If there’s one thing we’ve learnt from the COVID19 pandemic, it’s that online shopping is inevitable. This is both good and bad news for e-commerce businesses. The good news is that there will be more potential customers.
The bad news is that more businesses are looking to pivot to the online realm, which means more competition. Following this, e-commerce businesses have begun to integrate live shopping technology into their marketing strategies to improve their sales and the perception of their brands.
What Is Live Video Shopping?
Have you ever watched a QVC show demonstrating a product’s functionality, appearance, and qualities on TV? The live commerce trend uses a similar method for broadcasting services and products to viewers across the world.
The main difference is that live shopping involves an online platform rather than television broadcasting. This gives businesses and viewers the flexibility to broadcast any time, anywhere.
Benefits of Live Shopping for Businesses
Integrating live shopping technology is highly beneficial for e-commerce businesses due to a number of reasons:
Customers can see your products up close.
What makes live shopping stand out from normal online shopping is its real-time element. Similar to shopping in a store, live shopping lets viewers see the products from more angles through live stream video.
Additionally, live streaming shows raw and unedited products, as opposed to e-commerce platforms that might make edits to the product images.
It establishes trust and authenticity.
Live shopping is much more engaging because it makes viewers feel like they are part of more intimate discussions with brands.
The real-time nature of live streaming can help your viewers feel like they are on a video chat with a friend rather than watching a heavily edited pre-recorded video.
When a video is being streamed live, it creates a bit of “FOMO.”. Viewers don’t want to miss out and are likely to direct their attention to a video that may not be available at a later time. This essentially grows your audience, too.
Best Live Shopping Services for Businesses
BeLive Technology (BeLive)
One of the best live shopping solutions for businesses, BeLive Technology has the most expertise in the live streaming sector. They started as a consumer-facing live streaming app before focusing to provide premium live streaming technology and features to businesses.
BeLive’s clients are no laughing matter. This Singaporean company developed and powers Rakuten Japan’s social live streaming and shopping app.
Where BeLive Technology stands out from the rest is in high customizability. No two live shopping platforms by BeLive are the same, because they can tailor every nook and cranny of the platform to the client.
Bambuser
Bambuser offers a service in which you can maintain a live stream with those who visit your site, while they are able to browse, ask questions in a live chat, and make purchases all while you are maintaining your stream.
The service offers a “one-to-many” option, in which you can host a live video event and anyone can join the stream to ask questions, provide likes and other reactions to the products. This lets you know how customers are feeling about your products and what you may need to change or promote on a large scale.
Bambuser’s features are attractive, but one bane is their high costs and lack of flexibility. Clients of Bambuser are limited in terms of the user experience of the features and require prior knowledge of developing.
Livescale
Livescale implemented its live shopping solution in 2019. The service is multi-dimensional, including the ability to create customized live shopping experiences for customers. They also offer support solutions to ensure that your business is using best practices in your live e-commerce strategy.
The service boasts the ability to increase engagement and to “transform your audience into a community”. Additionally, Livescale integrates with Shopify, one of the best e-commerce platforms currently available. However, customizability of features in Livescale is limited.
Closing Notes
Live video shopping is the future, so if you’re ready to plan ahead, now is the time to get started.
Is your business looking for a flexible live streaming solution with a quick turnaround? BeLive Technology covers a wide variety of solutions for any industry. Contact BeLive Technology now.
