JUMBO REDEFINES OMNICHANNEL IN THE REGION WITH NEW ONLINE SHOPPING PORTAL

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Updated : November 25, 2014 09:30  am,Dubai
By Editor

img36Regional consumer electronics retail giant unveils www.jumbo.ae – the online extension of Jumbo’s brick-and-mortar network

Jumbo Electronics has launched its innovative online shopping portal that combines Jumbo’s definitive retail expertise in local markets with the capabilities of eCommerce and digital strategy specialists, including Build-a-Bazaar, RBBi, MENA360, and Google Inc., to offer a comprehensive OmniChannel experience to shoppers.
Jumbo’s new online store – www.jumbo.ae – promises to redefine the regional shopping experience for consumer electronics by offering a fully integrated platform that services customers online and offline, in a simple, convenient process. Besides offering genuine products from global brands, and access to Jumbo’s award-winning service centre and support, the online store also addresses the challenges faced by shoppers at pure play online stores — such as difficulty in processing returns or lack of access to customer support and human interaction.
Vishesh Bhatia, CEO at Jumbo Group, said: “For the last 40 years, Jumbo has consistently set the benchmark for consumer electronics retail in the region. We introduced organised retail into our sector here and today we are offering what is undoubtedly the first truly OmniChannel experience for consumer electronics shoppers in the region.  Our goal is to offer the same high level of products and customer service that we are known for in our stores, to our online customers as well. This move is one part of a deliberate strategy towards entering the digital space.”
Nadeem Khanzadah, Head – OmniChannel Retail, Jumbo Group, said: “We have attempted to leave no stone unturned with our integrated customer engagement strategy. Over the years, buying patterns and decision-making processes have evolved to include a mix of online and offline behaviours. There is a need to ensure that our online presence doesn’t just tick off boxes, but addresses today’s changing realities and customer expectation for an anytime, anywhere, seamless shopping experience.”
“With a little help from our friends”
Jumbo’s online shopping portal design has benefitted from state-of-the-art lab-testing facilities, such as eye-tracking for the most optimum content placement, by UI/UX performance marketing agency RBBi.
Khanzadah said: “The design team at RBBi have helped define and translate the user experience on Jumbo’s online shopping portal. This was verified and developed at first-of-its-kind user-testing labs that track eyeball movements to map the shopper journey.”
The website adopts fluid design strategy functionality, inspired by the ease of navigation at Jumbo’s retail outlets, so shoppers have a consistent experience whether they use a PC or a mobile device.
Jumbo.ae has been developed in collaboration with Build-a-Bazaar — a subsidiary of the well-known Indian eCommerce giant Infibeam, which was set up by a team of ex-Amazon employees.
Vishal Mehta, Founder & CEO of Infibeam, who worked at Amazon.com for 7 years, explained: “We have leveraged key learnings to optimise Jumbo’s portal, through our experience developing one of India’s leading online retail sites.”
Expert advice, on products and gifts
The Jumbo online shopping portal has incorporated thoughtful features such as a ‘Product Wizard’, which recommends or simply inspires shoppers to choose products for themselves or as gifts. The Wizard can be compared to an instore assistant that shows the best options across single or multiple product category preferences, based on budget, technology habits, shopper profile and interests. It also allows shoppers to compare the different products at a glance.
Delivery in a day, plus other conveniences 
Reducing the wait-time for online purchases drastically, customers on Jumbo’s online portal can receive their products the next day, for all orders made before 8pm. Currently delivering to any address in the UAE, Jumbo has partnered with MENA360, the only last mile delivery experts in the region specialising in eCommerce fulfilment.
Khanzadah added: “Through our partnership with MENA360, Jumbo will engage a dedicated delivery team that has been trained in customer-facing etiquette, to offer the most professional service for our customers. Women can also opt for deliveries by female personnel that are part of the team.”
Access to Jumbo, online and offline
Aligning its brick-and-mortar and online presence, Jumbo’s click-and-mortar network is built to facilitate the way people shop. Visitors to any Jumbo outlet can opt to purchase the product later through the online portal, saving them the trouble of returning to the store to buy the product. In cases where online shoppers cannot arrange to receive deliveries, they can use the ‘Click and Collect’ feature on www.jumbo.ae to arrange a collection from the nearest Jumbo store, where the product is made available.
Khanzadah explained: “Customer preferences can differ from one person to the other. Our aim is to make our brick-and-mortar and online services equally accessible to the customer. By integrating the delivery and collection process, we ensure that the two platforms work together and not as separate entities.”
In addition, all customers – online as well as in-store – have access to facilities such as exchanges and returns across Jumbo’s existing network of stores.
Easy payment options, including credit card on delivery
Jumbo has partnered with two of the region’s best global electronic payments facilitators, PayPal and Payfort, to offer easy and convenient payment options to customers that are particularly preferred among visitors and the floating expat population in the UAE. Not just limited to cash on delivery and online debit or credit card payments, www.jumbo.ae also offers the unique ‘credit card on delivery’ service, which is seldom offered by online retailers in this market. Jumbo has also chosen Mashreq Bank as its banking partner for the online shopping portal.
Khanzadah added: “The Jumbo delivery team for online purchases will be equipped with a mobile POS terminal provided by Mashreq bank. This makes it more convenient for customers who prefer card payments over cash, but do not wish to pay online. The payment infrastructure is all-inclusive and caters to varying shopper choices.”
Targeted engagement, through content and products
Jumbo has partnered with Google Inc. to implement search-engine optimisation, retargeting search campaigns, and to enhance display marketing and inventory management.
Khanzadah added: “We want to be able to give consumers access to products they want in a one-click approach. Our collaboration with Google will seek to help us effectively improve our cross-channel intelligence.
“The Middle East eCommerce market is expected to be valued at about US$15 billion by 2015, according to PayPal. And with consumer electronics purchases accounting for up to 23% to 28% of online shopping in the UAE across different categories, as reported by Nielsen, we believe customers will see the added value in our OmniChannel offering,” he concluded.