Shopping in 2030! We are looking 17 years ahead. Presently in 2013 more and more consumers/ shoppers are gravitating towards technology (for instance online shopping) for a series of obvious advantages. Transport and communication are major contributing factors to how we shop today. We have come a long way from booking cars months in advance to getting the shopping done in an instant with just a click of the mouse, in the comfort of our house, at a time convenient to us. 17 years into the future i can only imagine that time will still be as precious as money and the present loopholes in the time gap between purchase and actual delivery will lessen all the more with newer, quicker and better technology which will keep on innovating. Payment mode, delivery system and mode of shopping should undergo tremendous change making shopping easier and quicker This is how i envisage the future of shopping :
(1) Marriage of the vending machine and ATM system : Just as there is an ATM machine, there would be an ATS machine (Any Time Shopping.) Consumers who happen to work late into the night and perhaps get just a day off at their disposal for shopping (which they otherwise might prefer to spend relaxing or socializing) are especially worried as they have to dash to the nearest convenient store/ supermarket before it shuts down for the day or rely on another person to do their shopping for them. If there could be a touch screen ATS machine available near residential areas (or outside malls and major super markets that usually closes down by 10 pm). These machines would allow the shoppers the option and freedom to shop at even 3 am. It would be extremely convenient to the customers. The touch screen could show the complete list of items divided into categories ranging from consumer durables to fmcgs, complete with brand and mrp information for easy surfing. There could also be a segment to insert the quantity of goods. After the list is ticked, checked and entered by the customer, he would get the final amount of his shopping. Similar to a simple vending machine, the customer would first pay this amount, then receive a receipt and an output slot where he would automatically receive his goods purchased. In case of a big appliances like say a refrigerator or washing machine, only the shoppers registered with the supermarket would be offered this special facility. Since the registered customers credentials and paper work are already stored into the markets database, they will be given a unique ID number/ card that would instantly recognize the customer and enable them to use this facility. The customer could go through the various brands and compare the prices and make his final decision. This saved entry would be saved in the system and the customer would get the delivery of the appliance instantly, say within an hour.Again a prepaid transaction and the customer will get a receipt that he can show at the time of receiving the goods.
(2) There is smart phone so there will be smart shopping : With the growth of technology, assuming most of the shopping will be done either online or using smart phones, customers could download applications of their favorite/ nearest supermarkets. These apps could be customized by the shopper. Say the customer shops a months worth of goods once in a month he could feed in the data of goods he will buy each month like toothpaste, soap, tissue roll etc. Now upon activation of this application, he will get a reminder alert on a particular date that is set by the shopper. Settings will remain flexible and can be easily updated by the shopper and the shopper can also frequently change his choice/ brands or include a few new items before entering the list. The app could also send reminder alerts of fresh brands available in the store and based on the information/ details that customer feeds into the app,the search could be further narrowed down and customised depending on individual budget, cosmetics for a particular skin type, festival shopping, anniversary day shopping reminders, new product information, etc. Again it could be a prepaid system or cash on delivery mode of payment, convenient to the customer. One could also customise time and place of delivery.
(3) 3D virtual tour : Car showrooms or high end luxury products may even provide apps that show the product in a 3d motion picture format complete with list of features, price, warranty, guarantee and competing brands information available on the smart phone. All the customer needs to do is click on his favorite product and buy.
(4) Mall on wheels : Instead of getting dressed and going out for shopping why not get the mall at the shoppers doorstep? For prompter delivery, there will be special shopping vans that patrol speific areas. Customers will have to register their location and contact details to avail this facility. Each van will have a phone and all the the customer has to do is call on this number to the van allocated to his area and mention his shopping list. He will receive the goods immediately.
(5) For shoppers who don't wish to download apps, the good old call and sms service would also be present albeit with technological advancements. They would just need to register, call or message their shopping list and quantity and receive the delivery at their doorstep.
(6) Mode of payment : In addition to cash on delivery, Plastic money (debit and credit cards) there would be a prepaid shopping syste where you could pay a lumpsum amount to your regular store and shop without having to carry cash all the time,as long as the deposit amount is exhausted. A unique shopping card, similar to a debit card can be issued to customers for swiping and reminder alerts can be activated to update them about the remaining balance.
-S. Chaudhary
(1) Marriage of the vending machine and ATM system : Just as there is an ATM machine, there would be an ATS machine (Any Time Shopping.) Consumers who happen to work late into the night and perhaps get just a day off at their disposal for shopping (which they otherwise might prefer to spend relaxing or socializing) are especially worried as they have to dash to the nearest convenient store/ supermarket before it shuts down for the day or rely on another person to do their shopping for them. If there could be a touch screen ATS machine available near residential areas (or outside malls and major super markets that usually closes down by 10 pm). These machines would allow the shoppers the option and freedom to shop at even 3 am. It would be extremely convenient to the customers. The touch screen could show the complete list of items divided into categories ranging from consumer durables to fmcgs, complete with brand and mrp information for easy surfing. There could also be a segment to insert the quantity of goods. After the list is ticked, checked and entered by the customer, he would get the final amount of his shopping. Similar to a simple vending machine, the customer would first pay this amount, then receive a receipt and an output slot where he would automatically receive his goods purchased. In case of a big appliances like say a refrigerator or washing machine, only the shoppers registered with the supermarket would be offered this special facility. Since the registered customers credentials and paper work are already stored into the markets database, they will be given a unique ID number/ card that would instantly recognize the customer and enable them to use this facility. The customer could go through the various brands and compare the prices and make his final decision. This saved entry would be saved in the system and the customer would get the delivery of the appliance instantly, say within an hour.Again a prepaid transaction and the customer will get a receipt that he can show at the time of receiving the goods.
(2) There is smart phone so there will be smart shopping : With the growth of technology, assuming most of the shopping will be done either online or using smart phones, customers could download applications of their favorite/ nearest supermarkets. These apps could be customized by the shopper. Say the customer shops a months worth of goods once in a month he could feed in the data of goods he will buy each month like toothpaste, soap, tissue roll etc. Now upon activation of this application, he will get a reminder alert on a particular date that is set by the shopper. Settings will remain flexible and can be easily updated by the shopper and the shopper can also frequently change his choice/ brands or include a few new items before entering the list. The app could also send reminder alerts of fresh brands available in the store and based on the information/ details that customer feeds into the app,the search could be further narrowed down and customised depending on individual budget, cosmetics for a particular skin type, festival shopping, anniversary day shopping reminders, new product information, etc. Again it could be a prepaid system or cash on delivery mode of payment, convenient to the customer. One could also customise time and place of delivery.
(3) 3D virtual tour : Car showrooms or high end luxury products may even provide apps that show the product in a 3d motion picture format complete with list of features, price, warranty, guarantee and competing brands information available on the smart phone. All the customer needs to do is click on his favorite product and buy.
(4) Mall on wheels : Instead of getting dressed and going out for shopping why not get the mall at the shoppers doorstep? For prompter delivery, there will be special shopping vans that patrol speific areas. Customers will have to register their location and contact details to avail this facility. Each van will have a phone and all the the customer has to do is call on this number to the van allocated to his area and mention his shopping list. He will receive the goods immediately.
(5) For shoppers who don't wish to download apps, the good old call and sms service would also be present albeit with technological advancements. They would just need to register, call or message their shopping list and quantity and receive the delivery at their doorstep.
(6) Mode of payment : In addition to cash on delivery, Plastic money (debit and credit cards) there would be a prepaid shopping syste where you could pay a lumpsum amount to your regular store and shop without having to carry cash all the time,as long as the deposit amount is exhausted. A unique shopping card, similar to a debit card can be issued to customers for swiping and reminder alerts can be activated to update them about the remaining balance.
-S. Chaudhary
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