How are the latest trends in the world of eCommerce shaping up? eCommerce news #no. 38

We continually follow the latest news from the world of eCommerce - what happened in late January and early February? As expected, this year's trends are gaining momentum. The debut of new sales platforms indicates that consumers are increasingly willing to buy in the spirit of live commerce and reCommerce. The changes are also affecting online entrepreneurs. The President of The Office of Competition and Consumer Protection checked how online store owners coped with the implementation of the regulations resulting from the Omnibus Directive. Curious about the results? We invite you to read the 38th edition of Advox Press Release!

Kupuje.Live - an idea for live commerce

Live commerce, or online sales via live streaming, is growing in popularity around the world. However, how popular is this option among our domestic consumers? According to a report conducted by the Kobiety E-Biznesu foundation, one in four Poles has already made a live purchase in 2022. They are mainly persuaded to use this form by the opportunity to see the products in detail, as well as the experience of direct interaction while shopping. In response to such great interest in live commerce, a new solution has been created, namely the first technology in Poland dedicated to live sales - Kupuje.Live. What are its main advantages?

Convenient and automated sales via live streaming - this is the main idea that guided the start-up's creators. The solution is based on Saas software supported by an intelligent chatbot, which allows to speed up customer service. The Kupuje.live services are offered in 3 feature-rich packages in annual or monthly subscriptions. Depending on the option selected, sellers can take advantage of such facilities as:

• real-time order collection, including sales through comments and social media posts,
• managing customer communications using artificial intelligence,
• promotional activities to increase reach during broadcasts,
• integrated payments and delivery,
• product and warehouse management.

That's not all, however - the technology's owners plan to expand their service network. Within a few months, the first marketplace grouping the most popular and largest sellers using live streaming is to debut. The creators also announce an overseas market expansion and integration with more social media platforms to expand their regular customers.

Is live commerce also a solution for your online store? You can learn about the capabilities of the Kupuje.Live solution here.

Vilandy platform - a way to reCommerce in the Home&Garden industry

Live commerce is not the only trend influenced by innovative solutions in the industry - second-hand online sales, or reCommerce, are also gaining popularity. So far, e-consumers have been most likely to buy fashion items this way, as evidenced by the recognition of marketplace Vinted. In 2023, it's time for a debut in the furniture industry, with the new Vilandy platform behind it. What sets it apart from the portals of this type already in operation?

Vilandy is a solution that facilitates quick contact with customers and transactions dedicated to manufacturers and sellers in the interior design industry. It can be used by companies that are concerned about the rising costs of stationary sales or simply want to get rid of inventory and products from returns, expositions or overproduction.

The platform provides an automated offer creator, access to a company profile, the ability to bill customers, as well as fully secure payments and protection of users' personal data. Is that all there is to it? No - the platform's owners have developed an affiliate program free of charge during the first months of cooperation. In addition, exhibitors are also guaranteed support for the transport of bulky shipments in the courier system.

The emergence of such platforms is a signal that the sale of second-hand goods is experiencing a boom. Not only are consumers increasingly looking to save money on their daily purchases, but they are also paying attention to the environmental benefits of selling products in the form of reCommerce.

Are you curious about how Vilandy works in practice? Take a look at the website.

Was Polish eCommerce ready for the changes introduced by the Omnibus Directive?

It has been more than a month since the Omnibus Directive was implemented into Polish law. The new regulations require a number of changes in the functioning of online stores. Among other things, eCommerce owners are required to be transparent about price reductions, rules for placement of offers in search results or ensuring the truthfulness of reviews. How have e-entrepreneurs fared in adapting to the new regulations?

Over the course of January, the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection monitored the degree of compliance with the directive. Tomasz Chróstny, President of the OCCP, announced that so far some 40 eCommerce entrepreneurs have been asked for explanations related to possible irregularities. What are the most common doubts related to?

The most common irregularities concern unclear information about price reductions. Under the new regulations, when introducing promotions, in addition to the amount to be paid after the discount, the lowest price of goods or services from the last 30 days should also be given. It happens that entrepreneurs completely avoid compliance with this obligation or use other practices, such as:

• presenting an accurate message about the lowest price only after the product page is expanded,
• using reference values other than the specified 30-day period,
• presenting required information in an illegible manner by using, for example, inappropriate colors or fonts.

What, in practice, can cause such irregularities to be noticed? Failure to comply with the provisions of the directive may be considered an unfair market practice and cause a violation of the collective interests of consumers. In such a case, entrepreneurs may face a penalty imposed by the President of the OCCP of up to 10%. of the e-store's turnover or up to 2 million zlotys per managing person.

It is worth visiting the OCCP's website for examples of good practice in terms of the newly effective regulations.