How Online Hypermarkets are Shaping the Future of Ecommerce

Samsung. GAP. Apple. Coca-cola. LG. Nestle. And then there’s Sarah’s home decor, Mike’s shoes, Carlos’ home goods, even Elizabeth’s jams or Juanita’s hot sauces. Thousands of retailers — small, large and gigantic — list their products on online hypermarkets like Amazon, Walmart, and others.

Why? Malls are dying out. Online shopping has become the norm. Traditional retailers face an existential challenge: adapt or fall behind. Individual online brand stores, the mainstay of ecommerce, are relatively hard for users to find and use. Besides, competition is just too high.

This is the age of the virtual mall: the online hypermarket.

These massive digital marketplaces have huge audiences. Many brands are opting to leverage those audiences, rather than struggle with lower in-store sales and higher online competition. 

In the online hypermarket space, BigCommerce is one of the game-changers. They enable businesses to build online hypermarkets and sell via online hypermarkets too. They have also built a collaboration with Walmart towards this objective. This has opened new avenues for sellers to reach customers on a grand scale.

What are online hypermarkets?

These are digital platforms that offer an extensive range of products across categories. While niche online stores cater to specific interests, hypermarkets cater to a wide audience. Since they sell everything from groceries to clothing, they serve as a one-stop online shopping experience. Online hypermarkets like Amazon, Walmart and Alibaba are driving the growth of global ecommerce sales. It’s expected to grow to $8 trillion by 2027.

These online hypermarkets provide:

• Extensive Product Range: Customers can find everything they need in one place. They don’t need to visit multiple websites to shop around.

• Competitive Pricing: Thanks to economies of scale, online hypermarkets can offer more competitive prices. Smaller businesses, online or otherwise, would find it hard to match these rates.

• Convenient Delivery: Multiple options like click-and-collect and scheduled deliveries are offered by online hypermarkets. The availability of options makes ordering and delivery more convenient.

Online hypermarkets are transforming the ecommerce landscape and attracting millions of daily visitors. This model offers several seller advantages, including access to a global audience. Since they have strong infrastructure, they can handle logistics and sales at scale.

The challenges of traditional retailers

High operational costs. Limited space. Logistical challenges. Smaller physical stores or standalone online stores face certain challenges. They find it hard to match the pricing, product range and delivery speed of larger businesses.

Online hypermarkets are changing the way people shop. They offer much more by way of convenience, speed, and variety, especially when compared to traditional brick-and-mortar stores. 

Changing customer behavior

As a general trend, customers are shifting towards online shopping. There is also an increase in the frequency and value of purchases. This is led by online hypermarkets, in a big way. A glance at the user’s phone tells them when their favorite items are on sale. Automated notifications ensure they don’t miss out on deals. Online hypermarkets drive a more digital, on-demand shopping experience.

Shopping patterns are changing too. Buyers are going shopping more often, and buying more per transaction. They expect their online hypermarket not just to meet their needs, but to anticipate them. These platforms offer significant convenience and variety, making them more attractive to shoppers. Buyers compare products from multiple sellers and read reviews to make an informed purchase. People shop on the go, compare prices instantly, and expect fast, reliable delivery.

They offer the variety of a giant physical store, but with the convenience of never leaving the house. This shift drives businesses to embrace online marketplaces as a core part of their retail operations.

The superior user experience

Online hypermarkets provide sellers with the data and technology to optimize their operations. 

After a few visits, the platform seems to understand their needs. It offers truly relevant personalized product recommendations and deals. That’s because it uses advanced AI tech to analyze various data points to create the perfect shopping experience.

Such AI-driven personalization makes the customer feel seen and understood. AI-driven insights helped them make smarter inventory, pricing, and marketing decisions. They also offer unique technological options like AR technology to improve customer visualization.

For sellers too, hypermarkets have a range of advantages. Thanks to the scale offered by the online hypermarkets, sellers get the benefits of lower costs, better automation and greater reach.

Online hypermarkets and their success in the real world 

When you think about an online hypermarket, you probably think of platforms like Amazon and Alibaba. These leading companies exemplify the success of the online hypermarket model:

• Amazon: The world’s largest online retailer. Amazon offers millions of products across countless categories. They also provide fast shipping options and a seamless user experience. Over 50% of Amazon sales come from third-party sellers.

• Alibaba: The Asian market leader. Alibaba caters to B2B and B2C customers, providing various products at competitive prices. Alibaba products reach customers in over 190 countries. The platform streamlines international selling with tools that simplify cross-border transactions and logistics.

• Walmart: One of the world’s largest retailers. Since 2000, Walmart’s gigantic brick-and-mortar network has also grown into the online space. Online shoppers also benefit from efficient delivery by leveraging Walmart’s vast logistics network. Their seamless omnichannel approach allows sellers to integrate their online and offline sales.

These online behemoths improve user experience with great tech and scalable logistics. Amazon uses robotics in warehouses to speed up order processing. Alibaba streamlines its logistics with IoT and smart warehousing. Walmart uses AR/VR to let customers visualize products before purchase.

Online hypermarkets can democratize access to the global marketplace. For smaller sellers especially, they offer a viable path to growth in an increasingly digital world.

The technology that drives online hypermarkets

While the definition of a hypermarket depends in large part on the scale and scope of the store and the items on offer, technology plays a crucial role, too. Technology powers many online hypermarket features, which define the experience and drive adoption and efficiency. 

Some of these key tech innovations:

• AI for Demand Forecasting: How do you keep a close track of stock available in the warehouse? Using IoT, businesses can track all inventory, across categories and warehouses. Such real-time tracking helps improve supply chain efficiency.

• AI for Personalization: Online hypermarkets use recommendation engines that are powered by AI algorithms. These study each user’s browsing history as well as other factors to recommend relevant products.

• AI for Pricing Optimization: AI can create models to recommend the right price point for different products. This weighs various factors, including demand at various prices, to maximize profit.

• Robotics for Smart Warehousing: Online hypermarkets use robotics and automated systems in their warehouses. This can significantly reduce logistics costs and order processing times.

• AR/VR for Virtual Try-Ons: Many large online retailers and hypermarkets use AR and VR so that customers can “try on” clothes virtually, visualize furniture in their homes, etc, before making a purchase. This reduces uncertainty and increases confidence in the online shopping process.

Online hypermarkets: The next big trend for ecommerce

In some ways, online hypermarkets are the tip of the spear for ecommerce. The trends driving the growth of the online hypermarket will soon drive the rest of the ecommerce sector as well.

• Personalized Experiences: Individual preferences are already driving online shopping experiences. This trend is only increasing with the advancement of eCommerce and AI technology.

• Instant Communication: Don’t make your customers wait for anything! AI-powered chatbots can answer any queries instantly.

• Better Visualization: Streamline the shopping journey and make it more intuitive with AR/VR visualization tools. This gives customers more confidence in their purchases.

• Refined Stock Management: Stock management is increasingly automated to improve demand forecasting. Real-time inventory tracking can be managed through IoT-enabled tools with automated replenishment alerts.

• Increased Investment in Logistics: Online hypermarkets sell products of all categories - perishables, very large or very valuable items, and more. This makes their logistics complex. Orders are still fulfilled accurately, promptly, and cost-effectively, thanks to smart warehousing systems.

• Sustainable Practices: Increasingly, consumers are aware of and passionate about sustainability. There is a significant move by these eCommerce giants towards reducing their carbon footprint. This could be through the increased use of technology in logistics and packaging.

Businesses need constant and continuous innovation to stay ahead of the competition. New customer behaviors and trends pop up. These new demands give rise to new opportunities. When fulfilled, they help online stores grow and build stronger customer relationships.

BigCommerce and its role in building online hypermarkets

Every brand’s ecommerce journey differs, and BigCommerce is a crucial partner. Thanks to its flexibility and adaptability, brands can customize their online store to meet their needs. That’s because BigCommerce offers features like advanced SEO tools, robust analytics, and excellent customer support. It also provides seamless integration with major online hypermarkets.

BigCommerce development services help businesses implement the latest ecommerce innovations. That includes AI-driven product recommendations and personalization in shopping experiences. This enhances the customer experience, drives sales, and boosts customer loyalty. Working with a BigCommerce partner agency gives you expert guidance every step of the way, from setup to optimization.

There are two ways that BigCommerce can help you take advantage of the online hypermarket boom. Some businesses may want to build an online hypermarket or platform. Retailers can list their products on online hypermarkets along with their own online and retail stores. 

In collaboration with Walmart

In 2021, BigCommerce announced a strategic collaboration with Walmart. Its merchants can now directly list their products on Walmart’s online marketplace. They gain significant advantages, including access to Walmart’s robust customer service and logistics infrastructure. Businesses of all sizes, even very small ones, can thus offer fast shipping, competitive pricing, and reliable customer support.

The Walmart online marketplace is one of the largest retail platforms in the world. This collaboration democratizes access to over 120 million unique visitors per month. Such a vast audience is a golden business opportunity.

For many SMBs, entering such a marketplace might have been impossible. With BigCommerce’s new collaboration, such businesses can now enter and succeed on the new, highly competitive platform. BigCommerce’s easy-to-use tools help businesses list their products on Walmart effortlessly. It eliminates many of the technical barriers that prevent smaller businesses from entering these major marketplaces.

Beyond Walmart, retailers will also need to set up their Amazon stores. A BigCommerce partner agency can help create and optimize Amazon listings too. Businesses can navigate the complexities of online inventory management with the help of BigCommerce support. 

BigCommerce tools help businesses with the seamless integration of existing product catalogs into each marketplace. BigCommerce analytics help users study performance and understand customer behavior.

The final word

Online hypermarkets are helping traditional retailers overcome the limitations of physical stores. Sellers of all sizes are embracing their transformative potential. They can confidently tap into vast global opportunities, with a strong partner for the journey: BigCommerce.

Explore BigCommerce’s solutions today. Work with Ziffity, your BigCommerce partner agency, to redefine your ecommerce business’s future.