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HomeSales and MarketingCustomer ExperienceWhy customers are going online for business and pleasure

Why customers are going online for business and pleasure

Globally, more and more customers have begun going online to fulfil their shopping and entertainment needs. You’ve seen the independent shops shut down, the supermarkets close up and the local betting shop lock its doors permanently. But why are so many customers going online?

Earlier this year it was revealed that May 2019 was the worst month for British high-street stores as sales plunged to an all-time low. According to BDO’s High Street Sales Tracker (HSST), sales at high-street stores fell a whopping 3.3% in May alone.

In its report, BDO stated that its latest figures show how difficult the trading environment has become for high-street retailers. But it’s not just high-street shops that are suffering as people have begun turning online for everything, including technology, gaming and food!

The Increase in Online Deliveries

Retail shops are struggling continuously as more and more customers turn towards online shopping. Rather than visiting a local book, clothes or entertainment store, people have moved towards sites such as Amazon for purchases due to lower prices and quick delivery. Users doing so won’t have to travel to their nearest retail store if they can order an item straight to their door the next day, and this has sparked a huge movement across multiple industries.

People have also begun ordering food online, whether that’s takeaways or groceries. The number of people using apps like Uber Eats and Hungry House to order food directly to their door has risen, as has the number of people organising supermarket deliveries too.

Just this month, Wal-Mart in the United States announced that it will begin delivering groceries straight to customers’ fridges and Morrisons, a British supermarket chain, revealed it’s considering using Deliveroo for grocery deliveries. Meanwhile, British supermarkets have become more aggressive in promoting their home delivery services and several have announced drops in sales, such as Sainsbury’s, suggesting that fewer people are visiting supermarkets regularly.

Entertainment Goes Online

Gaming has also turned its attention towards going online. Consoles such as the PS4, Xbox and Nintendo systems have been offering digital purchases for years but have only recently begun launching streaming services, allowing users to play older games with an internet connection. In addition, it’s rumoured that Xbox will soon announce a digital-only next-generation console, forcing players to go completely digital for games.

Meanwhile, a recent report from the UK Gambling Commission revealed that while the overall gambling gross in the UK had fallen 0.4% between October 2017 and September 2018, there was a 2.9% rise in the number of people playing online.

This evidence shows that the number of people playing at online casinos has risen and it’s become increasingly evident as more and more casino sites continue to launch each week in the United Kingdom. Some online casinos, such as PlayOJO and NetBet, have even upped their marketing by promoting themselves more frequently around the UK on buses, the television and across social media. But why?

Gamblers are turning online to take advantage of the wider selection of games available at online casinos. In addition, most new casino sites offer better bonuses and promotions which can help keep the punter’s interest for much longer. If you compare this to the fewer promotions at brick-and-mortar casinos, the limited space for game variety and the fact that online users can play on mobile devices, it’s no wonder more gamblers are signing up online.

Businesses Going Online

It’s clear to see that people are now preferring easy accessibility when it comes to making purchases and being entertained. Consumers no longer want to travel to shops, cinemas or land casinos to fulfil their needs. Instead, they want instant satisfaction which can only be provided to them through the internet.

Users also want their products and entertainment cheaper, whether that’s clothing and technology or food, and online shops tend to offer better value for money. Even gamblers are looking online for bigger and better bonuses or rewards programs to use on slots and casino games.

So it’s now more important than ever for businesses to take their services online. Disregarding the online movement could eventually cripple a business just like it’s destroyed high-street shops.

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