The behavior of now normal consumers has shifted toward a heavier reliance on the digital space. As of October 2020, data from creative agency We Are Social pointed out that there are almost 5 billion internet users around the world spending nearly seven hours online daily.
With the behavioral change among Filipino consumers accelerated by restrictions brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, even industries like retail needed to adopt a renewed and more innovative business model. Management consulting company Mckinsey also stated that transforming the consumer experience would heavily leverage technologies, thus retail industry stakeholders must focus evolving with the landscape to maintain relevance and competitiveness.
For IT solutions company Yondu, the e-commerce era has long been here, but many Filipinos may have been caught unprepared for it. With the rise of online selling, this is slowly changing.
“Filipinos are used to everything traditional – from shopping in malls and dining in restaurants to buying goods and products. The main difference of buying things online? It’s the sense of doubt that they may be feeling,” said Karl Pulanco, Yondu’s Product Manager. “Filipinos still look for that ‘feeling’ of assurance, or having something they can hold in their hands. Businesses must address this by discovering how they can continue engaging with their consumers online.”
To help local businesses shift from traditional to digital, Yondu has come up with the best possible solutions for businesses to transform in the new normal. When it comes to helping retail businesses thrive, the company puts the focus on their Custom Software Development services, which includes web & mobile applications. Yondu believes that while it is equally important for businesses to have a good product, websites and mobile applications also create value.
They go beyond software development, and use a holistic approach for their tech solutions to ultimately fulfill the organizational goals of their partners. The company also prides itself in its people — the developers, the product owners, those in business development, analysts, consultants, and its different support groups — who ensure that Yondu doesn’t just get the job done; they also make a positive impact on their partner’s businesses.
Recently, Yondu enabled a grocery application for a popular local supermarket chain in the Philippines, giving consumers a safer, more convenient shopping experience. With the Yondu-developed mobile app, customers can add items to their digital cart and pay online. They can then opt to pick up their items at the branch of their choice or have their goods delivered at their doorstep. By leveraging technology, this supermarket chain’s customers can finish their shopping in just a few clicks, and can also avoid long queues during payments and lessen the trips they need to take outside of their homes.
To ensure that the app still provides meaningful interactions for consumers, it is enhanced with a Live Chat facility and in-app advertisements and promotions that engage consumers. This allows the company to widen its reach, entice more shoppers to buy ahead to save time, and generate more sales.Overall, the grocery app allows the supermarket giant to offer not just products, but also a whole new customer experience.
Similarly, Yondu designed a unique e-commerce website for a sports and activewear brand. The brand’s digital store increased its online presence and provided a surplus of options for consumers. A local bookstore also upgraded its website by partnering with Yondu. In effect, they improved customer engagement and helped booklovers find the store’s different offerings and book collections with ease.
“Understanding where to position yourself in the saturated digital space is a must. You can only transform your business by knowing how to pivot,” Pulanco stressed. “That’s where Yondu comes in. Our tech solutions reduce or even remove uncertainties over, and ensure that our partners are equipped and empowered. We want businesses not just to survive the now normal, but to emerge victorious from it.”
