Be first to read the latest tech news, Industry Leader's Insights, and CIO interviews of medium and large enterprises exclusively from CIO Applications
The cannabis industry can leverage e-commerce to expand its businesses.
Fremont, CA: The past couple of years witnessed one of the largest technological advancements. E-commerce has strengthened its existence even more during the time where most people were confined in their homes.
Back when the current e-commerce giants began their platforms, consumers were doubtful. Still, two decades later, several circumstances have directed in favour of the e-commerce sector. Furthermore, this has permitted businesses of all sorts to launch their platforms, making consumers engage and shop. People are now buying online instead of going to nearby shops. Nevertheless, when it comes to going through an e-commerce development for a specific business, it is not as candid as it may seem.
For example, the cannabis sector has experienced a notable amount of backlash and objections, restricting its growth to an online marketplace. As leading social media platforms have inflicted several advertising constraints, it has only added to some companies’ lack of growth.
According to Ameri Research, the global marijuana business was determined to be close to USD 14.3 Billion in 2016. But, by 2024, the sales through e-commerce platforms can touch USD 63.5 Billion.
Interaction with Customers
The older methods of marketing and consumer relationship management are still very much in use. Nevertheless, consumers frequently think that online customer interactions suffer largely. Many would debate such a fact, but this isn’t true. The availability of modern tools can support the cannabis-centric business with consumer satisfaction and perfect communication.
Easily Accessible Product
In recent years, conventional techniques of shopping have experienced a notable setback. Moreover, not many people are stepping out to purchase cannabis from nearby dispensaries with the pandemic. Though, for any business to persist and flourish, a base of returning consumers is indispensable. As Google and other social media platforms have their paid advertising campaigns banned for cannabis businesses, e-commerce can prove to be significant. Eventually, all that a manufacturer needs is a steady supply chain.
Possibility of Scalability
Brick-and-mortar retailers could impose prohibitions on your businesses’ scalability. Having a wide and unusual vision to develop a specific application needs out-of-the-box reasoning and tools. Consequently, having a dispensary or cannabis retail store won’t do justice to your idea of developing outside the local demographics.
Here, you can have a tie-up with local distribution merchants. Cooperating your e-commerce orders with such merchants can instantly increase the amounts. Alternatively, if you are a producer of seeds and other cannabis commodities, list them on your website and sell them to dispensaries and retailers in bulk.
The past year has observed a notable transformation in the cannabis market, with many businesses struggling to flourish and last. Nevertheless, you can still grow your business’s reachability and scalability by developing an online store. Since the lockdown has permitted people to stay indoors, this might assist you as an excellent occasion to promote your company, educate potential consumers, and improve the figures through e-commerce technology.