Over the past two years, more and more people have decided to switch to online shopping. People are increasingly ordering all the necessities they need for everyday life, from groceries and furniture to computers and mobile phones.
Well, let’s be honest, online shopping is much easier and more convenient than having to wander from store to store to find the best possible offer. It is much easier to sit in a chair and compare the prices online.
The Internet has developed so much that now with just a basic understanding of computer technology and a few clicks, customers can find, compare product prices, and choose the retailers that offer the lowest prices.
Precisely because it is certain that the era of e-commerce and online shopping will continue after the pandemic, the importance of pricing will indeed become the main occupation of most retailers. In particular, dynamic pricing will be the leading competitive tool in the retail environment.
So, let’s see what dynamic pricing is and what are the pros and cons of using it.
What is dynamic pricing?
Dynamic pricing refers to the constant change of prices in stores and companies daily or on a weekly basis. The main goals of companies and businesses that implement dynamic pricing are to increase sales and try to optimize their profit margins by using pricing algorithms that compare competitors’ prices.
So what is dynamic pricing? It’s a pricing strategy retailers use that allows them to change fixed prices into variable prices. Simply put, retailers are using dynamic pricing to secure capital and place in the ever-changing retail market. Check out this blog post to learn more about the topic.
This price-changing strategy allows retailers to change and adjust prices daily, make extra profit, and preserve consumer trust and demand.
Value of dynamic pricing in eCommerce
Dynamic pricing is the norm when it comes to e-commerce. Practically, these two terms evolved at the same time. Almost all gigantic retail companies and even non-leading retailers on the market are using this strategy to ensure profit and better margins.
As the Internet and e-commerce became the preferred choice of shoppers, the importance of dynamic price changes has become invaluable in e-commerce.
Here are some benefits of using dynamic pricing in e-commerce:
- Dynamic pricing is increasing sales and ensuring long-term profit to a retailer;
- It helps retailers quickly respond to the constant price fluctuation;
- Retailers can closely and precisely analyze competitor pricing methods, inventory, and keep tracking market trends;
- Dynamic pricing is good for analyzing return on investment (ROI);
- It can follow customer needs and behavior.
Pros and cons
Adapting the dynamic pricing strategy has both benefits and losses. That’s why we’re going to list a few pros and cons of using dynamic pricing.
Pros
- More insights
Retailers can track all information they need about the sales, competition, and their pricing methods, keep track of new market trends and improve their insight in every aspect of sales. Moreover, dynamic pricing can also help in analyzing inventory levels.
- Adjustable pricing according to demand
Prices are there to increase and decrease, but with a dynamic pricing strategy, you can adjust and modify prices according to the customer demand. This allows retailers to stay competitive and not jeopardize profit.
- Boosted demand
Dynamic pricing also leads to boosted demand. As long as a company uses a dynamic pricing strategy to adjust prices according to product demand, more people will be interested in those products.
- Increased profits
Dynamic pricing can help you increase profits. For example, lowering product prices to make them lower than your competitor’s will significantly increase your profit and maximize revenue.
- Improved sales
Dynamic pricing is there to increase and decrease prices to follow market trends. Companies can decrease product prices to increase sales and vice versa. Price drop on old or dead inventory stock can significantly improve sales and increase profit.
Cons
- Lots of customers don’t like it
Let’s be honest; constant price changing can be a frustrating and irritating experience for customers. If you want to retain customer loyalty, you need to think ahead. When product pricing becomes inconsistent and unstable, so does brand loyalty and customer satisfaction.
- Wrong practices can lead to lost sales
If a company uses a dynamic pricing strategy to constantly adjust and change prices to capitalize on demand, most of its loyal customers will end up frustrated. So, if you don’t want to lose profit and sales just for being greedy, you should be careful how you implement a dynamic pricing strategy.
- Customers can abuse it
Experienced internet users and crafty shoppers are often aware of companies’ dynamic pricing competitive strategies. That’s why they shop around anonymously without leaving any personal information and activity online. In other words, they can directly counter your dynamic pricing system and get a lower price.
Conclusion
Dynamic pricing is an excellent tool that helps companies and retailers get ahead of the competition and easily monitor all market changes. As long as the company carefully implements a dynamic pricing strategy for their business, they can enjoy the advantages of higher profit and increased demand.
We hope that we’ve explained what dynamic pricing is and helped you understand its value in the business.
