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According to Business Live, there was a surge of online shopping during the Covid-19 pandemic. But the increased demand has made it difficult for businesses to keep up. The same article states that 89% of retailers believe their digital and e-commerce platforms require improvement in order to meet the needs of the online consumer. However, when improvements were made, they saw a major spike in sales.
The pandemic saw thousands of shops along the highstreet to close down, with some retailers, like Debenhams, running their business solely online due to a shift in people’s spending habits over the course of the pandemic. In 2021, Debenhmas was actually bought by fashion brand Boohoo, who also operate online, in a bid to save the company.
Wales Online reported that Boohoo’s chief executive, John Lyttle, stated that;
“the acquisition of the Debenhams brand is an important development for the group, as we seek to capture incremental growth opportunities arising from the accelerating shift to online retail.”
So there are major benefits and opportunities to be had by moving, at least part of, your business online. But how, exactly, can your distribution business benefit from going online?
4 reasons to move your distribution business online
Going online, as a distribution business, can be incredibly advantageous. According to Forbes, the pandemic forced businesses to move online, prompting calls for more companies to have more of an online presence. ADEO reported that the British economy, in 2015, saw £718.7 million being spent on online purchases alone, each week.
In 2021, over the course of one year, the revenue of e-commerce in the UK reached a total of £129 billion – over triple the revenue of British e-commerce in 2015 according to Statista. This proves just how much times have changed and that it’s increasingly important for companies to keep up with this modern, digital age.
The aforementioned numbers are only predicted to rise even further. A forecast outlined for 2025 predicts that $285.56 billion US dollars will be spent within the e-commerce industry, translating to, approximately, £257.88 billion British pounds. With this in mind, here are some reasons as to why you should move your distribution business online today:
1. Customers will be able to place orders with you at any time of the day or night
When your business goes online, it’ll be possible for your customers to place orders at any time of day, from wherever they are in the world. If you operate a physical store, only, you could be missing out on sales and, therefore, money. This is because there are limited opening hours, with some unable to make it to your store due to distance or simply not having the time to drop by.
If you go online, then distance and time no longer becomes a factor because the ability for customers to purchase your products has become a lot more flexible. You’re allowing your consumers to dictate when they browse your items and when they make a purchase. This increases the likelihood of a sale and more in the future if you offer an exceptional service.
2. Sales will increase without the need for additional staff members or time
You don’t need to put on extra staff to cover busy times, stay open later or open on a day you wouldn’t ordinarily just to keep up with demand. Many businesses see this sort of increase around the Christmas period. These days, it’s far more convenient for people to do their Christmas shopping online as opposed to venturing out to the highstreet going from store-to-store looking for that perfect gift.
It also gives consumers the opportunity to shop around, looking for the cheapest deals with the quickest delivery times. You’ll be able to remain competitive to entice customers to your store. This will all happen without the need for you to employ extra workers.
It will also be possible without you giving up your spare time that is often extremely valuable when we aren’t at work. Put your faith in the hands of the internet and move your distribution business online because you could still be making sales even while you’re sleeping.
3. Products can be displayed & subsequently sold as soon as possible
As already touched upon, if your business moves online and you have high-quality pictures on your site displaying the items you sell, then consumers will have no need to physically visit your shop. Instead, they’ll have all the time they need to look through the products you have for sale.
As soon as an item becomes available, it can be added to your online store within minutes and customers will be able to see your new product almost straight away. You don’t need to wait for people to come into your shop to show them your new stock. Subsequently, sales will be made far quicker as all it takes is the click of a button when shopping online.
4. It allows for new customers to be reached, no matter where they are in the world
No matter where someone might be in the world, if you are selling something they’re looking for, they’ll find your business and, therefore, your product. They don’t have to be in the country to make a purchase because it can all be done online.
Much like working from home, people can still do their jobs regardless of their location, all thanks to the internet. It’s the same principle when it comes to online shopping. This way, you’ll be expanding your customer base without even knowing it – just another reason to put your business online, whether fully or partially.
Multy Lift are pleased to provide customers throughout the UK with high-quality, durable warehouse machinery that’ll stand the test of time and increase efficiency and productivity throughout your distribution centre. From new and used forklifts to new and refurbished reach trucks, we’ll have a piece of equipment that’ll meet both your needs and your budget. For more information about how we can help you today, get in touch with a member of our specialist team – we’re always happy to hear from you.
