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E-commerce: Amazon provides sellers with small business loans
E-commerce: John Lewis Introduces a virtual sofa AR feature to its app
British home retailer store John Lewis is set to launch a new AR feature to its IOS app in the upcoming weeks, which will enable shoppers to virtually place a sofa in their home before purchasing it. “Virtual Sofa” will be tested among 123 of the store’s best selling sofas and armchairs to allow customers to “check scale and colour in their home using the AR function on the app”.
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John Lewis isn’t the first retailer to implement augmented reality technology to its platform. Last year Toys R Us and Ikea incorporated AR technology to its platform where it enabled customers to physically see the items in real life in their home and in store before purchasing them.
E-commerce: Forever 21 re-launch global e-commerce
Forever 21 has partnered with cross border e-commerce platform Global-e to re-launch its international online store in Canada, Asia, the Asia Pacific region and Latin America. Global-e will enable the site to support 95 currencies, more than 150 local alternative payment methods, localized tax and duties calculation, and allow consumers to check out and make returns in 21 languages.
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The US fast-fashion retailer filed for bankruptcy in September, which led to the closure of 178 U.S stores including most of its international stores across Europe and Asia, so that they could refocus on its U.S and Latin American market.
E-commerce: Asda Introduces 1 hour click and collect service
Asda is set to become the first-ever UK supermarket to launch a one hour click and collect service following its successful trial. Asda’s Express Click & Collect service will be available across 25 stores nationwide and will commence at the start of February, with hundreds of more store set to launch at the end of the month. This new service will include Asda’s full range of items.
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This news comes days after Asda announced the launch of its sustainable concept that encourages stores to fill up their groceries with their own containers.
E-commerce: “Retail Revival” Scheme by eBay has helped many small UK businesses to increase their revenues
Last year, online retail giant eBay introduced a 12-month Retail Revival Scheme to support and train small businesses to help them better understand digital, SEO and promotions in order to grow their online business. It has been revealed that the scheme benefited over 60 small businesses, and businesses who took part saw an average turnover growth rate of 33% and their revenues exceed £7 million.
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The fact that the Revival Scheme has benefited online businesses to this extent demonstrates how a small amount of training can go very far. Also, the retail revival scheme was only put into effect in one region of the UK – eBay has estimated that if the scheme were rolled out nationally SMEs across the UK could generate £227 million in extra revenue.
E-commerce: Parcel Service GLS launches 200 automated lockers in Spain
Customers in Spain will now be able to pick up and drop off parcels a lot easier with the help of GLS Spain. The parcel delivery service has opened up over 200 automated lockers across the country which are available to use 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. The general manager at GLS, Luis Doncel, has said, “In our 5,500 ParcelShops and now also in over 200 Pudo, Hapiick and PDN360 terminals, consumers can pick up their shipments quickly and easy in a place and a moment that suits them best.”
J&P Comments
The introduction of automated lockers across Spain means that it will be easier for E-commerce transactions to be fulfilled in the locations that the lockers will be available, as the lockers will make it more convenient for online businesses to send parcels and for customers to receive them.
