Using immersive virtual reality technology in online shopping was the next step for Future Technology after the VR MMORPG.
Imagine being able to shop without stepping out of the house. You don't even need to move your legs to go shopping. In front of the computer … No, in front of the helmet, you would no longer have to worry about the fit of the clothes you bought online because you could "take" the clothes out of the shopping cart and "wear" them. Whether they were good or not, you would know after trying them on!
The introduction of VR shopping meant that the only advantage of trying on the clothes in physical stores would no longer exist. Physical stores were already at a disadvantage in terms of cost when compared to online stores that didn't have to pay rent, and now the shopping experience was pulled to the same level. It was foreseeable that once this consumption model became widespread, it would have a disruptive impact on the entire retail industry and even the real estate market.
With such a "profitable" technology, other e-commerce companies obviously wouldn't turn a blind eye to it.
For example, with regards to VR shopping, or the legendary "buy +" concept, Ali had been doing it since the beginning of 2016. But due to technical limitations, the VR shopping experience launched by Ali was very mediocre; it was far from as magical as advertised.
Designing an interactive VR image for every store was unrealistic in terms of the amount of work, and it greatly increased the barrier to entry into the VR shopping market.
Also, the shopping experience that VR glasses could bring to the user was limited. If it was just an image, there was no difference between shopping through the screen and shopping through it. But if the high-end 3D motion capture technology was used to restore the physical parameters of the product, it would undoubtedly increase the cost of the equipment. Would users buy a high-end VR glasses worth thousands of dollars just to shop? Perhaps there were, but there weren't many of them.
Therefore, a VR device with a large market share and the ability to maximize the shopping experience was needed to serve as the medium for VR shopping.
The Phantom Helmet happened to meet these two requirements!
The explosive sales already established a large user base, and the immersive virtual reality technology provided technical support for the user's comprehensive experience. Because of this, Ali contacted Jiang Chen as soon as the business meeting ended, hoping to cooperate on "VR + e-commerce".
But Jiang Chen didn't immediately respond to Ma Zong who personally called because he still needed to discuss the issue with Xia Shiyu. As for the e-commerce business, should he do it himself or cooperate with others?
Could Future Technology abandon Ali and start their own e-commerce business? After some discussion, Jiang Chen and Xia Shiyu agreed that it was theoretically possible, but there was no practical need. Future Technology didn't have experience in e-commerce. Spending a lot of time and energy on e-commerce was difficult and unrewarding.
Just like building an aircraft carrier, there was no need to produce every screw themselves.
With the technological advantage, Future Technology could only focus on the channel. As for the content, it could be done by Ali, Jingdong, Amazon, and eBay.
Jiang Chen's goal in Wanghai was to figure out how to cooperate.
…
The next morning, Liu Haotian arrived at the entrance of the villa as promised.
When he saw Jiang Chen walking out of the mansion with a refreshed face, he guessed what happened last night. He just smiled mischievously and didn't say anything. He got out of the car and opened the door for Jiang Chen. After Jiang Chen set the destination on the GPS, he drove Jiang Chen in the direction of the destination.
There were many companies that invited Jiang Chen to discuss "VR + e-commerce" cooperation, both domestic and foreign. The reason why he made a trip to Wanghai was mainly to discuss this matter.
Based on the negotiation strategy he discussed with Xia Shiyu, Jiang Chen's first target was not Ali, but Ali's international competitor, Amazon.
At first, Amazon proposed that Future Technology open up the development tools for virtual reality software and provide authorization for them to design their own unique e-commerce software.
But Jiang Chen, of course, wouldn't accept their proposal. Not to mention that it was not the time to take out the development tools. Based on their proposal, Amazon would be able to get rid of them. Even if "VR + e-commerce" became a big deal, it would have nothing to do with Future Technology.
Both sides didn't want to compromise on the issue of principle, so the negotiation couldn't continue. Then Jiang Chen gave up and went to eBay.
When they realized Future Group didn't want to talk to them anymore, Amazon panicked.
Who would want Future Technology to be the only company that mastered immersive virtual reality technology? If their competitor entered the virtual reality platform first, it would be a heavy blow to Amazon's business. Amazon, realizing this, immediately lowered their stance and requested to reopen the negotiation, indicating that they were willing to compromise on the software.
Therefore, the negotiation between the two parties became a three-way negotiation.
At this time, Ali, who had been excluded, couldn't sit still anymore. They were waiting for Jiang Chen to come to them, but they didn't expect Future Technology, Amazon, and eBay to reach an agreement soon!
That wouldn't do. Ali couldn't fall behind their competitors. Considering the popularity of the Phantom helmet overseas, entering the VR platform based on the Phantom would be a great opportunity for Ali to expand into the international market!
Old Ma, who just flew back to Wanghai from Shangjing, immediately found Jiang Chen and politely invited him to his home for a meal.
Hua had always had the habit of discussing business over wine. Old Ma personally invited Jiang Chen to drink and discuss business, which was quite an honor.
This was what Jiang Chen was waiting for.
Of course, he wasn't waiting for Ma Zong to toast him with a few glasses of wine at the table, nor did he intend to exclude Ali from the conversation. The reason why he didn't actively talk to Ali was because he wanted them to be impatient and come to him!
Future Technology, eBay, and Amazon's negotiations were almost completed. If a fourth party wanted to join in, they had to show some sincerity.
Sure enough, Ali didn't disappoint Jiang Chen. Compared to the greedy foreigners, they not only made concessions on the e-commerce cooperation, but they also proposed a cooperation plan that was more beneficial to Future Technology!
Seeing this scene, the representatives from eBay and Amazon cheered. Seeing that Jiang Chen was interested in the cooperation plan, the people on Ali's side were relieved.
The specific cooperation plan was as follows:
Future Technology will design a platform-based software, and Ali will provide the content. Users will purchase goods from Future Technology's virtual reality store, and Ali will decide which goods can be logged into the virtual reality store. Confirmation of purchase will be through the Phantom's built-in browser to Taobao's page, or Taobao will simply redesign a simple purchase and payment page for the goods logged into the virtual reality store.
It was like Future Technology was a supermarket, and Ali and other e-commerce companies were suppliers or counter renters. The former decided the location of the goods, and the latter provided their own supply. As for the small merchants registered under the major e-commerce companies, they were just small goods placed on the shelves.
In short, Future Technology was only a platform, and e-commerce was still e-commerce.
As soon as the plan came out, Jiang Chen tossed aside his original plan. As expected of the professionals, he couldn't think of any reason to reject this proposal.
Although Amazon and eBay were unhappy, they couldn't come up with a better proposal, so they had to take a step back and accept the proposal.
Then, Jiang Chen invited Jingdong, Global Shopping, and other e-commerce companies interested in VR to participate in the negotiations. Based on their respective market share in the e-commerce field, the parties divided the VR channel and worked together to perfect the cooperation plan.
In one week, eight "VR + e-commerce" contracts were signed. Strictly speaking, it was the first business deal that Jiang Chen, the incompetent president, negotiated for the company this year.
And it was a business worth tens of billions!
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