A virtual world is a computer-based online community environment that used to interact in a custom-built and simulated world which also known as digital world (1). Throughout the virtual world, users interact by using text-based, two-dimensional or three-dimensional graphical models called avatars. There are few ways used by AliExpress to interact with the customers in such virtual world.
AliExpress Chat Room
Due to awareness, AliExpress platform had implemented virtual world technology in their platform. They use the convenience of chat room to communicate with customers that needed their help. As a shopping platform online customer tends to have problems using their platform or having many inquiries. Answers and helps are needed for the customers to make their purchase and also build trust in the sale process. Thus, AliExpress provides series of common questions and answers for the customer yet there will still be out of ordinary problems or questions so chat room is provided to answer and respond to the customer on the spot. This makes customer more willing to purchase one the website as it provides sense of security and easiness of using their platform.
Buy+
Virtual reality (VR), which able to create an environment that send information to our sensory organs to make it seems real while it’s not, is the next big concept everyone in the business community are talking about and researching on, some even started implementing them. One of them is of course Alibaba Group. The company of AliExpress plan on using of virtual reality not long ago and started making progress on them. They had partnership with HTC Corporation which is the pioneer of innovative smart technology to make a leap in the industry (2). To the surprise Alibaba Group came out with the first virtual reality shopping experience called Buy+ under one of their platform, Taobao (3). The function was introduced in 11.11 Global Shopping Festival also known as Singles Day that is held on 11 November every year.
Let’s have a clear idea on how this Buy+ is being conducted by playing the videos below:-
Buy+ virtual reality technology
Buy+ Trailer
Real person real experience of the new Buy+
VR Payment
Alibaba had presented virtual reality payment system that allows virtual reality shoppers to pay for products just by nodding, according to Reuters (2016) (4). User identity can be verified on VR Pay via account logins on connected devices or via voice print technology that recognizes each person's unique voice. Passwords are required for authentication, which the user can also enter with head movements, touch, or by staring at a point on virtual display for longer than 1.5 seconds, According to Lin Feng who is in charge of Ant Financial’s incubator F Lab that this VR payment service has been developed (5). This type of payment method will become vital to e-commerce as consumers rely less on brick-and-mortar locations.
Augmented Reality and Gamification
Alibaba has been held online games and gift vouchers, known as the "red envelope." before 11 November. This year, it also uses the powerful and great technology which is augmented reality - the same technology as Pokemon Go game.
The shoppers need to "catch" the Tmall cat mascot in the participating stores and restaurants to unlock and win the "red envelope" through the game included in Tmall app (6). It transforms to a kind of game shopping, the customer must repeatedly visit to get the reward, help "lock" the customer into the special sellers.
As a result, Alibaba is aware of the virtual world and try to relate it into the business model. Alibaba started the application in virtual world in to change the traditional shopping and online shopping patterns and trends.
References
- What is a Virtual World? - Definition from Techopedia. (n.d.). Retrieved March 05, 2017, from https://www.techopedia.com/definition/25604/virtual-world
- Alibaba Cloud Partners with HTC to Advance Virtual Reality Development with Cloud Computing Solutions. (2016). Retrieved March 05, 2017, from http://www.alibabagroup.com/en/news/article?news=p160809b
- Wang, H. H. (2016). From Virtual Reality To Personalized Experiences: Alibaba Is Bringing Us The Future Of Retail This Singles Day. Retrieved March 05, 2017, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/helenwang/2016/11/06/how-alibaba-will-use-the-worlds-biggest-shopping-day-to-transform-retail/#29836b1f6d4e
- Reuters. (2016). Alibaba's new payments concept lets virtual reality shoppers pay by nodding. Retrieved March 04, 2017, from http://fortune.com/2016/10/12/alibaba-virtual-reality-payments/
- Jiang, S. (2016). Alibaba's new payment system lets virtual reality shoppers pay by nodding. Retrieved March 04, 2017, from http://www.reuters.com/article/us-alibaba-ant-financial-vr-idUSKCN12C1N8
- Singles Day: How China's Alibaba wants to change shopping. (2016). Retrieved March 04, 2017, from http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-37932751
Good one... I don't know whether it has been implemented all over the world. But people going to use this as soon as possible.
ReplyDeleteVirtual Reality Shopping
VR real estate