Online Sales Versus Sales person

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It would be an incomplete argument to think that internet could replace the need for live sales persons because not to forget internet is only a means of solution but not the end solution itself.

It would be an incomplete argument to think that internet could replace the need for live sales persons because not to forget internet is only a means of solution but not the end solution itself. Breaking the skills of sales person into conceptual, human and technical and relating it with the internet, it can be confidently said, it might replace technical skills to some extent but other skills can be replaceable through internet. The operation through internet has limitation especially in the society where relationships are given much more preference than virtual collaboration. There is a difference between how our conversation differs in virtual and real world which is the reason why UNICEF Nepal launched a campaign with a question, “why say it online when you can’t say it aloud”.   

 

            Internet are run through various kind of structured codes and therefore can’t function on uncertainties until and unless code are labelled for those uncertainties. The responsiveness becomes less engaging when the internet gets absent in certain location. (Futrell, 2011) And, as language barrier still exists in various geographical locations, channelizing sales through internet would be lengthy to understand the customer need and convince them. The negotiation strategy can be misleading for customer interpretation and internet might be a barrier to develop long term relationship.

 

Last week, my brother-in-law and I were having the discussion that we need a bigger shoe rack, as we had so many mismanaged shoes in the space available. By analyzing the need of for the shoe rack, we thought shoe rack which can accommodate 20 pairs of shoes would be perfect for us. After some minutes, I saw this advertisement which could fulfill our need and therefore immediately commented on the page of, “As seen on You Tube”. They replied me after 2 days in my message box and for clarification they took another 2 days. Though my need of product was available, I still haven’t purchased from them because their response rate in Facebook is too slow. By this, they might loose a potential customer and may be more if I spread negativity towards their service. If human interaction would have been in this case, then sales person would have identified my other needs and sold me more products including the shoe rack. Therefore, technology would never replace the value of human face to face interaction but internet can help to smoothen the process.     

 

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