Enhancing Flipkart's Purchase Process Flow

Enhancing Flipkart's Purchase
Process Flow

In our recent project, we conducted an evaluative case study of Flipkart’s purchase process flow. This analysis allowed us to identify key areas for improvement and design a comprehensive, iterated user flow. Leveraging an evaluative problem statement, we meticulously assessed the Flipkart application to streamline the user experience, ensuring a more seamless and efficient purchase journey for our users.

Year

2023

Duration

7 Day's

Category

Personal

I Am Happy To Share That

I Am Happy To Share That

Problem

To gain a profound understanding of e-retail platforms, with a key focus on identifying and addressing essential user needs, assessing user frustrations, and recognizing gaps to enhance Flipkart’s user experience.

About Flipkart

Flipkart is a digital platform serving millions of consumers, sellers, merchants, and small businesses to be a part of India’s digital
commerce revolution. Flipkart has a registered customer base of more than 400 million, offering over 150 million products
across 80+ categories. Flipkart provides customer-centric innovations that have made online shopping more accessible and
inexpensive to millions of users.

Considering the growing market share and large customer base of Flipkart, there is a lot of room for improvement in basic
features and also, with some iterations in the existing design, Flipkart can introduce user experience of basic flows of the application

Defining the User and User Story, Metrics

Defining the User and User
Story, Metrics

Understanding the problem space

With the emerging e-retail platforms, the availability of millions of product alternatives renders users in dilemma which affects the time in decision-making as to which product is the best available and will serve the user need. During this course of flow, from product search to order placement user encounters a number of pain points and frustrations which directly affects the business matrices. The primary goal of this project is to simplify the process for users, therefore shifting the business dynamics towards the positive end.

  1. Only 20–25% of users buy mobiles and electronics in their first transaction.

  2. On average, the user visits a product page approximately 31 times, with the maximum number of page visits i.e 62 for mobiles and 47–48 for electronic items before making a purchase.

  3. Users are spending more time making the final decision before purchasing gadgets and electronics.

  4. In order to build trust with the application, users on the first attempt, place orders which are of low economic value.

  5. Most of the users compare products on alternative applications to check if they are getting a better deal.

  6. Online shoppers turn to customer reviews while shopping.

  7. Users don’t want to buy expensive items before doing detailed research on other online platforms about the product. Their decision is solely not based on customer reviews.

Secondary Research

The primary objective of our desk research was to gain a comprehensive understanding of the e-retail market, particularly focusing on how various business metrics are evolving with emerging trends. Our secondary research was instrumental in identifying user needs and challenges. The specific goals of our desk research included:

👉 Analyzing trends in the Indian e-retail market and assessing how Flipkart’s growth aligns with these trends.

👉 Exploring e-retail penetration across different categories.

👉 Identifying specific user types to understand their needs and pain points.

👉 Evaluating direct competitors to uncover their strengths and vulnerabilities.

The landscape of online purchases is expected to shift significantly in the coming years. Categories such as fashion, general merchandise, and groceries, which currently have substantial room for growth compared to mature e-commerce markets, are projected to develop disproportionately, accounting for two-thirds of the e-commerce industry.

“India currently has over 180 million online shoppers and is on track to surpass the United States in the next one to two years to become the second-largest online shopper base in the world.”

Statistical Insights

👉 The Indian e-commerce business is expected to be worth $50 billion by 2022, with a 25% increase over 2021. In 2027, the market is predicted to grow to $150-$170 billion, with up to one-tenth of all retail expenditures spent online.

👉 The most common e-retail category that penetrated India is mobile/electronics/appliances (~30%).

👉 Users tend to build trust with the application before making expensive purchases, as 40–45% of users prefer to buy fashion products in their first purchase and only 20–25% of users buy mobiles and electronics in their first transaction.

👉 On average, the user visits a product page approximately 31 times, with the maximum number of page visits i.e 62 for mobiles and 47–48 for electronic items before making a purchase.


Behavioural Insights

Users are spending more time making the final decision before purchasing gadgets and electronics.

  • In order to build trust with the application, users on the first attempt, place orders which are of low economic value.

  • Most of the users compare products on alternative applications to check if they are getting a better deal.

  • Online shoppers turn to customer reviews while shopping.

  • Users don’t want to buy expensive items before doing detailed research on other online platforms about the product. Their decision is solely not based on customer reviews.

Competitive Analysis

Primary Research

Need for Primary Research
To validate data collected from secondary research, considering various parameters for e.g. product page views, average order value and overall experience, primary research was conducted.

For conducting the user research we followed the pattern: user screening → Preparation of session guide → user interviews.

User Screening

Users for interviews were screened by conducting an online survey which included basic questions about their overall mobile usage, online shopping applications and their interaction with Flipkart.

User Interviews

We conducted phone and video interviews with six users to gain a more in-depth understanding of their interactions with Flipkart. It was intriguing to understand how their behaviour and viewpoint on online purchasing has evolved.

Empathy Mapping

To categorise our insights, we segregated our data from secondary and user interviews into empathy maps.



User Personas

Based on the empathy mapping, users were categorised into two groups and user personas were created:

The Bargain Hunters — A buyer who is inclined towards deals and discounts, gets intimidated by lucrative offers.

The Analytical Buyers — A buyer who dives deep into product research, buys a product only when he/she is satisfied with the research.

Based on the empathy mapping, users were categorised into two groups and user personas were created:

The Bargain Hunters — A buyer who is inclined towards deals and discounts, gets intimidated by lucrative offers.

The Analytical Buyers — A buyer who dives deep into product research, buys a product only when he/she is satisfied with the research.

User Journey Mapping

Mapping the user journey is an essential step in understanding users’ pain points. Each step of the user journey has the scope to enhance the user experience, as in every step user comes across different challenges and expectations. It is important to understand this plethora of emotions to understand and solve the user pain points.

Mapping the user journey is an essential step in understanding users’ pain points. Each step of the user journey has the scope to enhance the user experience, as in every step user comes across different challenges and expectations. It is important to understand this plethora of emotions to understand and solve the user pain points.

Ideating Solutions

Based on our secondary and primary research insights, we did a brainstorming session and came up with these solutions

Problem Area

We wanted to focus on two key business matrices by adding video reviews and recommendation features:

✅Improve User Satisfaction — From our primary user research, we saw that users are mostly satisfied with the product, but they have an unsatisfactory delivery experience with Flipkart. Late or incorrect delivery or poor customer service during the delivery process can negatively impact the user’s perception of the product, even if the product itself is of good quality. Additionally, users feel that the delivery process is an indicator of the company’s reliability and professionalism, and a negative delivery experience can lead to a decrease in customer trust and loyalty.

✅Task Completion — Before making a purchase of mobile and electronic items on Flipkart, users tend to conduct thorough research on different online platforms regarding the product. Their decision is not solely determined by customer reviews. So, they usually leave the purchase incomplete.

✅Willingness to make a recommendation — Users are normally sharing product links on WhatsApp, which is often not immediately addressed by the receiver and is usually lost in the chat, which is cumbersome for the user to find.

Proposed Features

Proposed Features In Product Details Page

Proposed Features In Product Details
Page

Product Details Screen

The primary focus was to ensure that users are able to find satisfactory information and authentic customer reviews in the product details.

Problem In Current Product Details Page

From our primary research, we came to know that the first thing that users would do after searching for a product(mobile/electronic item) on Flipkart is, would look for a review on YouTube or authentic review websites. In the existing version of Flipkart, there is no option for the user to access videos by tech YouTubers, which is a poor experience as the user has to hustle for getting an authentic product review.

Features:

Profiles of Top YouTubers

  • Added profiles of top YouTubers related to the product on Flipkart.

  • Allows users to access videos from multiple YouTubers in one place.

Product Review Videos

  • Included videos of product reviews by top tech YouTubers.

  • Helps users by reducing the time and effort spent researching products on other platforms.

Like and Dislike Buttons

  • Introduced like and dislike buttons for video reviews.

  • Helps users gauge the usefulness of a video review.

Pain Points Addressed (PP):

  • Users often have to visit multiple platforms to find videos related to a product, leading to a fragmented and time-consuming experience.

  • Difficulty in finding credible and relevant video content directly related to their product of interest on Flipkart.

How it Will Work:

  • Integrate profiles of top YouTubers on Flipkart, showcasing their relevant videos related to the product.

  • Users can click on a YouTuber's profile to see a curated list of their videos specifically about the product or similar products.

  • Each profile will include a brief bio and a list of videos, with the option to follow or save the profile for future reference.

Assumptions:

  • Users trust the content created by top YouTubers and prefer watching their reviews and recommendations.

  • Top YouTubers will consent to having their profiles and videos integrated into Flipkart.

  • The integration will lead to increased user engagement and time spent on the Flipkart platform.

Risks:

  • YouTuber content may be biased or sponsored, potentially leading to trust issues among users.

  • Users may perceive the feature as intrusive or as an endorsement of specific YouTubers over others.

  • Technical challenges in maintaining updated profiles and videos.

Feature-Level Metrics:

  • Increase in average session duration on product pages.

  • Number of clicks and interactions with YouTuber profiles.

  • User feedback on the relevance and usefulness of the YouTuber content.

  • Reduction in bounce rates for product pages with YouTuber profiles.

Mockup

Pain Points Addressed (PP):

  • Limited Review Engagement: Users are often not motivated to leave reviews, resulting in insufficient feedback for other potential buyers.

  • Time-Consuming Review Process: Text-based reviews are less engaging and can be time-consuming for users to write and for others to interpret.

  • Inadequate Product Representation: Photos and videos offer a more accurate and engaging depiction of the product, which is often missing in text reviews.

  • Confusion in Review Process: The lack of clear options for finishing or skipping the review process can lead to user frustration and incomplete reviews.

  • Lack of Specific Delivery Feedback: Users' experiences with the delivery process are often overlooked, which could provide valuable insights for improving logistics and customer satisfaction.

How it Will Work:

  • Incentive Banner: A "Super Coins Loot" banner will be displayed to encourage users to leave reviews by offering Super Coins as rewards. These coins can be earned by submitting reviews, especially video reviews, which are more comprehensive and engaging.

  • Media Integration: Users will have the option to add photos and videos to their reviews. An "Add Video" button will allow users to upload videos that showcase the product from various angles and in use, providing a richer, more engaging review.

  • Delivery Experience Rating: A dedicated section will be added for users to rate and provide specific feedback on their delivery experience. This includes a “Rate Delivery” option and a text box for detailed comments on the delivery process.

  • Clear Navigation: The review section will feature distinct “Skip” and “Finish” buttons, placed separately to avoid confusion. This ensures users can clearly understand how to either complete or bypass the review process.

Assumptions:

  • User Engagement: Offering Super Coins will motivate more users to leave detailed reviews, including photos and videos.

  • Improved Product Insight: Visual content will provide a more accurate and engaging depiction of the product, helping users make informed purchasing decisions.

  • Detailed Delivery Feedback: Users will appreciate having a specific section to rate their delivery experience, providing valuable insights for improvement.

  • Navigation Clarity: Clear separation of skip and finish buttons will reduce user errors and enhance the review process experience.

Risks:

  • Quality of Reviews: Incentivizing reviews may lead to an increase in quantity but not necessarily in quality, requiring more moderation to maintain relevance and helpfulness.

  • Content Moderation: There may be a need for enhanced moderation to handle a higher volume of video and photo content, ensuring it is appropriate and useful.

  • System Abuse: Users might attempt to game the incentive system by submitting low-quality or fraudulent reviews for rewards.

  • User Adaptation: Changes in the review process may initially confuse some users, requiring a period of adaptation.

Feature-Level Metrics:

  • Review Submission Rate: Measure the number of reviews submitted before and after implementing the Super Coins incentive and media options.

  • User Engagement: Track the number of views and interactions with video and photo reviews, as well as the average time spent on product pages.

  • Review Quality: Assess the length, detail, and user ratings of reviews to gauge their usefulness and relevance.

  • Delivery Feedback Participation: Monitor the number of users providing detailed delivery feedback and the average delivery satisfaction score.

  • Task Completion Rate: Evaluate the percentage of users completing the review process compared to those who skip or abandon it, and monitor user feedback on the review interface clarity.

Feature: Enhanced Review Section with Incentives,
Media Options, and Delivery Feedback

Feature: Enhanced Review
Section with Incentives, Media Options, and Delivery Feedback

Problem In Current Add Review Screen

In the existing Flipkart version, if the user wants to add a review, only add photo option is available, and if the user wants to write a review specifically regarding the delivery experience, there is no option for that. This makes the user feel confused and the user ends up giving a bad rating of the product and not specifically of the delivery experience..

Problem In Current Add Review Screen
In the existing Flipkart version, if the user wants to add a review, only add photo option is available, and if the user wants to write a review specifically regarding the delivery experience, there is no option for that. This makes the user feel confused and the user ends up giving a bad rating of the product and not specifically of the delivery experience..

Mockup

Feature: Enhanced Recommendation System for
Personalized Suggestions and SocialConnectivity

Feature: Enhanced
Recommendation System for Personalized Suggestions and Social Connectivity

Pain Points Addressed (PP):

  • Lack of Personalized Recommendations: Users often struggle to find relevant product suggestions, relying heavily on generic recommendations that may not suit their specific needs or preferences.

  • Cumbersome Recommendation Process: Recommending products to friends and family can be a complex process that discourages users from sharing their favorite items.

  • Missed Social Connections: Users may not be aware of products recommended by their friends or family members, missing out on valuable personal recommendations.

  • Disjointed Recommendation Tracking: Users lack a centralized place to view all products recommended to them, leading to confusion and difficulty in keeping track of suggestions.

How it Will Work:

  • Notifier for Family/Friend Recommendations: A notification system will alert users when a product is recommended by a family member or friend. This can be integrated into the notification center or shown as a pop-up when the user visits the product page.

  • Recommendation Icon: A “recommend” icon will be added to product pages, allowing users to quickly and easily recommend products to their contacts. This icon will open a simplified recommendation form where users can select the recipient and add a personal message.

  • Profiles for Frequent Contacts: The system will analyze the user’s recommendation patterns and suggest contacts to whom products are frequently recommended. This feature will show a list of these contacts, making it easier to share products with them in the future.

  • Recommendation Section in Account Details: A new section will be added to the user’s account details where they can view all products recommended to them. This section will list the products along with details of who recommended them and any accompanying messages.

  • List of Recommended Items: A detailed list will show all items recommended to the user, including information on who recommended each product and any relevant notes. This list will be accessible from the account details or a dedicated recommendations page.

Assumptions:

  • User Engagement: Users will appreciate and use the feature to recommend products, given the ease of use and personal relevance of the recommendations.

  • Increased Social Interaction: Users will value recommendations from trusted contacts more than generic suggestions, enhancing the overall shopping experience.

  • Technology Adoption: Users are comfortable with and willing to use social and notification features integrated into their shopping experience.

  • Improved Discoverability: The new system will help users discover new products that are relevant and endorsed by their personal network.

Risks:

  • Privacy Concerns: Users might have concerns about sharing their shopping preferences and activities with friends and family, which could affect feature adoption.

  • System Abuses: There is a risk of misuse, such as users spamming recommendations, leading to annoyance and decreased trust in the system.

  • Technical Challenges: Integrating the notifier and recommendation features seamlessly into the existing system may require significant technical effort and maintenance.

  • Overwhelming Notifications: Users may feel overwhelmed by too many notifications, leading to potential feature fatigue or disengagement.

Feature-Level Metrics:

  • Recommendation Activity: Number of products recommended by users and the frequency of recommendations.

  • Engagement Metrics: Number of notifications opened and interacted with, and the average time spent on the recommendations page.

  • User Satisfaction: Feedback on the ease of use and usefulness of the recommendation features, measured through surveys or ratings.

  • Social Interaction: Number of recommendations received and acted upon (e.g., viewed, added to cart, or purchased).

  • Recommendation Influence: Conversion rates for products that have been recommended by friends or family compared to those that have not.

  • Privacy Concerns: Number of users opting out of the recommendation system due to privacy concerns.

Mockup

Solution Prioritization

Need for Primary Research
To validate data collected from secondary research, considering various parameters for e.g. product page views, average order value and overall experience, primary research was conducted.

For conducting the user research we followed the pattern: user screening → Preparation of session guide → user interviews.

To categorise our insights, we segregated our data from secondary and user interviews into empathy maps.



We conducted phone and video interviews with six users to gain a more in-depth understanding of their interactions with Flipkart. It was intriguing to understand how their behaviour and viewpoint on online purchasing has evolved.

Mockup

User Interviews

We conducted phone and video interviews with six users to gain a more in-depth understanding of their interactions with Flipkart. It was intriguing to understand how their behaviour and viewpoint on online purchasing has evolved.

Empathy Mapping

To categorise our insights, we segregated our data from secondary and user interviews into empathy maps.



User Personas

Based on the empathy mapping, users were categorised into two groups and user personas were created:

The Bargain Hunters — A buyer who is inclined towards deals and discounts, gets intimidated by lucrative offers.

The Analytical Buyers — A buyer who dives deep into product research, buys a product only when he/she is satisfied with the research.

User Journey Mapping

Mapping the user journey is an essential step in understanding users’ pain points. Each step of the user journey has the scope to enhance the user experience, as in every step user comes across different challenges and expectations. It is important to understand this plethora of emotions to understand and solve the user pain points.

Mapping the user journey is an essential step in understanding users’ pain points. Each step of the user journey has the scope to enhance the user experience, as in every step user comes across different challenges and expectations. It is important to understand this plethora of emotions to understand and solve the user pain points.

Ideating Solutions

Based on our secondary and primary research insights, we did a brainstorming session and came up with these solutions

Problem Area

We wanted to focus on two key business matrices by adding video reviews and recommendation features:

✅Improve User Satisfaction — From our primary user research, we saw that users are mostly satisfied with the product, but they have an unsatisfactory delivery experience with Flipkart. Late or incorrect delivery or poor customer service during the delivery process can negatively impact the user’s perception of the product, even if the product itself is of good quality. Additionally, users feel that the delivery process is an indicator of the company’s reliability and professionalism, and a negative delivery experience can lead to a decrease in customer trust and loyalty.

✅Task Completion — Before making a purchase of mobile and electronic items on Flipkart, users tend to conduct thorough research on different online platforms regarding the product. Their decision is not solely determined by customer reviews. So, they usually leave the purchase incomplete.

✅Willingness to make a recommendation — Users are normally sharing product links on WhatsApp, which is often not immediately addressed by the receiver and is usually lost in the chat, which is cumbersome for the user to find.

Proposed Features

Proposed Features In Product Details Page

Product Details Screen

The primary focus was to ensure that users are able to find satisfactory information and authentic customer reviews in the product details.

Problem In Current Product Details Page

From our primary research, we came to know that the first thing that users would do after searching for a product(mobile/electronic item) on Flipkart is, would look for a review on YouTube or authentic review websites. In the existing version of Flipkart, there is no option for the user to access videos by tech YouTubers, which is a poor experience as the user has to hustle for getting an authentic product review.

Features:

Profiles of Top YouTubers

  • Added profiles of top YouTubers related to the product on Flipkart.

  • Allows users to access videos from multiple YouTubers in one place.

Product Review Videos

  • Included videos of product reviews by top tech YouTubers.

  • Helps users by reducing the time and effort spent researching products on other platforms.

Like and Dislike Buttons

  • Introduced like and dislike buttons for video reviews.

  • Helps users gauge the usefulness of a video review.

Pain Points Addressed (PP):

  • Users often have to visit multiple platforms to find videos related to a product, leading to a fragmented and time-consuming experience.

  • Difficulty in finding credible and relevant video content directly related to their product of interest on Flipkart.

How it Will Work:

  • Integrate profiles of top YouTubers on Flipkart, showcasing their relevant videos related to the product.

  • Users can click on a YouTuber's profile to see a curated list of their videos specifically about the product or similar products.

  • Each profile will include a brief bio and a list of videos, with the option to follow or save the profile for future reference.

Assumptions:

  • Users trust the content created by top YouTubers and prefer watching their reviews and recommendations.

  • Top YouTubers will consent to having their profiles and videos integrated into Flipkart.

  • The integration will lead to increased user engagement and time spent on the Flipkart platform.

Risks:

  • YouTuber content may be biased or sponsored, potentially leading to trust issues among users.

  • Users may perceive the feature as intrusive or as an endorsement of specific YouTubers over others.

  • Technical challenges in maintaining updated profiles and videos.

Feature-Level Metrics:

  • Increase in average session duration on product pages.

  • Number of clicks and interactions with YouTuber profiles.

  • User feedback on the relevance and usefulness of the YouTuber content.

  • Reduction in bounce rates for product pages with YouTuber profiles.

Mockup

Feature: Enhanced Review Section with Incentives,
Media Options, and Delivery Feedback

Problem In Current Add Review Screen

In the existing Flipkart version, if the user wants to add a review, only add photo option is available, and if the user wants to write a review specifically regarding the delivery experience, there is no option for that. This makes the user feel confused and the user ends up giving a bad rating of the product and not specifically of the delivery experience..

Pain Points Addressed (PP):

  • Limited Review Engagement: Users are often not motivated to leave reviews, resulting in insufficient feedback for other potential buyers.

  • Time-Consuming Review Process: Text-based reviews are less engaging and can be time-consuming for users to write and for others to interpret.

  • Inadequate Product Representation: Photos and videos offer a more accurate and engaging depiction of the product, which is often missing in text reviews.

  • Confusion in Review Process: The lack of clear options for finishing or skipping the review process can lead to user frustration and incomplete reviews.

  • Lack of Specific Delivery Feedback: Users' experiences with the delivery process are often overlooked, which could provide valuable insights for improving logistics and customer satisfaction.

How it Will Work:

  • Incentive Banner: A "Super Coins Loot" banner will be displayed to encourage users to leave reviews by offering Super Coins as rewards. These coins can be earned by submitting reviews, especially video reviews, which are more comprehensive and engaging.

  • Media Integration: Users will have the option to add photos and videos to their reviews. An "Add Video" button will allow users to upload videos that showcase the product from various angles and in use, providing a richer, more engaging review.

  • Delivery Experience Rating: A dedicated section will be added for users to rate and provide specific feedback on their delivery experience. This includes a “Rate Delivery” option and a text box for detailed comments on the delivery process.

  • Clear Navigation: The review section will feature distinct “Skip” and “Finish” buttons, placed separately to avoid confusion. This ensures users can clearly understand how to either complete or bypass the review process.

Assumptions:

  • User Engagement: Offering Super Coins will motivate more users to leave detailed reviews, including photos and videos.

  • Improved Product Insight: Visual content will provide a more accurate and engaging depiction of the product, helping users make informed purchasing decisions.

  • Detailed Delivery Feedback: Users will appreciate having a specific section to rate their delivery experience, providing valuable insights for improvement.

  • Navigation Clarity: Clear separation of skip and finish buttons will reduce user errors and enhance the review process experience.

Risks:

  • Quality of Reviews: Incentivizing reviews may lead to an increase in quantity but not necessarily in quality, requiring more moderation to maintain relevance and helpfulness.

  • Content Moderation: There may be a need for enhanced moderation to handle a higher volume of video and photo content, ensuring it is appropriate and useful.

  • System Abuse: Users might attempt to game the incentive system by submitting low-quality or fraudulent reviews for rewards.

  • User Adaptation: Changes in the review process may initially confuse some users, requiring a period of adaptation.

Feature-Level Metrics:

  • Review Submission Rate: Measure the number of reviews submitted before and after implementing the Super Coins incentive and media options.

  • User Engagement: Track the number of views and interactions with video and photo reviews, as well as the average time spent on product pages.

  • Review Quality: Assess the length, detail, and user ratings of reviews to gauge their usefulness and relevance.

  • Delivery Feedback Participation: Monitor the number of users providing detailed delivery feedback and the average delivery satisfaction score.

  • Task Completion Rate: Evaluate the percentage of users completing the review process compared to those who skip or abandon it, and monitor user feedback on the review interface clarity.

Mockup

Feature: Enhanced Recommendation System for
Personalized Suggestions and SocialConnectivity

Pain Points Addressed (PP):

  • Lack of Personalized Recommendations: Users often struggle to find relevant product suggestions, relying heavily on generic recommendations that may not suit their specific needs or preferences.

  • Cumbersome Recommendation Process: Recommending products to friends and family can be a complex process that discourages users from sharing their favorite items.

  • Missed Social Connections: Users may not be aware of products recommended by their friends or family members, missing out on valuable personal recommendations.

  • Disjointed Recommendation Tracking: Users lack a centralized place to view all products recommended to them, leading to confusion and difficulty in keeping track of suggestions.

How it Will Work:

  • Notifier for Family/Friend Recommendations: A notification system will alert users when a product is recommended by a family member or friend. This can be integrated into the notification center or shown as a pop-up when the user visits the product page.

  • Recommendation Icon: A “recommend” icon will be added to product pages, allowing users to quickly and easily recommend products to their contacts. This icon will open a simplified recommendation form where users can select the recipient and add a personal message.

  • Profiles for Frequent Contacts: The system will analyze the user’s recommendation patterns and suggest contacts to whom products are frequently recommended. This feature will show a list of these contacts, making it easier to share products with them in the future.

  • Recommendation Section in Account Details: A new section will be added to the user’s account details where they can view all products recommended to them. This section will list the products along with details of who recommended them and any accompanying messages.

  • List of Recommended Items: A detailed list will show all items recommended to the user, including information on who recommended each product and any relevant notes. This list will be accessible from the account details or a dedicated recommendations page.

Assumptions:

  • User Engagement: Users will appreciate and use the feature to recommend products, given the ease of use and personal relevance of the recommendations.

  • Increased Social Interaction: Users will value recommendations from trusted contacts more than generic suggestions, enhancing the overall shopping experience.

  • Technology Adoption: Users are comfortable with and willing to use social and notification features integrated into their shopping experience.

  • Improved Discoverability: The new system will help users discover new products that are relevant and endorsed by their personal network.

Risks:

  • Privacy Concerns: Users might have concerns about sharing their shopping preferences and activities with friends and family, which could affect feature adoption.

  • System Abuses: There is a risk of misuse, such as users spamming recommendations, leading to annoyance and decreased trust in the system.

  • Technical Challenges: Integrating the notifier and recommendation features seamlessly into the existing system may require significant technical effort and maintenance.

  • Overwhelming Notifications: Users may feel overwhelmed by too many notifications, leading to potential feature fatigue or disengagement.

Feature-Level Metrics:

  • Recommendation Activity: Number of products recommended by users and the frequency of recommendations.

  • Engagement Metrics: Number of notifications opened and interacted with, and the average time spent on the recommendations page.

  • User Satisfaction: Feedback on the ease of use and usefulness of the recommendation features, measured through surveys or ratings.

  • Social Interaction: Number of recommendations received and acted upon (e.g., viewed, added to cart, or purchased).

  • Recommendation Influence: Conversion rates for products that have been recommended by friends or family compared to those that have not.

  • Privacy Concerns: Number of users opting out of the recommendation system due to privacy concerns.