Lenovo Using Nortel's Web.alive for E-Commerce

Nortel announced today that its virtual world platform, web.alive, would be used by Lenovo for e-commerce. Web.alive was first shown off this summer and seemed aimed at enterprise level collaboration and training applications--at least that was how it was being used internally. This week at CES, though, Lenovo is showing off its eLounge. Web.alive is Windows-only, so I can't check it out the e-lounge at the moment, but if you're not at CES and want to join in yourself, it seems like the prototype is open to the public.

If you're also stranded on a Mac and not in Vegas, the basic features seem similar to most virtual worlds. According to the press release, users can create their own avatars to browse the 3D store and interact with other visitors as well as get help, demos, and tutorials from staff.

That seems like an innovation from Lenovo as big as web.alive's good-looking, browser-based environment: staffing. I haven't been impressed by a lot of 3D shopping worlds so far, but most follow the pattern of just adding in 3D product models (at the high end) or just affiliate links from a 3D environment to Amazon (at the low end). It's rare to see someone invest in staffing up a virtual world, particularly for commerce.

Lenovo adds that users can build communities or host groups to go shopping with friends, family, or associates. That may be useful for people looking to help their parents pick out a new computer, though navigating a 3D environment may still be a big hurdle.

The use of the environment for tech support, customer service, and community support, though, could be interesting.

"Nortel's web.alive technology could help provide a potential next step in improving the online shopping experience for Lenovo's customers by allowing them to take a virtual tour of our online store, including browsing through Lenovo products, talk with our staff, look at video clips and meet other shoppers in an immersive 3D environment. This pilot project could lay the foundation for an online shopping experience that is very similar to a person walking into one of our physical stores," Ajit Sivadasan, VP Global eCommerce, Lenovo, said in a statement. "The implications of this technology are significant if customers find it easier to make informed decisions on their purchases online."

I'll be interested to see the results of the pilot program and whether Lenovo commits to keeping the environment staffed indefinitely. If so, it could make web.alive look great, but also add support more generally to virtual worlds for e-commerce.

 "eCommerce today consists of a single user clicking through an online catalogue of product pictures, user reviews, and possibly a flash demonstration. Nortel's web.alive application allows businesses to interact and collaborate virtually with their customers, partners and employees over the web, in real-time. It combines the best elements from the online world with the brick and mortar experience to empower hyperconnected shoppers through a more social, robust and immersive online shopping experience," said Arn Hyndman, web.alive chief architect, Nortel.

Comments

[Dennis Shiao]

Hi - I've posted a review of eLounge, which included a tour from Nicholas Sauriol of Project Chainsaw at Nortel:

http://allvirtual.wordpress.com/2009/01/08/review-lenovos-elounge-virtual-world/

[csven]

Arn informed me they're using Industrial Design-associated applications to build the world. A good start toward leveraging data used in tangible product development.