With shopping festivals, spectacular malls and now smart hybrid stores, UAE has successfully branded itself as a retail hub on a global scale. Apart from Emirati residents, tourists flocking to Dubai and its neighbouring cities have also contributed towards UAE’s popularity as a consumer-friendly destination.
The reputation has been largely generated via word of mouth, and now businesses in the country have also turned towards online marketing along with algorithms to measure consumer behaviour. Since stores and brands are willing to embrace digital innovation, a new app in the Emirates is aiming to connect consumers with each other and subsequently with businesses, for informed purchases.
Providing relief to shoppers from the tedious task of going through numerous opinions before buying a product or eating out, Raayi collects ratings from consumers to point out the best bet for users. The platform simplifies the process of looking for an outlet via filters including the area, pricing and the services on offer.
Its system goes beyond facilitating the search for suitable retail stores, to unlock a database of restaurants and hotels along with travel, healthcare, medical, beauty, event management, real estate and financial services. The list covers 17 industries and provides insights paired with curated lists of businesses that can be circulated within the consumer community.
The developers are banking on findings, which suggest that in the era of online shopping and social media, 95% buyers go through user reviews online and 83% consider them as reliable inputs before buying products. At a time when people are still getting used to outdoor movement in the post-pandemic era, the app saves them from the trouble of driving around cities and visiting several stores for the best buy.
But Raayi isn’t all about consumers, since businesses can also gauge buyer behaviour through the app, and interact with shoppers to address their queries. With new firms popping up in the Emirates during the past year, this kind of outreach can significantly empower them with a digital outreach.
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