Page 58 - Grasp English C1+ (Workbook)

6 Fashıon ın Technology

E-commerce has been on the rise throughout Product Range
this century and is set to increase its popularity Having a global network of suppliers also means that
in the years ahead. There are a number of factors the variety of products available is vastly improved.
which have made it such a success story, enabling Whereas in the past we were limited to what we could
consumers around the world to take advantage of find in the high-street shops or mail-order catalogues,
products from far and wide. we can now surf the web and find any number of
options available to us. This means as well that we
Geographical Range can hunt out the best bargains either using our own
browsing skills or by one of the many compare websites
Undeniably, the major factor in e-commerce’s
success is the fact that it allows people from one now up and running.
corner of the globe to purchase merchandise
from anywhere, at the mere click of a button. And, Cost-Effective Retail
with many companies now offering faster delivery, For retailers as well, the cost of running a website is
including the use of drone technology to get much lower than that of managing a physical shop.
purchases to consumers more quickly, our consumer There is no need to rent showroom space, just a
society looks set to continue its love affair with online warehouse to store merchandise in, and it is also likely
shopping. that there are fewer staff involved. Furthermore, with
more flexible working hours, it is easier for business
owners to set up on their own, without needing staff to
man the premises.

Couch-Potato Consumers

Unfortunately, for the many benefits of e-commerce, it
has to be said that it has made us increasingly lazy.
Why walk down to the supermarket in the pouring rain
when, from the warmth and comfort of your sofa, you
can have everything you want delivered? Whether it is
a roll of toilet paper, a punnet of strawberries or some
takeaway sushi, it’s all just a click away.

We can already make purchases using our
smartwatches whilst we are on our daily commute
and have dinner delivered by drone. And with targeted
advertising on our social media, companies know
what we want to buy before we do. So, what does the
future hold for e-commerce?

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