Ikea Online Business Success Story
It is impossible to separate the idea of an offline to online business from the rapid development of information technology. Many retail outlets and other offline businesses in America have collapsed because they were unable to protect themselves against an online strategic attack. IKEA, a leading manufacturer from Sweden, decided to create their strategy using online technology after taking this into consideration. It would be tragic if one of the major retailers, such as IKEA, went out of business due to an inability to adapt to changing global trends.(online business Singapore)
IKEA founder Ingvar Kampard continues to lead the industry in astonishing innovation. IKEA is growing more than ever thanks to innovation that mixes offline retail and online digital marketing. This corporation already had 411 retail locations throughout the world at the end of 2017 along with 194.000 employees. You might not think that IKEA is just like a regular small grocery store where you can get straightforward items like pens, socks, wallets, and other accessories. Since he starts his own firm at the age of 7, the owner’s entrepreneurship skill is the secret to success.
IKEA’s business model
Begin selling arbitrary items(online business Singapore)
Randomly, Kamvard begins to sell a variety of goods. This item is a basic necessity for him to continue earning a living. Kamvard has gained tremendous life experience as a result of starting his business at a young age—probably around 7—when he was a child. His entrepreneurial skill will inevitably increase with time.
Innovative IKEA product idea that involves customers(online business Singapore)
One of the IKEA staff came up with the concept of assembled furniture. This amazing idea originated from the straightforward notion of removing the table leg to facilitate easy delivery. It can actually lower the cost of storage and shipping. The flatpacking technique is therefore as follows. With this technique, the buyer purchases the furniture as a single unit. The customer will automatically be able to create the interior they want.
It’s a wonderful concept to involve the customer. IKEA decides to develop an alternative method of shopping rather than simply produce and find a way to convince the client to buy the product. More customer input will be incorporated into the design process. IKEA’s success in its fight with a variety of other furniture retail stores and online stores like Amazon can undoubtedly be attributed to the product’s accessibility and ease of customization.
However, integrating the client in the design and assembly of the furniture does not always result in success. For instance, IKEA was unable to expand successfully in Japan. Simply put, it’s because this corporation struggles to understand how customers behave in Japanese society. Although their idea is fantastic, the truth reveals that Japanese people prefer furniture that has already been put together. They don’t spend time or become preoccupied with putting their own furniture together. This is the reason why meticulous case studies and in-depth research are required to become closely associated to a particular social condition of intended expansion.
Cost-effective for the consumer(online business Singapore)
A high-quality, innovative product is typically only accessible to a particular customer. Kamvard, who founded IKEA and remains its owner, refutes this idea. He desires a greater uptake of his product. IKEA constantly works to create products that are cost-effective based on this goal. However, certain poor customer experiences were still discovered in relation to the delivery procedure. IKEA Indonesia, for instance, has strict rules on delivery timeliness, making it impossible for customers to negotiate the day and time of delivery. It would be preferable if IKEA could be more accommodating with their rules in this area so that customers, particularly the busy ones, could find a wonderful time to take the package.
With a strong emotional component
Making customers feel close to and easily reminded of the goods is one success factor. IKEA adds a personal touch to its products by giving them names other than merely numbers or codes, such as those of animals, birds, fruits, and islands.
Implementing the IKEA principle in real life
IKEA makes their concept a reality by producing products that are high-quality, simple, and reasonably priced. Today, all we need to do is visit the IKEA website, online catalogue, or application to get their products. IKEA adopted the quick-moving internet technology to compete with rivals like Amazon, Flipkart, Home24, and Germany’s Otto while also gaining a closer relationship with customers worldwide.
IKEA plans to invest over 3.1 billion euros between 2018 and 2020 to grow their eCommerce warehouse and increase their marketing technology. In 2020, the invest rate should grow revenues by up to 20%. IKEA faces a significant problem in competing with Amazon, one of the largest online retailers with a variety of brands joining within. To remain in competition with their adversary, IKEA, however, keeps developing.
From offline to online company IKEA, Changes in Innovation
Developing creative banner
The majority of you might believe that only five products can be applied to a single banner box. IKEA effectively introduced this idea through their creative website banner. On their 300 by 251-pixel website banner, they have more than 2800 products. They assert that it is their method of showing their concern for the customer and their ability to give favoured furniture regardless of the size of the customer’s space.
IKEA has added augmented reality to their catalogue.
Today, augmented reality completes the IKEA catalogue. Technology that inserts a computer-generated image into the user’s perception of the real world is known as augmented reality. Finally, the customer will receive a composite view thanks to this technique. The technology is already accessible by visiting a website or downloading a programme. From the perspective of the customer, I believe that this will be beneficial for a client who grows accustomed to merely viewing the product catalogue and tries to picture what it would be like to actually see it in a composite view.
VR-based interior design
Virtual reality content, or VR, is typically utilised in games and entertainment. IKEA, on the other hand, has bravely innovated by using virtual reality technology to design their space. The customer can easily access virtual reality technology and try to construct their own unique product, free to tweak it whatever they choose. Customers are extremely interested in this personalization breakthrough since it allows them to quickly build what they desire. IKEA benefits greatly from this technology, including being more responsive to customer needs and gaining a more devoted following.
In actuality, any other business may provide a variety of goods at a same price as IKEA, but not all of them can offer a level of understanding that IKEA does. Utilizing VR technology goes beyond marketing and sales strategies, but it is more about pleasing the customer. It will improve customer happiness and IKEA sales if customers are given the freedom to experiment until they find the ideal design and product. What makes it possible? In a traditional manufacturing sales technique, the customer is only allowed to inquire about their needs before being given advise on which product to select based on the manufacturer’s viewpoint.
Customers are given the freedom to create their own designs and choose the best product for their needs thanks to the VR idea. It will automatically increase the likelihood of investigating different IKEA product categories. Similar to cutting the expense of marketing each product they offer, customers will naturally become intrigued and end up enjoying searching among many product series to locate the one that fits their demands or preferences.
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