Online shopping has become one of the most important innovations when it comes to sales. However, different companies are affected by it in different ways. Like everything else in the economy, companies have had to adapt quickly to this new business mentality.
As a result, some new companies arose as winners, leaving other, more traditional shops far behind. In certain areas, such as the pharmaceutical sector, it created both negative and positive impacts.
The Negatives
Missed Savings
Let’s start with the fact that owners of these stores are always trying to add new things and show their customers new and improved products. Some of these items will be popular and persist for a long time, while others will soon perish from the shelves.
Regardless, stores are always trying to sell more, and they will often employ different tactics including discounts, offers, and other appealing proposals to encourage customers to buy more – even if it doesn’t create immediate profit.
But, if a person is shopping from his home, he is not able to see many of these offers and promotional activities. As a result, companies may not be able to make as much money as they would through direct contact with a client.
The Human Component
The human component is also very important. Up until now, salesmen were assisting people who would come into the store to shop (of course, whether or not this is a positive thing depends entirely on the person). With online shopping, however, there is no salesman to give you advice or recommend certain products. For pharmacies, this is especially important due to both the volatility of their products and of the importance of picking the proper solution for your particular medical issue. Even though your doctor may recommend a certain medication, a pharmacist can give you much better advice when it comes to how well particular products work.
The Positives
In spite of the negative aspects, internet shopping has provided companies and consumers with a much-needed solution that allows for easier purchases. For example, in the case of pharmacies, oftentimes their customers are sick, and in some instances, unable to move. For them, a trip to the store presents a big problem. However, now that some medications can be ordered online and delivered to one’s home address, those patients are able to relax and focus their energies on their recovery.
For bigger pharmacies online shopping can be a big help. For example, it allows for better logistics and better storage of medication. Instead of having each type of drug in each store, they are able to keep them all in one place and send them out where needed. This reduces costs significantly.
Marketing tactics also changed with online shopping. Instead of advertising through the classic channels, companies started to promote their company on the internet. One’s position on Google became more important than anything else.
Also, given that the internet is in fact one big community, online stores began creating relationships with other organizations no matter where they are positioned.
At the same time, companies are now able to sell their merchandise all over USA and Canada. Unlike local pharmacies that originally sold to a limited number of people, online shops are able to cover much more ground.