Technology has changed the way people do business. In the past, physical businesses were the only venues where people could buy products and services. With the advent of online businesses, everything changed. The pandemic accelerated the growth of online business in recent years. 

Individuals and organisations worldwide have changed their lifestyles and activities as a result of technological advancements. Due to the advantages, an increasing number of individuals are choosing to buy products online rather than in stores. Of course, there will still be those businesses that do work best as in-person stores. Dispensaries are one such example, as customers may wish to talk to a budtender and get advice about specific strains or products in person to then be able to purchase them straight away. Plus, the fact that there is now technology, such as this pos dispensary, specifically aimed at this particular business suggests that physical dispensaries are still much very part of the cannabis industry.

However, we are going to be focusing on online shopping today, so let’s dive into some of the advantages and disadvantages of virtual shopping.

Advantages

• Convenience 

The most important advantage is convenience. Where can you shop while still in your pyjamas at midnight? 

You won’t have to wait in lines or track down cashiers, and you can finish your shopping in minutes. Online stores allow you to shop at any time and reward you with a “pollution-free” shopping experience. 

To make your experience smoother, many businesses use virtual shopping assistants to help you shop online. If you have any questions about placing an order, chatbots and virtual assistants will most certainly be able to assist you.

• Wider Choice 

The variety of options available on the internet is incredible. Almost any brand or item you’re looking for can be found here. You can keep up with the latest foreign trends without paying for a plane ticket. Instead of being restricted to your local geographic area, you can shop from stores all around the state, country, and even the world. 

• Compare Prices

It’s a lot easier to compare and research products and their prices online. You can find user reviews and product comparisons for all of the options on the market and links to the best prices. You can look up firsthand experience, ratings, and reviews for most products.

• Privacy 

Online shopping allows customers to make purchases in the privacy of their own homes. Unlike traditional stores, online shopping allows customers to purchase any product or pay for any service without being seen. People who are uncomfortable purchasing certain items in a physical store will appreciate the anonymity that online shopping provides. Everyone can enjoy privacy while purchasing when they shop online.

Disadvantages

• Delay 

Shoppers do not have immediate access to products purchased in online stores. The shipping of the products frequently takes a long time, either because of distance or shipping or logistics company’s delay. The shopper may incur financial losses as a result of the delivery delay.

• Too much Screen Time

You can also get burned out on all that screen time. Online shopping can quickly become a marathon of scrolling and clicking into rabbit holes, and before you realise it, you’ve spent most of your day online.

• Cybercrime

Fraudsters and hackers frequently target online customers. In purchasing, a consumer may become a victim of credit card fraud, phishing sites, or hackers. As a result of shopping on forged e-commerce sites, online shoppers may be subjected to identity theft or fraud.

• Insufficient Information 

Although online stores present images of their products, the images may not fully reflect the products’ condition or qualities. The photographs are usually heavily boosted and manipulated, which can deprive the customer of knowledge of the actual state of such things.

Infographic Created by Dogtown Media, Tenured Fintech App Developer Team