A. Artificial Intelligence and Networking
Founded in 2012, Lazada Group is Southeast Asia’s leading eCommerce platform. With a presence in six countries, they connect this vast and diverse region through our technology, logistics and payments capabilities. Today, they have the largest selection of brands and sellers. The Lazada app now uses AI to drive personalization across the customer shopping journey. Products and offers are shown to customers based on their app interactions and purchase history. As customers use the app more, the algorithm learns their individual preferences. Over time, customers will see deals that are relevant to them, and have a more engaging experience every time they open the app. It has a collection of suggested products "Just For You" from the Home tab. When you like to inquire, there is a chat icon where you can message the seller. There are automatic messages or the frequently asked where you can just tap it instead of typing it. For this frequently asked questions, there is an automatic answer like for "How to return an item", it will give you an image where the steps in returning the item are listed. This is an example of AI. The newest feature to come to the app is an artificial intelligence (AI) powered image search function. This function allows shoppers to simply take a picture of the item they are looking for and the LAZADA app will search and surface similar items available on the platform. This new feature will enable users to look for the best offers on LAZADA while shopping offline. All shoppers will have to do is snap a picture and they will be able to get similar items on LAZADA for a price comparison.
Through networking, there is a collaboration between the seller and the buyer. They can have a conversation about the product. You can also follow your favorite stores to know on new arrivals, promotions, and discounts. Lazada also has Shopathon which feature a whole lot of deals, vouchers and promotions. There is Slash It where you can invite your friends to help slash prices on items from categories such as DIY & Outdoor, Health & Beauty, Bags & Travel and more. All shoppers have to do is tap on the “Slash It” button next to your desired item to start a slashing session. You can invite your friends to help slash the price and get featured products for lower price. There are also collectible vouchers will also be available to allow shoppers to get even more discounts. You can also drop a rating or review regarding your purchase in any store.
B. Reaction
Looking back, I am hesitant to continue my first purchase in Lazada due to trust issues regarding the probability that the product will be handled to you in good shape. However, with the help of the ratings and comments from the past purchaser, it is easier to determine the good ones from the fake ones. That is why it is important to rate or leave a comment regarding your purchase of the product. Lazada also makes searching easier where it can be categorized to popularity, price low to high and price high to low. It also has a filter feature where you can choose the category, brand, service, location, price, rating, and so on. The Lazada app also offers voice search, which is a speech recognition technology. I tried using it and it takes time (took three times) to process what I am saying. But overall, the voice command works. It also use AI in its Scan feature where they will find the similar products relating to the one you captured or scanned. I also tried this feature. Truly, it works but the downside is, it does not recommend the exact or similar products. The results show assorted type of products. It is also sensitive when it comes to the products you clicked. It thinks that they are your interests and will recommend you similar items. In this way, I will know if there is more worthy to the product I am interested. When it comes to messaging the seller, the chatbox shows if the seller is available or the time when the seller will be active again. It is more reassuring to send them a message regarding the item so that I will know that the product is legit or just a hoax.
C. Critique
Lazada app is a great app for those people who like to shop but do not have the liberty to go personally to any stores or just want to stay home. It also offers lower price than the original price and you can choose the payment method if its cash on delivery or not. Lazada uses AI to make recommendations for its users, nudging them to add a couple of extra items to their cart before checking out. Here, recommendation engines are like an all-knowing store assistant who can anticipate what you might want at the drop of a hat and present it in a way that will appeal to you. In this app, you can choose if you want to use your voice for searching using their voice command feature or the scan feature, where you can use the camera in your phone to capture the item you want to find. You can also use the pictures in your gallery as the item you want to find similar with the scan feature. Due to this features, Lazada excell more than the other shopping app. The navigation and the way in purchasing the item/s are easily accessible. The categories of several items like electronic gadgets, home appliances, health and beauty, groceries and pets, home and living, women's fashion, men's fashion, etc. are organized. The overall design is quite pleasing to the eyes. Aside from shopping, they also have additional innovation like the LazGame, where you can collect coins which reduce the total price of your purchase. It uses AI and networking here since some games use facial recognition and you can share these challenges online. They also have a load station where you can get rebates every order. You can also pay bills here instead going over-the-cashier. Its new feature LazMart is like an online supermarket where you can get goodies. However, this feature use location service and does not serve in all places.
D. Innovation
It would be better if the recommendation will be improved. I just experience accidentally clicking an item which I am not interested, and it eventually shows in my feed. Another experience is that an inappropriate products are showing but the weird thing is I do not know why it is showing in my recommendations since I do not remember searching or clicking anything about it. It would also be better when purchasing multiple items from different sellers to have it deliver altogether and not individually. This is to minimize inconvenience in paying the products. It would also be convenient if the coverage areas of the LazMart can be accessible in all areas. Here in Batangas, it only serve in six areas like Batangas City, Ibaan, Malvar, Lipa City, Sto. Tomas, and Tanauan. They should also consider filtering fraud shops by using the reviews from the shoppers. Many people were scammed and the only thing they can do is return the item. However, sometimes there is a problem in returning the item- it may be due to the irresponsive seller or the buyer already thrown the receipt. Thus, it would be good if Lazada can track those hoax sellers and ban their shops.