Dubai’s Jumbo Electronics Launches Online Shopping Portal

Dubai-based retailer Jumbo Electronics announced that it has launched a new online shopping portal in a bid to tap into the region’s growing e-commerce market.

The new portal, www.jumbo.ae, has been developed in collaboration with Build-a-Bazaar, a subsidiary of Indian e-commerce firm Infibeam, which was set up by a team of ex-Amazon employees.

The new site also went through lab-testing facilities, such as eye-tracking for content placement, by UI/UX performance marketing agency RBBi, a statement said.

Vishesh Bhatia, CEO at Jumbo Group, said: “We are offering what is undoubtedly the first truly OmniChannel experience for consumer electronics shoppers in the region. Our goal is to offer the same high level of products and customer service that we are known for in our stores, to our online customers as well. This move is one part of a deliberate strategy towards entering the digital space.”

The website will showcase all the products available in the store, and includes features such as ‘Product Wizard’, an in-store assistant that recommends products based on budget, technology habits, shopper profile and interests. It also allows shoppers to compare different products.

For payment options, Jumbo has partnered with PayPal and Payfort and offers cash on delivery, online debit or credit card payments, and a ‘credit card on delivery’ service.

Nadeem Khanzadah, head – OmniChannel Retail, Jumbo Group, said: “The Jumbo delivery team for online purchases will be equipped with a mobile POS terminal provided by Mashreq bank. This makes it more convenient for customers who prefer card payments over cash, but do not wish to pay online.”

Currently delivering in the UAE, Jumbo has partnered with MENA360, and will ensure that for all orders made before 8pm, customers receive their products the next day.

Khanzadah added: “Through our partnership with MENA360, Jumbo will engage a dedicated delivery team that has been trained in customer-facing etiquette. Women can also opt for deliveries by female personnel that are part of the team.”

Visitors to any Jumbo physical outlet can opt to purchase the product later through the online portal, and in cases where online shoppers cannot receive deliveries, they can use the ‘Click and Collect’ feature to arrange a collection from the nearest store.

All customers – online as well as in-store – have access to facilities such as exchanges and returns across Jumbo’s existing network of stores, the statement said.

“Customer preferences can differ from one person to the other. Our aim is to make our brick-and-mortar and online services equally accessible to the customer. By integrating the delivery and collection process, we ensure that the two platforms work together and not as separate entities,” said Khanzadah.

Jumbo has also partnered with Google to implement search-engine optimisation, retargeting search campaigns, and to enhance display marketing and inventory management.

Khanzadah said: “The Middle East eCommerce market is expected to be valued at about $15 billion by 2015, according to PayPal. And with consumer electronics purchases accounting for up to 23 per cent to 28 per cent of online shopping in the UAE across different categories, as reported by Nielsen, we believe customers will see the added value in our OmniChannel offering.”

The Middle East has seen a boom in the e-commerce space, with companies such as Souq.com, JadoPado and MarkaVIP recording strong growth in sales over the last few years.

Traditional retailers in the region have been slower to get online, but have started entering the space in recent times as internet usage and smartphone penetration rates continue to rise.