CAN YOU SEE THE FUTURE?

The way we buy, theway we sell, all have changed over last few decades.  There used to be a barter system.  Then came the traditional distribution comprising of stockists, wholesalers etc.  Hypermarkets and Malls brought in another change whereby the manufacturer started avoiding the series of middlemen and started supplying to the retailer.  Along with came Direct Selling.  Direct Selling adopted various business models: personal selling, mail order selling. Multi level marketing and e-Commerce.

However, in the last one decade technology has invaded every single things on this earth.  This includes distribution methods also, whether it is traditional distribution or direct selling.

As per the reports published by Google, it took 21 years to have 2 billion people on net and in the next three yearsanother 2 billion people would be added.  This is going to be incredible.  Almost 75% of all what we do now will move to net in the next 3 to 5 years…think about it.

Is e-Commerce going to replace everything?  Not really.  One thing which is lacking in e-Commerce is Personal touch.   Though e-Commerce will make the retailers run for their money, the impact will be less on Direct Selling as in DS products and services are specialized and need personal connectivity.  However, the ultimate winning formula is combining Personal selling with e-Commerce; Hi-tech with Hi-touch.

We cannot ignore the fact that ‘people love to buy from people whom they know.’  Hence the significance of Community.  If you are part of a community which is driven by a common cause and a theme, and if there are commercial possibilities, you would engage in buying and selling within the community.  Being part of a Community, driven by a common theme, supported by technology, providing entrepreneurial opportunities….this is what we can visualize as the future.