#1 Applied AI: Find new growth opportunities

Applied AI, the real-world application of AI, empowers businesses to improve efficiency and profitability by identifying and helping them overcome complex challenges through its machine learning and adaptive capabilities.

Practical applications of Applied AI in direct selling

The real-world applications of AI in the direct selling industry enabled companies to address various challenges pertinent to decision making, customer support, automation, sales, and product development.

Natura &Co’s AI strategy

The leading direct selling brand has implemented AI across their business for

Ensuring effectiveness in technical decision making

Reducing environmental impact

Forecasting safety parameters for natural ingredients

#2 Generative AI: Add creativity to business processes

According to McKinsey, one third of organizations have already adopted Generative AI for at least one business process. This tech trend has garnered so much attention for its accuracy and greater efficiency in delivering the desired output.

Practical applications of Generative AI in direct selling

In the direct selling industry, companies leverage Generative AI to generate different types of content such as text, images, videos, designs, etc. Mainly used for marketing purposes, generative AI enable direct selling companies to enhance customer experience by creating highly personalized marketing content in real-time.

Digitally laborious works such as maintaining agreements and contracts, legal mandates and portfolios can be renewed or revised with the help of Generative AI.

Amway’s AI Experiments

Amway has invested significantly in the past in its technology infrastructure. Amway integrated artificial intelligence for enhancing its supply chain planning and monitoring. AI conversational chatbots have already been a game-changer for establishing effective communication between consumers and representatives.

Amway is focusing on creating growth opportunities for the company and its entrepreneurs through technological innovations. In 2024, the company plans to explore the possibilities of Generative AI and other digital platforms in helping its entrepreneurs in streamlining their tasks and improving efficiency. Amway is planning to launch a new app exclusively for their IBOs this year.

#3 Business Intelligence (BI) and Data Analytics: Make smarter decisions

Intelligent business decisions are now powered by these emerging technologies. A crucial process on which the success and sustenance of a company is abound, BI and Data Analytics empowers organizations with data-driven insights through reports, analytical dashboards, and data visualizations of various business KPIs, enhancing strategic planning and operational efficiency.

Practical applications of Data Analytics in direct selling

Data analytics give direct selling companies a complete visualization of their salesforce performance, compensation plan analytics, attrition rates and payout overview. Companies can optimize their strategies with the insights derived from the data to improve productivity and performance across all areas of the business.

Herbalife’s BI and Data Analytics Adoption

Herbalife employed Salesforce Einstein to offer personalized customer experiences and assured business growth opportunities for their distributors. By providing complete and up-to-date customer information for distributors, Salesforce Einstein guides them to adopt the next best action needed to increase customer lifetime value and their success.

#4 Cloud Computing: Enable global reach and expansion

Scalability, accessibility, flexibility together with cost savings are the proven benefits of cloud computing. It requires lesser maintenance than on-premises servers. Cloud computing promises advanced security and prevents data loss.

Practical applications of Cloud Computing in direct selling

Direct selling businesses with remote distributor teams are leveraging cloud computing services for the ease of collaboration and flexibility that comes with it. Distributors can access data from anywhere at any time. Cloud computing secures sensitive data through stringent access controls and security protocols to ensure that the business stays compliant with industry regulations such as GDPR, CCPA, HIPAA and PCI DSS.

Sunrun’s Cloud Computing Experiments

Sunrun carried out data warehouse migration and analytics modernization efficiently and with zero disruption using Google Cloud. A case study by Google points out that Sunrun has been able to better understand the trends across their business with enhanced business metrics across various departments.

#5 Internet of Things (IoT): Enhance operational efficiency

IoT has made a profound impact in businesses by connecting and enhancing various physical aspects and processes with the digital world. It helps businesses to gather insights and make smarter decisions to optimize processes and improve productivity.

IoT applications can help manage and skillfully identify concerns related to inventory and supply chain processes. In the customer services domain IoT-based devices and applications can personalize recommendations and promotions and enhance customer support through real-time assistance to customer concerns.

Practical applications of IoT in direct selling

Direct selling businesses are employing IoT applications and devices to generate a series of desirable outcomes. However, tracking distributor performance and personalizing customer experience tops the list. Many leading direct selling companies have employed IoT-based devices in product manufacturing, performance monitoring and energy management.

Nu Skin’s IoT Experimentation

The direct selling cosmetics and skincare brand Nu Skin launched a device, ageLOC LumiSpa iO, that connects to an app, Nu Skin Vera®, that personalizes skin care routine based on user data. The app makes personalized product recommendations based on digital skin consultations through uploaded images. It also lets users set and track their personal skincare goals.

#6 Big Data: Make accurate predictions

Even with the extreme complexities involved in the concept, organizations prioritize Big Data for the power it holds to transform businesses. Big Data empowers direct selling businesses to leverage vast amounts of in-house customer data to uncover patterns and preferences.

Practical applications of Big Data in direct selling

Big Data can help direct selling businesses formulate strategies for more effective targeting and personalized marketing. Businesses can track the performance of products and campaigns in real-time and with data-driven insights the same can be optimized to ensure proper allocation of resources and budget. Big Data has touched every aspect of a direct selling business starting from lead generation to ensuring long term customer relationships and success.

Coway’s Big Data Experiments

Coway capitalizes on their historical business data accrued over a period of 30 years to improve their environmental and customer convenience initiatives. Product experts at Coway analyze the complex and diverse air quality of each season, environment, and space through IAQ experiments. The brand claims that its experts run an in-depth analysis of data like sleeping patterns, health index analyses, and care service records to help maintain optimal living conditions for customers with their products.

#7 Metaverse: Connecting the digital and physical worlds

Technology, still in its infancy, connects people socially and economically in a virtual world with virtual identities. It offers individuals the chance to socialize, learn, collaborate and play in a virtual 3D space and for businesses metaverse opens a door of opportunities.

Practical applications of Metaverse in direct selling

Retail businesses are creating immersive virtual showrooms where customers can explore products, attend live demonstrations, and interact with sales representatives. This creates a more engaging shopping experience. Direct selling brands can host virtual events, product launches and interactive training and support sessions that boost engagement with customers and distributors.

Metaverse helps direct selling brands greatly influence customers’ purchase decisions through virtual product visualizations.

eXp's Realty’s Metaverse Experiments

eXp Realty recently launched exp.world, its new expansive metaverse on the web. It allows agents and staff to access eXp Realty’s online campus using a smartphone, tablet or desktop. They can create their avatars and customize their appearance and profile in exp.world. This 3D environment lets eXp agents and staff attend meetings, take classes and get access to broker support. Through the integration of Google Street View, exp.world lets people explore neighborhoods through photos and virtual strolls.

#8 Augmented Reality (AR): Redefine customer experience

Augmented Reality combines physical and virtual worlds to create interactive experience for users enhancing real-world environment with virtual visual elements. Realizing the potential of evolving technology in revolutionizing customer experience, businesses employ AR to create immersive and engaging shopping experiences. AR gives customers the opportunity to experience products in a live setting to help them make smarter purchase decisions.

Practical applications of Augmented Reality in direct selling

MLM businesses can use AR in their distributor training sessions for simulating live selling scenarios. This hands-on training experience can help distributors acquire product knowledge and mater various selling techniques. AR can also be applied to effectuate marketing campaigns, product demonstrations, live events and presentations to make it more interesting and engaging.

Avon’s AR Experiments

Avon offers a virtual try-on experience with Augmented Reality which allows its customers to try various beauty products to find the best one that suits their needs. The company uses AI/AR technology to provide its customers with a virtual try-on experience for lips, eye and face.

Avon has also integrated a virtual-try on tool in the application their reps use to manage their business. Avon reps can use this as a try-on formula during their in-person customer interactions. Through this, customers get access to the full range of Avon products and the reps need not carry every single product for their prospective meet ups.

#9 Blockchain: Build trust and transparency

Transparency, trust, security and efficiency are synonymous with Blockchain technology. The technology concept that evolved in the crypto era, now applies to more than one business aspect. Blockchain helps businesses carry out transparent and secure transactions across a decentralized distributed ledger. It is widely used by businesses for audits, quality assurance, maintaining contracts and agreements etc.

Practical applications of Blockchain technology in direct selling

Blockchain-powered smart contracts can automate the payout process with zero errors. Compliance-related issues in a direct selling business can be mitigated by the application of blockchain as it maintains accurate compensation records to be validated by regulators. This reduces the risk of legal issues for the brand. Blockchain reinforces the security of personal and transactional data through strict access controls. Direct selling businesses are counting on Blockchain technology for managing their supply chain operations. It helps establish supply chain transparency with real-time tracking of products from manufacturer to consumer.

Amway’s Blockchain Experiments

The sustainability initiatives of Amway have seen new roads in recent times with its commitment to adopting renewable energy initiatives. Amway employs cutting-edge technologies like Blockchain, Green Building technologies and IoT-enabled energy management systems to establish sustainable practices in their business.

Amway integrates Blockchain technology as an innovative solution to ensure transparency and traceability in its supply chain operations. Amway focuses on ensuring accountability and reducing environmental impact by optimizing its supply chain process with Blockchain technology.

#10 Chatbots: Build the human connection

Chatbots are not new to the business world. It has been around for quite some time. However, even today its prominence has not diminished due to the positive impact it continues to have on businesses and their customers.

Practical applications of Chatbots in direct selling

Businesses employ chatbots mainly to address and support customer concerns in real-time. And, with the advent of technologies like NLP and AI, Chatbots have revolutionized customer service with more human-like interactions understanding the sentiments and offering personalized, efficient support.

Chatbots are also employed to retrieve information, assist in personal tasks, and automate lead generation and qualification processes.

eXp Realty’s Chatbot Experiments

EXp Realty has experimented with innovative technologies, far and wide, to help their agents and customers in their real estate journey. Its Open AI-powered chatbot, Luna, assists eXp agents with necessary information about tech support, company policies, rules and regulations, eXp programs, and so much more.

Luna can also give an overview of an agent’s business information like current transactions, sponsored agent’s joining status, broker contact info, next revenue payout amount, etc.

Luna also generates marketing content for various social media platforms with relevant hashtags for agents to easily schedule and launch marketing campaigns.