Relay Commerceis in the E-Commerce Enablers Industry

Relay Commerce

Hi Bas, welcome to our series “Behind the Startup.” Please tell us about yourself and the story behind Bistroo? Ishan Pandey: Hi Ishan, thanks for having me in this segment. My name is Bas Roos, and I’m a 30-year old entrepreneur from the Netherlands. I’m the CEO and Co-founder of , together with my partner and CTO, Bob Dohmen. We started the company with the vision of disrupting the commerce models that currently dominate and dictate our food consumption markets. Bas Roos: Bistroo The current food delivery & takeaway market has been monopolized by platforms that control and dictate all the major aspects of said chain, both on the supply and the demand side of the market. We are disrupting this model by providing a neutral and transparent commerce protocol that organizes all aspects of the merchant and customer relationship. A direct-to-consumer commerce protocol in which the digital infrastructure can all tasks and control to the sellers and incorporate contribution, loyalty, and interaction directly with their buyer community. decentralize How can blockchain be applied to the food industry? Ishan Pandey: Blockchain can be applied to food and logistics in various ways. For example, blockchain will be integrated into our platform to provide transparency on subjects like loyalty rewards, merchant rankings, reviews, ratings, and offerings through smart contract technology. It will also enable us to nurture a community-driven platform through crypto technology, a strategic direction towards a future in which crypto’s play a major role in our commerce relationships and direct payments, and co-create and grow our platform together with our community. Bas Roos: peer-2-peer Overly controlling and astronomically exorbitant fees for eateries are two major issues with rival takeaway platforms. In your opinion, can blockchain help address and effectively move past these hurdles? Ishan Pandey: Yes, in the future, I feel will play a major role in how we organize our retail and business transactions in an efficient manner. Blockchain and crypto technology still has a lot of hurdles to overcome on technology maturity, regulation, and adoption. Bas Roos: blockchain However, once these challenges have been overcome, blockchain will enable us to frictionlessly organize collaboration, commerce, and interaction in an efficient and peer-2-peer manner. Decentralizing tasks and responsibilities, enabled by blockchain protocols, allows for a higher level of automation and reliance on the digital infrastructure, instead of relying on the dominating model of platforms currently in the market, and therefore open the possibilities for a much more efficient model. Numerous traditional investment industries, such as art, real estate, etc., have already been revolutionized by blockchain technology. What has been the impact of blockchain technology on the restaurant industry? Ishan Pandey: NFT applications have taken the space by storm lately and have found good use cases in areas like art and real estate. Perhaps, recipes or other food-related content could end up in the NFT space as well. For the food industry, blockchain is set to make a big impact on areas like supply chain transparency and efficiency. You can already see some of these efforts being adopted in the current retail model. Bas Roos: We relay this dynamic into a commerce platform for fresh produce and specialty products too. Additionally, we see a big role in organizing fair-trade in a transparent and fully protocol-reliant way. Blockchain has an amazing premise of bringing together supply and demand, and this is where we feel it touches base with the restaurant industry currently. For example, rankings and reviews will be transparently stored on the blockchain and provide assurance on the information being served for consumers to base their decision on. This could extend into the supply chain aspect, where consumer demands on how ingredients are processed and produced, or even if fair compensations have been provided, become part of the decision-making process at a food ordering level. What, in your opinion, are the biggest roadblocks in the restaurant sector that are preventing mainstream adoption of blockchain technology within the ecosystem? Ishan Pandey: Generally, regulatory roadblocks are the biggest challenge of blockchain and crypto technology currently. If there would be more clarity on the use of crypto and blockchain technology within commercial applications, more validity and trust will be generated, and adoption could be promoted through an interactive and gamified approach. Bas Roos: One of the major hurdles for cryptocurrencies in the restaurant industry, aside from adoption, is its sustainability owing to its use of large, energy-intensive processors. In this context, what are your thoughts on blockchain’s long-term viability in the restaurant industry? Ishan Pandey: Currently, the biggest energy-intensive processors rely on the Proof of Work consensus mechanism, especially Ethereum is currently already improving that area of the protocol and therefore reducing the amount of energy needed to produce blocks. This is one of the major areas of technological advancements that Blockchain will have to overcome in the coming years. Bas Roos: Ethereum (ETH) has been used to establish a number of decentralized financial (DeFi) applications. However, its low efficiency, limited throughput, and hefty gas fees have posed a challenge to the end-user. According to you, what is the solution for the high transaction fees in the short term? Ishan Pandey: Currently, there are already layer 2 solutions on the market that allow for cheaper transactions with higher throughput while still relying on the key aspects of the base protocol. These options are being considered, and we keep a close eye on all the developments in the market on this subject. However, Ethereum is also working hard on improving its protocol with regard to these areas of limitations. The vision of becoming a general-purpose blockchain is something that is communicated and emphasized by their developer community constantly. To achieve that vision, these challenges must be overcome. In the short term, there are options to work around these issues. In the long-term, Ethereum will, however, in our opinion, overcome these challenges and serve as the intended decentralized application protocol. Bas Roos: Despite the convenience of delivery and takeaway, it has led to scantier options in restaurants than ever before, primarily because middlemen’s involvement can take up to 60% of an order value. What role can blockchain technology play in curbing these major price inflations? Ishan Pandey: The current models rely completely on a centralized party that operates and controls every aspect of the business. Orders, Payments, Refunds, Logistics, Store Management, Promotions, Consumer data, Rankings, Ratings, and Reviews are all done and controlled by the intermediary party. On both digital platform models, as well as physical retail models, this is the standard of serving the food market currently. Blockchain technology has the ability to flip this model and give complete control back to the merchants while still digitally facilitating the relationship between buyers and sellers. Allowing all the aspects of the process mentioned above to be handled by the protocol in full, but according to the terms and conditions of the merchant rather than the platforms. Bas Roos: Restaurant delivery intermediaries hold vast amounts of customer data that are susceptible to cyber-attacks. In this regard, from a regulatory standpoint, what measures are necessary to avoid major cyber-attacks? Ishan Pandey: Security measures should always be in place when providing a digital service, especially when handling consumer or customer data. Iterative and continuous testing on this aspect is crucial while implementing all the necessary measures to safely store and process data. Cyber-criminals keep improving their tactics and staying on top of the developments, and continuously investing in security measures will always be crucial. Bas Roos: What role has the covid-19 pandemic played in the restaurant industry’s downfall, and what role can blockchain play in helping improve the condition? Ishan Pandey: Covid-19 shook up the restaurant market by storm. Before the pandemic, a lot of restaurants were still fully focused on consumers eating in at their locations. However, during the pandemic, they were forced to close down and, in some cases, even halt their business altogether. Bas Roos: There were also a lot of restaurants that decided to move into the takeaway and delivery space for the very first time and got a taste of how powerful and vibrant this side of the market really is. A lot of our merchants fall into this category and have repeatedly expressed this realization to us and determined it to be a big opportunity for business continuity and growth. Almost all of them will stay active within the takeaway and delivery space in the post-covid era. What trends are we going to see in the restaurant and blockchain industry next? Ishan Pandey: Besides the transparency trend on how our food is produced, processed, and prepared, we will see more and more adoption of crypto and blockchain use cases in general. E-commerce is one of the next areas where we feel blockchain will make its way towards the general public. There’s a movement towards innovation and fairness all around us, and consumers value these principles more and more when consuming a product or service. Blockchain will be able to provide assurance on the information being used to make these consumer decisions. Bas Roos: Disclaimer: The purpose of this article is to remove informational asymmetry existing today in our digital markets by performing due diligence by asking the right questions and equipping readers with better opinions to make informed decisions. The material does not constitute any investment, financial, or legal advice. Please do your research before investing in any digital assets or tokens, etc. The writer does not have any vested interest in the company. Ishan Pandey.

How Blockchain can Disrupt the Restaurant Industry 

PIECHAIN Demo: Exploring a Practical Blockchain Interoperability Framework

পাইচেন ডেমো: একটি ব্যবহারিক ব্লকচেইন ইন্টারঅপারেবিলিটি ফ্রেমওয়ার্ক অন্বেষণ করা

PIECHAIN-Demo: Erkundung eines praktischen Blockchain-Interoperabilitätsrahmens

Demostración de PIECHAIN: Explorando un marco práctico de interoperabilidad de Blockchain

Démo PIECHAIN : Explorer un cadre pratique d'interopérabilité de la blockchain

PIECHAIN डेमो: एक व्यावहारिक ब्लॉकचेन इंटरऑपरेबिलिटी फ्रेमवर्क की खोज

PIECHAIN デモ: 実用的なブロックチェーン相互運用性フレームワークの探究

PIECHAIN 데모: 실용적인 블록체인 상호 운용성 프레임워크 탐색

Demonstração PIECHAIN: Explorando uma estrutura prática de interoperabilidade Blockchain

Демонстрация PIECHAIN: изучение практической структуры взаимодействия блокчейнов

PIECHAIN Demosu: Pratik Bir Blockchain Birlikte Çalışabilirlik Çerçevesini Keşfetmek

Bản trình diễn PIECHAIN: Khám phá Khung tương tác Blockchain thực tế

PIECHAIN 演示：探索实用的区块链互操作性框架

DevOps for Beginners: Navigating the Transition from Traditional Development

Today, I'm speaking with James Tagg, Chief Architect and Head of US Operations at World Mobile, and in this insightful interview, we'll talk about the transformative potential of Decentralized Wireless (DeWi) technology in rural America. We'll also look at how DeWi differs from traditional internet infrastructure, as well as the pressing challenges that both rural and suburban areas in the U.S. face regarding internet connectivity and how DeWi offers a promising solution to bridge the digital divide. So, let's get straight in! Hi there, please introduce yourself, and tell us what you do. I'm James Tagg, Chief Architect and Head of US Operations at World Mobile. Can you provide an overview of Decentralized Wireless (DeWi) technology and how it differs from traditional internet infrastructure? Well, to start with, it's not Internet infrastructure; what we do is mobile infrastructure. Decentralized Wireless (DeWi) technology focuses on providing mobile infrastructure to improve coverage, cost, and privacy. It can also complement wireless broadband to offer an alternative to fixed-line connectivity, particularly for hard-to-reach customers. Let's break it down. In the conventional scenario, mobile service providers establish extensive networks of towers to deliver mobile services to individual handsets and, in some cases, provide mobile broadband to homes through small building-mounted antennas. Large corporations centrally manage these networks with tens of thousands of employees and have a substantial cost base. DeWi, on the other hand, transforms this paradigm. Instead of relying on corporate giants, it empowers individuals and communities to take charge of their cellular connectivity needs. For instance, consider a farming community or a local village; rather than shelling out substantial fees to established telecom companies, they can install and manage their own cellular connectivity. This shift from centralized control to local, community-driven management is the essence of DeWi. DeWi enables smaller-scale, localized, and community-led mobile infrastructure deployment, breaking away from the traditional, top-down approach associated with large telecom companies. What are the main challenges rural areas in the U.S. face when it comes to internet connectivity, and how does DeWi address these challenges? Firstly, we should note, the issue isn't limited to rural areas alone. Take, for example, Silicon Valley or my own residence in San Diego. On my street, the six houses adjacent to mine lack quality wireless connectivity, meaning the mobile phone fails as you walk around the property and get into the car in the drive. Many normal use cases don't work, such as getting into the car while listening to a conference call. Additionally, only a single cable provider laid the cables more than three decades ago when the neighborhood was developed. The service is costly, and there is no competitive pressure. This situation persists despite being situated in a suburban environment. Extending this problem to rural regions makes it even more pronounced. Many villages and farming areas encounter similar challenges. Interestingly, even if you are just a short five-mile distance away from a major interstate, a common scenario in California, Nevada, and many other locations, you often find yourself without mobile connectivity and broadband access. What are the key components or technologies that make DeWi a promising solution for bridging the digital divide in rural America? Firstly, DeWi leverages the concept of community-driven infrastructure development, which proves to be a cost-effective approach. Rather than expending substantial sums on land acquisition and tower construction, communities contribute locations and land for deploying essential infrastructure like fiber optics. Furthermore, significant recent developments have reshaped the telecommunications landscape in the United States. The introduction of lightly licensed shared spectrum, such as the Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS). This is a game-changer. In the past, large blocks of spectrum were auctioned, with mobile operators often spending millions to billions of dollars to acquire licenses from the FCC. In some European countries, the price tag could even reach $10 billion to secure national spectrum licenses. However, in the U.S., county-level licenses are available, albeit still costly, ranging from 2 to $10 million. What has truly transformed the situation is the availability of spectrum that can be obtained from the government for a mere $4 per month. This dramatic shift has opened new possibilities. World Mobile has obtained Band 71 licensed Spectrum and is pioneering a community-sharing approach. We manage the spectrum and its associated services for regulatory reasons, but the groundbreaking aspect is that anyone can set up their own antennas using this spectrum and our technology. Regular people or small businesses can expand network coverage for their specific area or community and become part of the collective network established by World Mobile. DeWi's ability to leverage community-driven infrastructure development and the introduction of licensed shared spectrum, such as CBRS, is revolutionizing the way rural America can access connectivity and bridge the digital divide. In terms of scalability and infrastructure, what are some of the considerations when implementing DeWi in rural areas with limited existing connectivity infrastructure? There are some key considerations When implementing DeWi in rural areas with limited existing connectivity infrastructure. First and foremost, establishing the foundational connectivity is paramount, typically involving installing fiber optics. A significant advantage we have at the moment is the commitment to fund the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment Program (BEAD), a bipartisan effort, to allocate $40 billion for the expansion of fiber networks to rural regions across America. This financial support greatly simplifies the process of launching DeWi initiatives, as it covers a substantial portion of the most costly aspect: installing fiber through trenching. What types of internet applications and services can benefit the most from improved connectivity in rural areas through Decentralized Wireless (DeWi)? Are there specific use cases that stand out? Improved connectivity in rural areas through DeWi primarily benefits applications and services that rely on high-quality internet access, with video content being a significant driver and constituting approximately 70% of internet traffic. Activities like video conferencing, education through content on platforms like YouTube, and similar interactive sessions like the one we're having now on this call. Without robust and consistent connectivity, these activities can be severely hampered. Other services, such as banking services, also benefit from reliable connectivity. Interruptions during online transactions can lead to data loss and inconvenience, for example, having to retype complex forms. As a result, individuals often avoid these tasks until they have access to a stable connection via a fixed-line connection. They do not get the advantages of online transactions if they don't have a stable connection. While all applications can benefit from improved connectivity, the most pronounced impact is observed in activities that require high bandwidth and stable interactivity. Conversely, basic tasks like asynchronous text messaging and email checking can generally function adequately on less robust connections. Of course, if you have no connectivity at all, then even the basic functions are unavailable. How does DeWi technology ensure reliability and stability of internet connectivity in remote and rural locations, which are often prone to environmental factors and infrastructure limitations? One significant advantage of DeWi lies in its community-driven management. In this model, the local community takes charge of the network, and if any issues arise, the person with the expertise to resolve them typically resides nearby. This contrasts with traditional infrastructure providers who might need to dispatch technicians from distant locations, causing delays in addressing connectivity problems. The proximity of those who care about the network's reliability enables quicker response and resolution. While DeWi faces similar challenges as traditional infrastructure in terms of maintenance and potential cable cuts, local ownership plays a pivotal role. As there are innovative solutions available within the community setting. For instance, a farmer we are testing with had implemented a meshing system that allows them to use cellular connections as a temporary relay if a cable is accidentally cut. This interim measure ensures that connectivity remains intact while repairs are being made. So, yes, there are tactics that you can use if you're in the community to simply reroute the traffic. In contrast, it could take two months for a large mobile service provider to reroute a signal. These practical, community-driven solutions are a testament to the agility and responsiveness that DeWi offers in addressing connectivity disruptions. How can community involvement and local empowerment play a role in successfully implementing Decentralized Wireless (DeWi) networks in rural areas? Local communities have a unique advantage in mobilizing resources and coordinating efforts effectively. When a community comes together to improve their connectivity, the process becomes considerably streamlined. In contrast, relying on a large corporation for such endeavors can result in lengthy, protracted projects that might span several years. In addition, local engagement fosters a sense of ownership and responsibility. When the community takes the lead in addressing their connectivity needs, the project tends to be more efficient and cost-effective. The difference in both timeline and budget can be substantial, with community-led initiatives often achieving results in a matter of months compared to the multi-year timescales associated with corporate-led efforts. In essence, community involvement and local empowerment not only expedite the implementation of DeWi networks in rural areas but also empower the residents, fostering a sense of control over their connectivity solutions. Are there any potential challenges or limitations that DeWi technology might face in rural areas, and how can these challenges be overcome? In a rural context, there's typically more groundwork than urban areas. You might need to establish basic infrastructure such as fiber and power sources. However, what distinguishes rural settings is the ease of overcoming these challenges. In rural areas, you can often directly engage with the landowners and seek permission to lay cables, which tends to be a straightforward process. These challenges are more complex when dealing with urban areas, with bureaucratic hurdles significantly slowing down progress. While rural contexts may demand more initial effort in terms of infrastructure setup, their advantage lies in the relative absence of bureaucratic complexities. This straightforward, community-focused approach is a key characteristic of DeWi technology, making it well-suited for bridging the digital divide in such areas. What are the potential economic and social impacts of improving internet connectivity in rural areas through Decentralized Wireless (DeWi)? How might it benefit these communities? DeWi's role in improving internet connectivity can drive economic growth, expand educational opportunities, and empower local businesses, fostering more vibrant and self-sustaining rural communities. Enhanced connectivity contributes to income growth and expanded economic opportunities. It allows residents in rural areas to access online job opportunities, engage in freelance work, and participate in e-commerce platforms, thereby increasing their overall income. Improved internet access also significantly influences education. Students in rural areas can access online learning resources, receive remote instruction, and engage in distance education programs, helping bridge the educational gap between rural and urban areas. Additionally, improved connectivity is advantageous for local businesses and entrepreneurs. With improved internet access, rural businesses can reach a larger market, reduce their reliance on middlemen, and then offer their products and services directly to consumers, resulting in increased profitability and the creation of new jobs within the community. Looking ahead, what do you envision as the future of connectivity in rural America with the continued development and adoption of Decentralized Wireless (DeWi) solutions? When envisioning the future of connectivity in rural America, one of the key prospects is that the community can gain ownership of its connectivity, enabling greater control, reduced costs, and increased flexibility compared to large, centralized infrastructures that often overlook the unique needs of rural economies. This shift is particularly important given the structural challenges in the U.S., where multiple carriers operate independently and are reluctant to share infrastructure. Consequently, serving a specific area might necessitate building multiple, redundant infrastructure networks, which is neither practical nor economically viable. Crucially, lower cost in this context does not imply lower quality. DeWi solutions can provide high-quality connectivity while embracing a community-driven approach where individuals come together, contribute resources, and build and maintain the network collaboratively. By sidestepping the bureaucratic and costly processes associated with traditional infrastructure development, DeWi empowers communities to take charge of their connectivity. In essence, the future of connectivity in rural America with DeWi solutions holds the promise of local ownership, cost-effectiveness, and community-driven collaboration to address the unique connectivity needs of rural areas, ensuring that more regions are covered and connected effectively.

Decentralized Wireless (DeWi): Closing the Rural-Urban Internet Gap in America

eCommerce businesses face significant competition. More so, since global logistics enable competition at a global scale. This means that eCommerce marketing is not optional. Loyalty from customers is rare as this business rests on price sensitivity. That is, if customers find a decent product at a cheaper rate, they have no incentive to remember an eCommerce website or return to it. As a result, constantly working on marketing campaigns is critical for eCommerce business owners. A smart eCommerce entrepreneur will automate their marketing to grow their website. At least wherever it’s possible. So that they can focus on problem-solving and new strategies to attract customers. In this post, I’d like to share ways to automate eCommerce marketing. We’ll look at simple things like adding opt-in popup forms to something more elaborate, like using AI to manage customer support. The Skinny on eCommerce Marketing What does eCommerce marketing consist of anyway? In general, marketing is the overall practice or function of drawing people to a business. And it overlaps with sales. However, sales is almost separate from marketing because it’s about closing and getting people to take action. While marketing is all the steps before closing sales, and it’s about building everything that makes a sale possible. When it comes to eCommerce, sales is the lifeblood of the business. With so much invested in hosting, inventory management, product building, logistics, and so on, marketing to be conversion-oriented and hyper-focused on sales. needs So, we’re going to look at marketing automation that supports sales as the end goal. We’re also going to look at ways to build trust, authority, and more because virtually no one buys anything on a whim. People go through several stages of research and contact with a brand before buying from them. Knowing this, you should leverage the appropriate marketing automation tools to make sales faster and easier. Let’s take a look at what eCommerce marketing automation tools look like. 1. Push Notifications Typically, opt-in popup forms go at the top of the list for me when it comes to lead generation and marketing automation. But, to my best knowledge, eCommerce businesses are best served by using push notification tools as a primary means to collect leads and communicate with audiences. Push notifications, done correctly, are instant messages that pop up on mobile and desktop browsers. And they are great for engaging audiences and sharing key information with them, for example: When a product is on sale When something is trending To offer discounts and special offers To bring back people to finish shopping on their abandoned carts And so on. Use a push notification tool or plugin, and set them up so that they . These triggers could be a welcome push notification when a person signs up, abandoned cart activities, RSS feed campaigns, and so on. activate on specific triggers In this way, an eCommerce business can relay important information and timely content automatically. Once the setup is done at the start, you can easily reach more people and offer personalized experiences via push notifications. 2. Drip Email Marketing Remember that getting customers to buy from you is a journey, not a single trip. Another analogy you can use is thinking of the process of selling as a campaign spread over time rather than a single skirmish. In terms of marketing, you need to have a sequence of communication set up and ready to go at the right time, to the right people, in the most optimized format. One of the most powerful ways to do this is to use your email marketing, and set up a drip campaign. A drip campaign is a series of emails that you can send when a trigger is hit. For example, when a new subscriber signs up for your email list, you could launch a drip campaign with a welcome email, an email with news one week later, a free offer a few days later, some kind of promotion afterward, and so on. Other triggers for drip campaigns are when your user adds a product to a cart and abandons it. Or if a user hasn’t logged into their account for a while. Drip campaigns are automated, personalized for different segments and situations, and engaging. They’re necessary if you want to boost sales over time and do so automatically. 3. Automated Customer Segmentation Personalization is the key to hiring sales in eCommerce. Segmentation is what makes personalization possible. Segmenting is the process of grouping your audience according to similar characteristics and behaviors. However, you should note that in eCommerce marketing, segmenting is refined, dynamic, and often granular. Meaning that successful eCommerce brands don’t just group their audience according to wide age groups, income levels, and so on. They use powerful tools and data to segment customers based on many factors. Some B2B segmenting tools can generate hundreds of segmented groups from a given set of audience data. The factors by which you can and should segment your customers include transactions, time spent on your site, engagement on multiple platforms, demographic information, and so on. You can combine these factors in hundreds of ways and get information to craft highly personalized emails. As a result, you get more engagement and more sales. However, you can imagine how complex this activity can get with just a few hundred customers. Much less with millions. And this is where AI and automated customer segmentation comes in. Tools like Convertedin and SalesForce enable such automation. And an eCommerce site that wants to succeed must leverage segmentation to get better engagement from customers. 4. Social Media Automation Many eCommerce business owners think of social media as a simple and easy activity. And not many believe that social media can impact sales. However, when done correctly, social media is a powerful means for eCommerce companies to turn audiences into buyers. For example, use social media to learn about new products. in the US consult social media sources before making a purchase. And finally, when people buy on social media, the average order is quite high - $65 on Instagram, $55 on Facebook, and $38 on YouTube. 85% of Gen Zers 25% of shoppers So, it is critical to not only be present on social media but to optimize your presence on it. If you think about it, being present on multiple platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, X, Instagram, TikTok, and goodness knows what else is hard enough. But then you also have to be present on them and create content regularly. The bare minimum is to create daily posts. But the reality is you should create multiple posts per day for each platform. And if you want to drive engagement, you should create videos and respond to comments. If this doesn't sound exhausting already, you should pay attention to brand mentions, your competition, and major trends and activities related to your industry. As you can imagine, a full-fledged social media team, an agency, or at least one person dedicated to your social media work. And this is where automation becomes a boon. Platforms like Sprout Social, Buffer, Later, and HootSuite enable content scheduling and content planning. They also automate the distribution of your content at the right time for your location. And so, including social media automation as part of your E-Commerce marketing is invaluable. 5. Chatbot Automation Millennials and Gen Z-ers prefer texting as a way to communicate. By offering live chat and chatbot automation on your eCommerce site, you essentially communicate at the level of your audience. There are many chatbot automation platforms that make it easy for you to integrate chatbot facilities into your online store. And you can train them using your in-house material, such as customer support tickets, brand guidelines, and so on, to ensure that these chatbots match the tone of your brand. These are extremely useful for answering that can be extracted from a database or are very minor. For example, someone who wants to initiate a refund or a return or wants to know the status of their delivery will benefit from the quick solutions a chatbot can provide. Your customer support team can focus on more complicated tickets and issues that deserve a personal human touch. This form of marketing focuses on enabling communication and providing information fast. It's also a game-changer for creating sales and lead generation on eCommerce websites. Over to You I’ve shared five different ways that an eCommerce platform can market itself more effectively using automation. It can take time and training to implement these options on your site, but when they are up and running, they work on their own for the most part. You can focus on strategy and excellent customer service which will lead to increased purchases and overall growth. So don't hesitate. Get on board with automation today.

5 Ways to Automate eCommerce Marketing

A surge in video communication tools has become a catalyst for telemedicine, entertainment, e-learning, fitness, e-commerce, and other online-related businesses. If you want to implement real-time video communication in your product, integrating a ready-to-use solution will be an easy way to follow. However, everything will drastically change if you decide to develop a custom solution for which video streaming is a key feature. Classification of Video Service Platforms All live-streaming business cases can be divided into three groups of technological solutions: These are services such as broadcasting (e.g., IPTV), VOD (Video on demand), and live streaming. One-to-many: Video calls one-on-one, video chat. One-to-one: : Group calls, conferences with multiple hosts. Many-to-many The chosen technological solution impacts the product’s architecture, defining the software roadmap and recommended real-time communication protocol. Real-Time Communication Protocols for Building Video Services The key moment in planning video streaming app development is the selection of a communication protocol that defines how data communicates from one device or system to another over the Internet. From the perspective of content delivery, there are three main approaches associated with different transport protocols: – a media protocol used for cross-platform video transmission of live or on-demand video content. For example, it can be used for TV streaming. MPEG-DASH/HLS – is a low-latency protocol designed for one-to-one video streaming. It can also be used in other cases where low latency is required. It needs a more significant server infrastructure than the first case. WebRTC is developed specifically for certain business cases, since group calls, broadcast streaming, or one-on-one calls have significantly different architectures. However, if we’re talking about video calls, is the way to go. WebRTC WebRTC app development – a Real-Time Messaging Protocol that can be optimized for low latency. It has several implementation options, but it can only be played by applications (in browsers, using plugins). By splitting streams into fragments, RTMP can effectively transmit more information. It is primarily used for transmitting live streams on platforms like YouTube. RTMP Let’s now overview what types of solutions these protocols can be used for. Video Streaming/Conferencing App Architecture Patterns Architecture must be selected in accordance with the business case and functionality you want to incorporate into your product. Below, I will outline the characteristics of the architecture for different business cases. LIVE STREAMING/VIDEO-ON-DEMAND APPLICATIONS LIKE NETFLIX OR HULU This group of projects requires the use of the RTMP protocol. The system should include several essential components: This server is responsible for handling incoming streams from publishers and distributing them to viewers. It often includes a built-in transcoder. Streaming Server: The transcoder is a crucial part of the streaming server, responsible for re-encoding the stream from the publisher into the broadcast protocol used for streaming. This ensures compatibility and optimization for viewers. Transcoder: : The CDN is essential for caching and delivering content to viewers. Without a CDN, the quality of the output can fluctuate depending on the network conditions, leading to an inconsistent user experience. Choosing the right CDN ensures the availability and performance of the live stream. CDN (Content Delivery Network) This component manages the business-related aspects of the streaming service. It handles user authentication, authorization, billing, and other business logic. It’s crucial for monetization and user management. Business Logic and Billing Server: Other system elements are optional and depend on the specific functionality you want to implement. Typical live streaming apps rely on , , or . A perfect fit will depend on the business requirements. For instance, ready-to-use solutions like NodeMediaServer may suit products that won’t be used by a large audience. However, branding and scaling will require assembling the product from different parts. NGINX Amazon services NodeMediaServer ONE-TO-ONE VIDEO CHAT APPS One–to–one video chat apps are the simplest option if no additional functionality is required. This functionality can be implemented in chat roulette, dating apps, and corporate systems. For example, we implemented one-to-one calls in an enterprise communication system. If clients are located on the same network (except for 3G), the following parts of the backend infrastructure are required: : This server is used so that clients know whom to call (addresses). Signaling Server This server handles the business-related aspects of the service. Business Logic Server: Unfortunately, such cases are extremely rare. Therefore, in real-world scenarios, two additional types of servers are necessary, known as STUN (Session Traversal Utilities for NAT) and TURN (Traversal Using Relays around NAT) servers. There is no need to develop these types of servers from scratch as they already exist with MIT licenses and can be easily deployed. The key point is that setting up a UDP pool for relay is required for TURN. Additionally, communication in cellular networks won’t work without TURN because they often use symmetric NAT and address falsification protection. In sectors like banking and healthcare, address falsification protection is also common, so the use of TURN servers is necessary. VIDEO CONFERENCING APPS LIKE ZOOM OR GOOGLE MEET WebRTC protocol is used for video conferencing apps like Zoom and Google Meet, and there are three network organization types for group calls in video conferencing systems, which determine the quality and functionality of group calls. A is a decentralized network where devices are interconnected, forming a mesh-like structure. Unlike traditional networks with a central hub, mesh networks enable direct communication between devices. This architecture offers advantages like scalability, redundancy, and self-healing but may not handle a large number of participants and requires significant participant bandwidth. mesh network , commonly used in video conferencing, manages multiple audiovisual streams in multipoint conference calls. It combines individual participants’ audio and video data into a single stream sent to all participants. This centralized approach relies on the MCU for media stream processing and distribution. MCU In contrast, is another component of video conferencing systems. It doesn’t merge and redistribute media streams but selectively forwards specific streams to participants based on their needs, considering network conditions and device capabilities. SFUs are often used in decentralized or peer-to-peer conference setups and are the most optimal choice for video conferencing applications. SFU However, it’s worth understanding that in some cases where video conferencing is not a key feature, it’s justified to opt for the integration of ready-made tools such as Zoom. For example, it’s a common solution for telemedicine platforms. Five Things to Consider When Planning a Video Communication Product Before embarking on the video service development process, you need to conduct an analysis. This analysis will allow you to find out specific requirements and identify potential challenges. For example, if you need to implement MPEG-DASH/HLS broadcasting for compatibility with any browser or application while also requiring low-latency streaming with delays under a second, it can be unattainable due to incorrectly chosen broadcasting standards. The architectural design and technology selection stage (Technical Analysis) are crucial for the project’s success. You need to thoroughly examine all the criteria before starting, not only refining the requirements but also prioritizing each one for a specific client or project. This ensures choosing the most valid solution, optimal in terms of cost versus requirements, without overlooking something essential. FEATURES AND INTEGRATIONS Understanding what functionality is needed right now and may be required in the future allows for designing the right technical solution. It’s important to take into account all limitations and assess the need for additional services provided during video streaming. Such services can include recording, screenshot generation, AR/VR functionality, and machine learning capabilities (background blurring, face recognition, etc.). NUMBER OF VIDEO SESSION PARTICIPANTS Important factors to be considered in the planning stage are the number of participants in media sessions and sources and receivers of video streams. This affects the choice of technologies that will allow the transmission of video of satisfactory quality for all users. LATENCY By latency, I mean what real-time means to you. All real-time services have some delay. For example, in online conferences or live streaming, there’s typically a delay attributed to factors like broadcast standards. Even in advanced implementations, it starts at around 10-12 seconds and can go up to a minute. In practice, feedback usually occurs through chat, and delays in responses are often attributed to publisher-related physical delays (not having read a message in time, not responding in time, etc.) DIGITAL RIGHTS MANAGEMENT (DRM) AND REGULATORY COMPLIANCE DRM is necessary because there’s no foolproof protection against hacking, even if the transmission channel is fully secured. Any issues related to implementing protection against hacking need to be carefully evaluated in terms of the trade-off between implementation time and the level of protection. It’s crucial to consider that implementation time increases significantly with the level of protection. Industry-specific requirements can impose additional demands. For example, in healthcare, complying with HIPAA involves implementing specific security measures and adhering to guidelines to protect sensitive health information. INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS Video services require ongoing maintenance costs that depend on the type of service and the workload. They consume significant processing power and bandwidth, which needs to be paid for, either to service providers or for servers and bandwidth. While service providers might charge around 4-5 cents per minute of service (publisher), theoretically, self-implementation could reduce costs to about 1 cent per minute, but it depends on the services provided. Some services have non-standard billing strategies, such as Zoom, where you pay for the host rather than for time, or services with fixed fees after a certain number of minutes, making it possible to choose third-party services for different business cases. Wrapping Up The effectiveness of video streaming and conferencing solutions relies on their specific characteristics. Choosing the right architecture is crucial in determining how well the product will perform. It is important to carefully consider the following factors: desired features and integrations, the number of participants in the video session, adherence to regulatory compliance, and the cost of the infrastructure. Also published here

Developing a Video Conference Call App: Protocols, Architecture, and Considerations

199 Stories To Learn About Python Tutorials

Astar Network's Plan for Seamless Interoperability in the Blockchain Space Welcome to "Behind the Startup," a series where we delve into the journey and vision of the pioneers revolutionizing the tech landscape. In this edition, we had the opportunity to speak with Greg Luneau, the Senior Integration Developer of Astar Network. With a rich background in cryptography and blockchain, Greg sheds light on Astar Network's inception, its role as a smart contract hub for Polkadot, and the unique features that set it apart from other blockchain projects. Join us as we explore the inner workings of Astar Network and discuss its ambitious plans for the future. Fueling Astar Network's Growth and Developer Incentives Ishan Pandey: Hi Greg, welcome to our series “Behind the Startup.” Please tell us about yourself and your journey to becoming the Senior Integration Developer of Astar Network? Greg Luneau: It all started with the integration of public and private key cryptography into the e-commerce platform of the Smithsonian Institute. This led me to register a US patent for transferring credit card numbers over the Internet. Jump 20 years and I'm working with blockchains first with Steem/Hive, then with EOS and finally with Polkadot. I had the opportunity to work with Acala and connect most chains at the time with HRMP channels for the goal of composability through XCM. And now, with Astar, I have the opportunity to realize that vision of integrating the very best that every para chain has to offer. Ishan Pandey: How did the Astar Network team come up with the idea of developing a "smart contract hub" for Polkadot, and what motivated you to pursue this project? Greg Luneau: For a nascent ecosystem like polkadot, developer tooling is essential. We saw that Wasm was the future and developed tools like Swanky & Sumi. Polkadot, as a relay chain only does security, it needs an L1 for smart contract execution and that's us. Think of solidity as the language for the EVM, and now ink! is the language for building smart contracts on Wasm. We're bridging the gap between the EVM and Wasm, figuratively and literally, with the XVM project. Ishan Pandey: Can you explain how Astar Network functions as a parachain for Polkadot and how it enhances the capabilities of the Polkadot ecosystem? Greg Luneau: We're a smart contract platform. Both EVM virtual machine and Wasm are supported; we're the glue between the Polkadot ecosystem and continuously work on the proof of concepts to connect with other para chains through XCM and execution transactions remotely. Ishan Pandey: The native token of Astar Network is "ASTAR." Could you elaborate on its utility and the role it plays within the ecosystem? Greg Luneau: ASTR tokens are required to pay for network resources and use decentralized applications on Astar Network. More importantly, Astar has a unique and innovative incentive mechanism for developers called dApp Staking, which leverages ASTR token inflation to maintain the ecosystem's growth while rewarding builders and participants simultaneously. We have a program called Astar SpaceLabs to support developers building on Astar Network. Our community leaders and members of the Astar team lead it. Ishan Pandey: With the growing concerns surrounding data privacy, how does Astar Network ensure user data remains secure while maintaining the efficiency of its blockchain? Greg Luneau: Being connected as a parachain means we inherit all the security of Polkadot for block production. Astar is working hard to develop and promote the light clients for developers and users. IP harvesting, for example, is a privacy issue that RPC could be doing by choice or edict. Developers could, through smart contracts and XCM, connect to other para chains that offer roll-ups or off-chain workers and utilize those privacy-enhancing features for their dApps. Ishan Pandey: How does Astar Network plan interoperability, which is a problem often faced by other blockchain projects? Greg Luneau: Traditionally, blockchains were isolated from one another due to technical limitations. However, with the progress made in bridge technology and layer 0 interoperability protocols, it is now possible to transfer tokens between blockchains, which has led to a greater variety within the ecosystem. Additionally, we have our Cross Virtual Machine (XVM). It is a new feature that our team is working on because we believe EVM is a great tool, but we also want to create something new with Wasm smart contracts. We’ll introduce how we will expand ‘Web3’ to the larger digital landscape at our upcoming event: . Wasm Launch Day Ishan Pandey: What partnerships and collaborations has Astar Network established to help expand its ecosystem and adoption across various industries? Greg Luneau: We continue to integrate with many advanced projects that can help us create a multi-chain ecosystem–cross-chain communication, new applications, and gaming. Recently we’ve had three important collaborations that will incubate the next wave of blockchain adoption: our web3 Hackathon sponsored by Toyota, Web3 Incubation Program with Sony Network Communications, and ink!ubation program with Polkadot. This means our developers have access with ample funding and close connections with different industries. Ishan Pandey: Can you share some insights into the future roadmap of Astar Network, and what new features or developments users can expect in the coming years? Introducing new tools to Astar mainet is on the short-term roadmap. This includes fully functional XVM, more cross-chain integrations, and making it possible for any developer to build a decentralized application. Astar is the first parachain that allows developers to build ink! smart contracts. Over the coming years, we will improve opportunities for blockchain developers with new on-chain features and add an ecosystem of dApps that anyone can use. You can follow our progress on . Greg Luneau: Astar homepage Starmap Ishan Pandey: Recently, the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank has sent shockwaves through the financial industry. What is your perspective on this event, and how do you think it will impact the blockchain and cryptocurrency space moving forward? Greg Luneau: It is essential that we decentralize everything in the blockchain space. As Gavin Wood mentions, otherwise, we will face greater regulatory scrutiny to say it lightly. We need to strive to remove all single points of failure, avoid all centralized traps and follow the footsteps of our cyberpunk forefathers to bring freedom to all. Don’t forget to like and share the story! : Vested Interest Disclosure The author is an independent contributor publishing via our . Be it through direct compensation, media partnerships, or networking, the author has a vested interest in the company/ies mentioned in this story. HackerNoon has reviewed the report for quality, but the claims herein belong to the author. #DYOR brand-as-author program

Bridging the Gap: How Astar Network Enhances the Polkadot Ecosystem

Cerrando la brecha: cómo Astar Network mejora el ecosistema de Polkadot

Combler le fossé : comment le réseau Astar améliore l'écosystème Polkadot

गैप को पाटना: कैसे एस्टार नेटवर्क पोलकाडॉट इकोसिस्टम को बढ़ाता है

ギャップを埋める: Astar Network が Polkadot エコシステムを強化する方法

Preenchendo a lacuna: como a Astar Network aprimora o ecossistema Polkadot

Thu hẹp khoảng cách: Mạng lưới Astar tăng cường hệ sinh thái Polkadot như thế nào

弥合差距：Astar Network 如何增强 Polkadot 生态系统

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