Aligning With New Technologies

Your author (SSP) interviews Shilpa DK (SDK) as she shares her perspective on how Arqonz’s e-commerce platform helps different stakeholders from the construction industry, including vertical transportation.

SSP: What was the thought process/inspiration behind this concept?

SDK: We built the concept on three principles. There was a demand-supply disconnect in the market. We wanted to bridge this through one portal. Then, we wanted to help our clients to focus more on their core areas, which is where time management comes in. The moment you bring in every conceivable solution on a single platform, it saves a lot of running around. So, with better time management, our clients are able to focus more on core areas, improving quality and productivity. We understood that addressing these two issues would inevitably lead to faster, easier and wiser decisions through augmented reality (AR) technology.

SSP: What are the platform’s advantages?  

SDK: The platform is so unique in that besides connecting buyers with manufacturers, it also generates workable, viable and important leads for businesses. In a way, it helps develop and strengthen business through a wider network and retrieves the best deals available in the market, which may be unthinkable for those who work conventionally. We are also working on touchless showcasing of products through AR, which will be launched soon. 

SSP: What has been the response from the target audience so far?  

SDK: To put it in one word: immense! We have been getting excellent responses from the customers. Some of them have received more than 100 leads in just two weeks. More importantly, our customers now have the luxury of measuring the response rate, unlike in the past when they mostly went for blind shots. The suppliers are also happy with our platform because it is a user-friendly platform to display their products.

SSP: Which segments or product categories are witnessing a greater demand among the platform users?

SDK: Sanitaryware, electrical fittings, tiles, paints, kitchens and, yes, even elevators, which is a new segment. We have been getting innumerable clicks for elevators, which is a pleasant surprise. Elevators and escalators are in demand for high-rise, as well as low-rise, construction.

SSP: How can this platform facilitate sourcing elevators, escalators and car-parking systems, and to what extent would it be useful? 

SDK: Indeed, elevators and escalators are not regular things that you see on an e-commerce platform. We are probably the only platform to showcase elevators. Not just that, but we will soon be adding escalators and car parking systems, too. We have no doubt this will be a novelty.

SSP: With the ongoing pandemic, a lot of real estate and infrastructure projects are going off schedule with delays and supply chain disruptions. How can the platform help to manage such situations?

SDK: There is no denying the fact that the pandemic has disrupted the conventional supply chain system. However, the old, fragile supply chain system is getting replaced by a robust one on a global scale. Technology is aiding this process and, again, ours is a platform that aligns with new technologies, which naturally results in hassle-free sourcing. In the current situation, we envisage a change in production costs. But our platform helps to find relevant products at the best prices.

SSP: To avoid damage before installation, how can the platform enable coping with pandemic-related delays for these and other such elements?

SDK: Going by conventional practice, manufacturers/suppliers make the delivery only when the customer confirms that the site is ready for installation of elevators or escalators. This is done manually. But Arqonz will soon provide an online option that will do away with this old system. With this online option, the supplier can update the customer using AR and inspect the status of the site with the help of virtual reality technology.