Humans have an amazing ability to advance the technology around them. We’ve created life-saving innovations like MRI machines and traffic lights, to innovative handheld technologies like the iPhone and wireless headphones.
But there’s a broader technology network that keeps it all fast, fresh, and valuable, without which you’d suffer from slow loading times and connection lags. 5G is the latest generation of mobile networks, designed to create a new kind of network to keep us connected and efficient.
5G is the new global wireless standard, following 1G, 2G, 3G, and 4G networks. 5G wireless technology should deliver ultra-low latency, increased availability, increased network capacity, and increased reliability.
It changes the speed of everything we do with technology, from online games to phone calls. But 5G also promises to transform the way mobile devices are used for online shopping. Here’s how:
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In 2022, e-commerce revenue in the U.S. will exceed $800 billion, and is expected to grow to $1 trillion next year. 5G promises to fuel that growth by meeting consumer computing demands such as faster response times, faster loading, and virtual try-ons.
Ultra-low latency for seamless shopping
Low latency is a characteristic of computer networks that allows them to process large amounts of data with minimal delay. Low latency provides near real-time access to digital showrooms and customer service agents.
If a page takes too long to load, consumers will quickly lose interest because their desire to wait is greatly reduced. Therefore, when e-commerce companies take advantage of low latency, customers are less likely to click away from the site, helping the business maintain high sales.
James Blake, retail consulting practice leader at Vertex, explains that low latency helps e-commerce brands meet consumer demand. He also said that the companies that can meet consumer demand the fastest and most intuitively will be the winners in the e-commerce industry.
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“The goal should be a very fast and agile online shopping experience that allows customers to be fully engaged and immersed in the product or service, rather than being frustrated or distracted by a slow website. ” he says.
Justin Day, CEO of Cloud Gateway, agrees with Blake that businesses don’t necessarily need to be the best, but they do need to be the fastest.
“Shoppers now want instant access, and as latency improves, we can no longer tolerate delays of any kind,” Day says.
And low latency doesn’t just promise to meet customer demands, as 5G’s low latency helps businesses stay competitive and keep business metrics up to date. Parm Sandhu, vice president of enterprise and his 5G products and services at NTT LTD, explains how businesses can take advantage of low latency to improve customer satisfaction and increase brand loyalty.
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“5G and edge computing enable real-time logistics such as inventory location tracking, faster delivery, access to real-time product information, and updates, all of which improve customer satisfaction and brand loyalty. That leads to revenue,” Sandhu said. Say.
The more we live online, the more stress we place on our current networks. Each signal sent by a device must be processed via broadband, such as cable, fiber, router, or wireless transmission.
Small delays at each step of information processing add up and impact the latency at a particular website or application. Therefore, with 5G, we want to reduce the instances and duration of these delays to provide a seamless user experience.
5G and augmented reality enhance your visuals before you buy
Extended reality (XR) is an umbrella term that includes augmented reality, virtual reality, and mixed reality. Essentially, XR is an augmentation of reality, using technology to alter reality by adding virtual elements to the physical environment.
A great example of XR is Apple’s Vision Pro headset. The device doesn’t fully immerse you in the digital environment like Meta’s Quest headset, but it adds virtual components to expand the space around you.
But XR isn’t limited to headsets. XR can be used on smartphones. You’ve probably already used it. Amazon already offers mobile shopping experiences that incorporate XR technology. When purchasing furniture on Amazon, usersroom decorator” feature allows you to place digital furniture in your home before purchasing it.
Digitally place a yellow sofa in your living room using Amazon Room Decorator. Screenshot by Jada Jones/ZDNET
Birkenstock offers a digital try-on feature where users can point their phone’s camera at their feet to see which colors and shoe styles look best on them before they buy.
Birkenstock Boston Clogs can be placed on your feet using Birkenstock’s virtual try-on feature. Screenshot by Jada Jones/ZDNET
Low latency provides consumers with near real-time feedback, making XR the best mobile shopping resource for retailers and consumers. 5G’s low latency minimizes interruptions, and clearer images make the virtual try-on experience more enjoyable and accurate for consumers.
Blake said XR, coupled with 5G’s low latency, will help retailers create more personalized shopping experiences for users, in the same way that generative AI chatbots and virtual assistants have made customer experiences faster and more immersive. It says it will help provide.
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“5G could enable retailers to offer richer, more interactive mobile apps with higher-quality videos, images, and animations than were previously possible without sacrificing performance. ” he says.
Kyndryl UKI network and edge practice leader Stuart Greenslade says XR eliminates the hassles of buying clothes, such as queuing in fitting rooms. But he said retailers would also have an advantage with XR try-ons, but XR could reduce the need for brick-and-mortar stores.
“For retailers, consumers can virtually try on clothes before ordering, eliminating the need for large inventories on-site, reducing theft, AI suggesting alternatives, and matching accessories adding to the basket.” “It’s about pushing up and improving accessibility for new ranges,” he says.
Consumer access to 5G
5G promises numerous game-changing speeds and benefits for consumers and retailers. But deploying his 5G around the world has been a challenge, especially for carriers in the United States.
Companies like T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T have been bragging about 5G for years, but they’ve experienced many obstacles to achieving 5G speeds.
First, many Americans don’t have 5G-enabled devices, although the gap is narrowing. As more smartphone manufacturers announce smartphones with 5G connectivity, the chances of an American owning his 5G smartphone are increasing, but not 100%.
Millions of Americans still lack access to 5G networks due to difficult terrain and infrastructure, and reaching these parts of the country will continue to be a challenge for carriers.
Still, as more people connect to 5G as the year goes on, its promise may remain unfulfilled if it’s not fully adopted.
