers. The recurring revenue along with high customer retention leads to rapid exponential growth. You can provide a no-fee, easy return service or can incentivize your customers to spread the word. 

How to introduce a gift card module? Read on!

Implement SEO Campaigns

Search Engine Optimization is still a sure-fire way. It enhances recognition and generates web traffic by dominating the search engine rankings in your industry. Carefully crafting the content with your industry-specific keywords you can target your potential customers and introduce your brand to them.  

Enhance Power with Visuals

In addition to SEO, visuals matter a lot!

Never underestimate the power of visual content like videos, memes, and infographics. If it is able to strike a chord with your audience, then you will establish a strong brand following.

Learn Brilliant Ideas to Pump up your Business with Visual Marketing

Boost Social Media Activity

Posting the visuals on social media platforms helps gain a lot of attention. Running ads on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and other platforms enhance traffic at your site and gain organic traction.

Learn Facebook Ad Targeting Tips to Drive Conversions for Your Business.

Go Headless

Compared to typical commerce systems, headless commerce has a number of advantages. You’ll be able to reach out to and communicate with your customers on a variety of devices and channels, as well as accept payments if you invest in a headless CMS.

The way customers shop online is evolving, and it will continue to do so in the future.

Explore the 5 benefits of Headless E-Commerce.

Take a Notch from the Norm

Unlike in the past, when launching an e-commerce website required a large IT team and months of planning, today it takes only a few weeks and anyone can do it with a ready-to-use e-commerce platform that allows businesses to sell products and services online while also managing the website, marketing, and sales.

ANS Commerce Enabled Services

We provide an integration-ready proprietary brandstore Kartify, that enables offline brands, small-town retailers, home-grown businesses, and more to expand their reach online. We provide the simplicity of setup and a rapid time to market, which are aligned with the benefits of selling D2C. 

We take care of everything, from setting up the online shops, product pages to inventory management with strong integrated applications. We also provide assistance for Performance Marketing, Marketplace management, and e-commerce consulting. So, request your DEMO now.