Ecommerce is good, but hyperlocal ecommerce? Whoa! Its exceptionally good

“The most of the transactions you make online thinking it is ecommerce indulgence, a part of it, if not all, is actually ecommerce turned hyperlocal.”

All of us are aware of the word ‘ecommerce’ as we get to involve ourselves in frequent, if not daily, buying and selling of things over the internet. Ecommerce, ever since its inception, has changed several forms, the latest of which is hyperlocal ecommerce. But before we learn about hyperlocal ecommerce, it is suggested that some valuable insights be built about traditional ecommerce.

What is traditional ecommerce?

Ecommerce, or electronic commerce, is the buying and selling of products or services via the internet. For many growing economies of the world, transacting online has become a routine activity which is what ecommerce is. In fact, ecommerce is something we participate in on a daily basis, like making an online bill payment or purchasing from an online seller.

Origin of ecommerce

Origin of ecommerce is traced back to over 40 years ago, when the introduction of early technology like Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) and teleshopping in the 1970s paved the way for the modern-day ecommerce store as we know it today. EDI replaced traditional mailing and faxing of documents by allowing a digital transfer of data from one computer to another. It was EDI which allowed the transfer of data seamlessly without any human intervention.

The history of ecommerce is closely intertwined with the history of the internet. Online shopping became possible when the internet was opened to the public in 1991. Amazon was one of the first ecommerce business sites in the United States to start selling products online and a myriad number of businesses and entrepreneurial set-ups have followed since.

Amazon started its ecommerce operations initially as an online bookstore but grew to become the largest online retailer in the world. Over the years, as ecommerce has progressed, Amazon has simultaneously achieved tremendous growth and standing for itself. If you have a look at how amazon has progressed and adapted to the current circumstances, you will find its perfectly executed strategic and timely transition from an online bookstore to music, video downloads, electronics, apparels, furniture, food and toys. Wait! Amazon did not stop over here. In 2005, Amazon launched Amazon Prime, a membership offering free two-day shipping within United States on all eligible purchases for a flat annual fee. The membership quickly became popular, putting pressure on other merchants to offer fast and inexpensive shipping options.

Several other ecommerce marketplace success stories include that of eBay, an online auction site that debuted in 1995, and is now popularly recognized by the masses, and Etsy, which launched in 2005 and by 2019 saw gross merchandise sales total $4.97 billion globally.

The convenience, safety, and enjoyable user experience of ecommerce have improved exponentially since the inception of online shopping. Buyers have been increasingly using online platforms so as to facilitate ecommerce interchanges. In fact, the use of ecommerce has grown so enormous that consumers are getting ravenous for extremely convenient and lightning quick deliveries. This has paved way for an advanced model of ecommerce known as ‘hyperlocal ecommerce.’

What is meant by ‘hyperlocal ecommerce?’

Hyperlocal ecommerce can be simply stated as a refined form of ecommerce taking place over the internet where the buyers and sellers are located in close geographical proximity. This is the reason why the hyperlocal model is getting so successful worldwide. Since the buyers and sellers are located extremely close to each other, making quick deliveries becomes possible.

What is contributing to the growing popularity of hyperlocal ecommerce?

Hyperlocal ecommerce is nowadays widely chosen over traditional ecommerce; meaning, customers just don’t want any sort of delay in taking the delivery of their orders. They have become ravenous about the placed orders and their expected deliveries to the extent that most of them usually pay extra to get their delivery as soon as possible. Ecommerce was never this rapid, but hyperlocal ecommerce- whoa, it certainly is. So, let us see what all things have made popularized hyperlocal ecommerce.

Increasing smartphone adoption rate- Smartphones have just been around all of us from quite some time. And they have been impacting our lives overwhelmingly. With more and more people adopting and switching to using smartphones, their likelihood to become more influenced by technology and its by-products is greatly increased. This is one of the reasons why hyperlocal ecommerce has seen a steady growth in the recent few years.

Ingression of the internet- The use of internet dominates every bit of the personal or professional activity occurring nowadays. Right from individual users to corporate houses, all are placing great amount of faith on internet dependent practices. Whether it be paying your online bills, ordering a lasagne pizza from the nearest pizza outlet or booking a movie ticket from the comfort of your home, the internet is the pivot around which modern day activities are happening. And hyperlocal ecommerce is no exception to it.

Desire to go urban- With technology defining our lifestyles, there has been, within us, an innate desire to adopt urbanization as much as possible. Hyperlocal ecommerce, characterized by a lot of urban trends and practices, has had people going gaga for it. More and more people wanting to go urban are by default choosing hyperlocal ecommerce over traditional ecommerce.

Growth of hyperlocal ecommerce delivery software and apps- With the advent of technology, the technologically skillful have gone all guns blazing. Yes! companies have been investing a lot of money and time into research and development of hyperlocal ecommerce delivery software and apps- a big enough reason for the world to witness hyperlocal deliveries seeing a steady growth. Customers are using such apps quite frequently and businesses as well are joining hands with such companies that offer them a state-of-the-art software to make hyperlocal deliveries in today’s fast paced times.

Sedentary lifestyles and habits- Modern day lifestyle has been quite contrasting with those of earlier times. In a stark contrast to what consumers preferred in the yesteryears to travel, make efforts and buy for themselves, contemporary consumers, owing to their increasing sedentary habits and lifestyle, have been widely choosing to stay indoors in the luxurious confines of their homes and see their deliveries making their way inside. Hyperlocal ecommerce, through hyperlocal deliveries, has just contributed to them enjoying their lifestyle and the delivered product simultaneously.

Future of businesses with hyperlocal ecommerce

Having known the basics of and merits associated with hyperlocal ecommerce, one thing which is obvious is the fact that businesses of today have found great companions in hyperlocal ecommerce delivery software and apps. Had it not been for the growth and proliferation of such apps, hyperlocal ecommerce would surely have not ascended its way all through the way it has.

Now with technology ruling the roost, and things like improved artificial intelligence, extreme automated processes and advanced robotics making way into everything that directly or indirectly concerns a business, prudent commercial enterprises and risk taking entrepreneurs can make promising gains by joining hands with a hyperlocal ecommerce partner- one that provides exceptionally powerful and efficient hyperlocal ecommerce delivery software for their business to flourish. For them, the future looks overwhelmingly bright.

Wrapping up

Hyperlocal ecommerce has made tremendous inroads into everybody’s life. Attribute it to the growing love for smartphone and internet or the success story of Amazon, hyperlocal ecommerce has just ameliorated itself with each passing day. It has just perfectly adapted itself as per the changing needs of the customers from time to time.

As of today, as instant deliveries become the most wanted feature of hyperlocal deliveries, companies have just brilliantly made their software and apps capable and efficient enough to handle multiple orders and deliveries with the speed of light. And this is an overwhelming position to be in.

Now, as and by the inclination towards hyperlocal ecommerce continues to make its way upwards, it remains to be seen, how businesses are going to handle the existing rivalries in the industry and subsequently growing competition. One thing that can guarantee them a competitive standing and further prosperity is a hyperlocal ecommerce delivery software that is just too brilliant and immaculately made to be succeeded and immensely powerful to be overpowered.