Awareness & Participation

          DHGate has participated in the virtual world through its “share” application. DHGate allows the seller or consumer to share their favourite items to others such as friends, family and even strangers. With a share button, the consumer can choose to share via facebook, twitter, pinterest, wechat, whatsapp, snapchat and so on. This could encourage a good customer experience because the customers can interact with others to seek for opinion regarding the products. The customers can discuss about the usefulness and attractiveness of the products in such a virtual platform. Besides, this also brings enormous benefit to the seller on DHGate because the seller can increase the products exposure through this sharing application. When someone shares seller’s content with their network, it could get noticed by a new potential consumer, who then may share it with their network, and noticed by another new potential consumer. The “share” application on the website creates unlimited business opportunities for the sellers and improves product visibility across the web.

        Furthermore, DHGate provides a virtual platform that allows the consumer to online chat and interact with the sellers. The online chat system is convenient for the consumers and it helps the consumer to have a better understanding on the products. Sometimes, the description of the product on the website is not so clear. The consumers can inquire the sellers about the function, design, and the quality of the products. Moreover, the consumers can negotiate with the sellers in order to obtain discount for the products. The online chat system on DHGate is very useful to solve the distance issues between sellers and buyers. The sellers and buyers can communicate with each other in virtual world through the online chat without the need to face-to-face communicates. Instant replies of message make the purchasing process more convenient and efficient.

         Besides, DHGate has participated in the virtual world through its electronic payment application (e-payment). E-payment is a financial exchange that takes place online between sellers and buyers. The customer can choose to register DHpay account to make the payment. DHpay account offers a secure, simple and free payment solution where the customers can pay for any DHGate order with DHpay account. It allows customer to securely add funds via Western Union or bank transfer, and withdraw money anytime the customer wants to. The customer can use it to pay for full or part payment on the orders together with other payment methods if there is any available balance in DHpay account. In addition, the customers also can choose other payment method such as Visa, Mastercard, ExpressPay, SecurePay, Bank transfer and Skrill. Money transfer between virtual accounts usually takes a few minutes, while a postal or wire transfer may take several days. With the e-payment, this will ease the customer online shopping process. All the transfers can be performed at anywhere, anytime, as long as the Internet can be accessed.

         

          DHGate applies three-dimensional moving visualization in this products in order to optimize the e-commerce shopping experience by bringing the product as close to the customer as virtually possible. Moreover, this shows that DHGate aware of the importance of virtual world and apply to their website.

        By capturing a series of still product images, rotated on one or more axes, the buyers can understand and visualize each feature of the product clearly, besides, the function is stated on the 3D image. Undeniably, this will enhance their confidence and provide an improved customer experience by giving potential buyers the ability to view every angle. In addition, this creates a virtual shopping experience that simulates the in-store shopping experience, giving shoppers a realistic view in a virtual environment. It allows the customers to make an informed decision without needing to see the product in person. On the other hand, the image allows the customer to zoom in on fine detail, which aids in convincing the buyers on the product quality and authenticity.

          Shopping cart is generally known as the “shopping basket”. Electronic shopping cart is one of the virtual world application by DHGate. In reality, we use trolley when we are shopping in shopping mall. Hence, the virtual trolley in DHGate also applies the same concept just that it is functioning in the website and we could not touch it physically. As a customer visits an online store and picks an item to buy, the shopping cart software holds that item for the customer. If more than one item is selected, the shopping cart software can hold all of those items and lists them for the customer to see. Besides, the total price of all the items selected, including taxes (as applicable), the handling and shipping charges, is then calculated by the software.

          Next, if the customer decides to buy the items, the software then takes the customer to another page where they will be asked to enter their credit card information for payment. One of the benefits is that the shopping cart software allows a shopper to save his potential purchases and come back later to finish shopping. The customer can add or remove items from the shopping cart without having to delete the entire order or start a new one. In short, it is convenience and time-saving.

          E-Coupon is a word or a series of characters, which when entered into the Shopping Cart, will discount an item or items in the Shopping Cart. It similar with the paper coupons, which have the expiration dates, usually about 30 days although some stay valid longer. When an unused E-coupon expires it will drop from the list on the account. DH coupon will be sent to the customers especially during promotional events and festivals such as Chinese New Year and Christmas. With its advertising reach and word-of-mouth publicity, a coupon promotion can dramatically increase awareness of its business besides to increase the sales of the company. Moreover, the customers can check out the coupons in DHGate website, mobile apps and emails. Just a simple step like clicking on the link or scanning the QR code, the customers can obtain the coupons which they prefer.

          Implementation of E-coupons are eco-friendly. Besides, it saves the couponers the extra cost of printing coupons. For people who are comfortable with using computers, the E-coupon services are simple to understand and the websites are easy to get around.