Makro Business
🔁 Buy Again

Makro Business
🔁 Buy Again

This project showcases the "Buy Again" feature for Makro Business empowers users to easily repeat past purchases, streamlining the reorder process. By leveraging established customer relationships, it reduces acquisition costs and reinforces brand value, making it easier and more cost-effective for businesses to drive repeat sales.

This project showcases the "Buy Again" feature for Makro Business empowers users to easily repeat past purchases, streamlining the reorder process. By leveraging established customer relationships, it reduces acquisition costs and reinforces brand value, making it easier and more cost-effective for businesses to drive repeat sales.

Project Date

Project Date

Project Date

April 2024

April 2024

Project Type

Project Type

Project Type

Website UX Feature

Website UX Feature

Role

Role

Role

Sole Designer

Sole Designer

Project Overview

Project Overview

Here’s the STAR framework for a quick overview of the project

Here’s the STAR framework for a quick overview of the project

S

S

ituation

ituation

30% of items purchased by repeat customers were reorders.

30% of items purchased by repeat customers were reorders.

67% of habitual customers’ baskets consisted of repeat items, with an average basket size of R7000.

67% of habitual customers’ baskets consisted of repeat items, with an average basket size of R7000.

7% of the total user base included repeat items in their baskets.

7% of the total user base included repeat items in their baskets.

Users with the highest repeat basket percentage contributed an average revenue of R7321, making them the most valuable segment.

Users with the highest repeat basket percentage contributed an average revenue of R7321, making them the most valuable segment.

Problem Statement

Problem Statement

Sed How might we help our business customers create streamlined, tailored carts that meet their recurring needs

Sed How might we help our business customers create streamlined, tailored carts that meet their recurring needs

T

T

ask

ask

With unnecessary friction in the reordering journey the task was to design an intuitive and frictionless "Buy Again" journey which would


🧠 Leverage customers’ natural purchasing habits to reduce decision fatigue.


🔁 Streamline restocking by making repeat purchases effortless.


📈 Drive revenue growth by encouraging habitual buyers to complete orders faster.


With unnecessary friction in the reordering journey the task was to design an intuitive and frictionless "Buy Again" journey which would


🧠 Leverage customers’ natural purchasing habits to reduce decision fatigue.


🔁 Streamline restocking by making repeat purchases effortless.


📈 Drive revenue growth by encouraging habitual buyers to complete orders faster.


End Goal

End Goal

The challenge was to craft an experience that reduces user effort while maximizing convenience

The challenge was to craft an experience that reduces user effort while maximizing convenience

A

A

ction

ction

🔎

Establishing the problemAnalyzing existing data to gauge design context

Establishing the problemAnalyzing existing data to gauge design context

🧪

Understanding the user- Implemented 2 structured tests through design iterations and tracked their results to refine the experience based on real user interactions.

Understanding the user- Implemented 2 structured tests through design iterations and tracked their results to refine the experience based on real user interactions.

⚙️

Evaluating Industry Standards- Analyzed 8 global eCommerce sites and 1 South African platform.


Leveraged usability guidelines from Baymard-a database of 900+ eCommerce studies.

Evaluating Industry Standards- Analyzed 8 global eCommerce sites and 1 South African platform.


Leveraged usability guidelines from Baymard-a database of 900+ eCommerce studies.

🗺️

Customer Journey Mapping: Identifying 10 key problems in current website and corresponding 12 opportunity points for ideal experience for most relevant user persona

Customer Journey Mapping: Identifying 10 key problems in current website and corresponding 12 opportunity points for ideal experience for most relevant user persona

📋

User Validation with Initial Designs: Conducted moderated testing with 6 Makro Business customers to evaluate two design iterations.

User Validation with Initial Designs: Conducted moderated testing with 6 Makro Business customers to evaluate two design iterations.

Final Ideal Experience Designs: Final design iterations focused on 10 key touchpoints in the website

Final Ideal Experience Designs: Final design iterations focused on 10 key touchpoints in the website

🚩

MVP Implemented Designs and Tracking: Diluting down designs to fit tech restrictions and tracking results

MVP Implemented Designs and Tracking: Diluting down designs to fit tech restrictions and tracking results

R

R

esults

esults

To optimize the "Buy Again" journey, I focused on improving 10 key touchpoints. These included:


📢 Cart & Communications – Reinforced reorder options through strategic messaging.


🧭 My Orders – Integrated a repeat order component for quick reordering.


🔄 Buy Again Page – Designed a dedicated page with a "View All" option for an expanded experience.


🛍️ Product Listing & Display Pages – Highlighted previously purchased items for faster decision-making.


🔎 Search & Header – Improved discoverability of repeat purchase options.


🏠 Homepage – Introduced a high-visibility "Buy Again" carousel.

To optimize the "Buy Again" journey, I focused on improving 10 key touchpoints. These included:


📢 Cart & Communications – Reinforced reorder options through strategic messaging.


🧭 My Orders – Integrated a repeat order component for quick reordering.


🔄 Buy Again Page – Designed a dedicated page with a "View All" option for an expanded experience.


🛍️ Product Listing & Display Pages – Highlighted previously purchased items for faster decision-making.


🔎 Search & Header – Improved discoverability of repeat purchase options.


🏠 Homepage – Introduced a high-visibility "Buy Again" carousel.

To validate the impact, I launched an MVP version, closely monitoring user engagement and business outcomes.

To validate the impact, I launched an MVP version, closely monitoring user engagement and business outcomes.

MVP Impact

💰 R9M in revenue

💰 R9M in revenue

generated through the feature

📈 +7% increase

📈 +7% increase

in Add to Cart rate, indicating higher user engagement and intent to repurchase

About the Website

About the Website

Makro Business is part of Massmart, a South African retail giant. It operates an online platform and 22 stores across South Africa. It aims to streamline procurement for businesses by providing tailored solutions and loyalty benefits​

Makro Business is part of Massmart, a South African retail giant. It operates an online platform and 22 stores across South Africa. It aims to streamline procurement for businesses by providing tailored solutions and loyalty benefits​

🏷️ Competitive Pricing

📑 Trade Accounts

📦 Bulk Buying

🛍️ Wide Product Range

What is Buy Again?

What is Buy Again?

"Buy-Again" or reorder is a purchase flow streamlining the ordering process for customers who have large high-value carts and make standard, repeat orders highly applicable to business customers

"Buy-Again" or reorder is a purchase flow streamlining the ordering process for customers who have large high-value carts and make standard, repeat orders highly applicable to business customers

Why Buy Again?

Why Buy Again?

Between January and March 2024, 30% of the items purchased by repeat customers were reorders of previously bought products,

Between January and March 2024, 30% of the items purchased by repeat customers were reorders of previously bought products,

Analytics highlighted a strong preference for familiar choices within the user base product would greatly benefit from a intuitive, simplified ‘buy again’ journey

Analytics highlighted a strong preference for familiar choices within the user base product would greatly benefit from a intuitive, simplified ‘buy again’ journey

We then analysed customer data to understand the potential of the 'Buy Again' feature and how the current customer base would respond to it

We then analysed customer data to understand the potential of the 'Buy Again' feature and how the current customer base would respond to it

What our customer base comprises of

What our customer base comprises of

67% Of basket of habitual customers is repeat order with a large

basket size of R7000

67% Of basket of habitual customers is repeat order with a large

basket size of R7000

7% of total user base had repeat basket items

7% of total user base had repeat basket items

R 7321 average is the highest revenue contribution by users who

also have highest repeat basket percentage

R 7321 average is the highest revenue contribution by users who

also have highest repeat basket percentage

Our client information indicates a preference for the known and reliable. They consistently select what’s familiar, providing a fantastic opportunity to boost repeat buying behaviours

Our client information indicates a preference for the known and reliable. They consistently select what’s familiar, providing a fantastic opportunity to boost repeat buying behaviours

The Hypothesis

Improving 'Buy Again' feature leverages customers' existing purchasing habits and will reducing decision-making friction and encourage repeat purchases, ultimately driving revenue growth.

Relevance for Users

Businesses shop based on necessity, following structured procurement lists and predictable reorder patterns. The "Buy Again" feature would streamline restocking by reducing cognitive load and enhancing efficiency.


Experience Objective

Give users the power to repeat a purchase with least effort

Problem Statement

Problem Statement

How might we help our business customers create streamlined, tailored carts that meet their recurring needs


How might we help our business customers create streamlined, tailored carts that meet their recurring needs

We started the design journey with a series of experiments. Each experiment helped test new features, understand customer interactions, and refine the designs for the next step.

We started the design journey with a series of experiments. Each experiment helped test new features, understand customer interactions, and refine the designs for the next step.

Test 1: Introducing Buy Again and Reorder Component

Test 1: Introducing Buy Again and Reorder Component

Test 1 Overview

September 2022- June 2023
To test the effectiveness of the "Buy Again" concept, a reorder component and a buy-again carousel were introduced on the homepage.


These two distinct approaches to facilitating repeat purchases were implemented to evaluate user preferences and determine which method better aligns with their shopping behaviors.


About the Components

Reorder Component

Allows user to view a previous order, go to my orders and click reorder


The ideal flow should have allowed the user to add all order items from the homepage in one go we we had to improvise based on tech feasibility

Reorder Component

Allows user to view a previous order, go to my orders and click reorder


The ideal flow should have allowed the user to add all order items from the homepage in one go we we had to improvise based on tech feasibility

Buy Again Carousel

Allows user to add previously ordered items individually

Buy Again Carousel

Allows user to add previously ordered items individually

The Results of the test were as follows. Out of an average 3354 clicks

The Results of the test were as follows. Out of an average 3354 clicks

We got a clear indication from the first experiment that the buy again component generated user interest which led to the second test

We got a clear indication from the first experiment that the buy again component generated user interest which led to the second test

Test 2: Prioritising Buy Again Items on Prime Real Estate

Test 2: Prioritising Buy Again Items on Prime Real Estate

Test 2 Overview

October 2023- April 2024??
With growing emphasis on the "Buy Again" feature, targeted enhancements were introduced within technical constraints :

  1. A Buy Again-focused component was strategically placed in a high-visibility area on the homepage.

  2. A dedicated Buy Again page was created, accessible via a "View All" link for an expanded experience.

  3. A repeat order component was added to the "My Orders" page for seamless reordering.

About the Components

Buy Again Section

Showcased images of products that were previously ordered

Repeat order button on my orders

When clicked, this feature adds all products from the user's previous order to the cart, maintaining the exact quantities from that order


This represents the state of the live website before initiating the revamp project. The live site’s key metrics were as follows

This represents the state of the live website before initiating the revamp project. The live site’s key metrics were as follows

So the insight?

So the insight?

Buy Again definitely had a lot of potential and uptake but it was time for a proper design revam keeping the ideal journey in mind

Buy Again definitely had a lot of potential and uptake but it was time for a proper design revam keeping the ideal journey in mind

So lets get to it!

So lets get to it!

Research Tool 1: Competitive Benchmarking

Research Tool 1: Competitive Benchmarking

Competitive benchmarking was conducted across 8 websites, comprising a mix of Indian and international platforms. Only one South African website was reviewed using available credentials, while others could not be accessed due to unavailability of South Africa-specific account requirements.


Competitive benchmarking was conducted across 8 websites, comprising a mix of Indian and international platforms. Only one South African website was reviewed using available credentials, while others could not be accessed due to unavailability of South Africa-specific account requirements.

Competitor Benchmarking Research

Main Insights from Competitors

🔎

DISCOVERY

More Entry Points

Focus on a quick add for homepage and cart

touchpoints

Focus on a quick add for homepage and cart

touchpoints

📝

ACCESS

Buy Again Page

Dedicated page for previously purchased items users can browse

Dedicated page for previously purchased items users can browse

🔔

REMINDERS

History

Indicate when users interact with an item whether its previously bought. Give users reminders of previously bought items

Indicate when users interact with an item whether its previously bought. Give users reminders of previously bought items

Research Tool 2: Best practices repository

Research Tool 2: Best practices repository

Baymard maintains a repository of over 900 eCommerce websites analyzed across various industries, including retail, B2B, and global marketplaces. Its primary function is to provide actionable UX research, usability guidelines, and benchmarking data derived from extensive user testing.


Baymard maintains a repository of over 900 eCommerce websites analyzed across various industries, including retail, B2B, and global marketplaces. Its primary function is to provide actionable UX research, usability guidelines, and benchmarking data derived from extensive user testing.

Research Insights from Baymard

Consistent Grocery Item Purchases

Consistent Grocery Item Purchases

Users frequently repurchase the same brand, variety, and size of dog food for routine needs.

Users frequently repurchase the same brand, variety, and size of dog food for routine needs.

Display Past Purchase Status

Display Past Purchase Status

Displaying previous purchase status enhances relevance and encourages repeat buying for frequently repurchased items especially in search results page

Displaying previous purchase status enhances relevance and encourages repeat buying for frequently repurchased items especially in search results page

Quickly Add Past Purchases

Quickly Add Past Purchases

Allowing direct cart additions for promoted "Past Purchases" enhances convenience and reduces friction.

Allowing direct cart additions for promoted "Past Purchases" enhances convenience and reduces friction.

Prioratize on Homepage

Prioratize on Homepage

Displaying "Past Purchases" prominently above the fold on the homepage enhances visibility and supports quick reordering

Displaying "Past Purchases" prominently above the fold on the homepage enhances visibility and supports quick reordering

Carousels provide engagement

Carousels provide engagement

In mobile testing, homepage carousels showcasing a number of items at once were well received by participants

In mobile testing, homepage carousels showcasing a number of items at once were well received by participants

After analyzing the current website and conducting thorough research, I identified the ideal user experience and the gaps in the existing site. This enabled the creation of a focused user journey.

After analyzing the current website and conducting thorough research, I identified the ideal user experience and the gaps in the existing site. This enabled the creation of a focused user journey.

🖼 Scenario

A returning customer will need to place order for similar items

Sometime they may need to repeat the exact order.

User while browsing needs to easily access points to buy again to avoid manual process of adding products one by one

A returning customer will need to place order for similar items

Sometime they may need to repeat the exact order.

User while browsing needs to easily access points to buy again to avoid manual process of adding products one by one

🎯 Goals

Know history of previous orders and details of the order

Be able to re buy their frequent items efficiently and at a good price


Know history of previous orders and details of the order

Be able to re buy their frequent items efficiently and at a good price

😥 Pain Points

Not knowing buy again existing as a feature on Makro Business

Not being able to easily add previously bought items


A summary from the customer journey map

Problems

A summary of the key problems

Communication channels (email, messages) do not promote or inform users about the repurchase feature.

Users experience difficulty locating previously ordered items.

Previously purchased products are not prioritized in search results.

Reordering is restricted to the order level, limiting flexibility for individual item selection.

Previously bought products are not highlighted during the browsing journey.

The "Buy Again" component provides only image references, lacking essential product details. The "Buy Again" section lacks comprehensive product information, limiting its usability.

Opportunities

Points to target for the redesign

Highlight the "Buy Again" feature and previously bought items with improved communication and banners.

Add detailed item-level information, including purchase context, for easier reordering.

Enable flexible reordering at the item level instead of order-level only.

Simplify navigation to “Buy Again” through improved header links.

Prioritize previously bought items in search results and add filters or indicators for past purchases.

Explore a subscription model for frequent, repetitive orders.


Research Tool 3: User Testing

Research Tool 3: User Testing

A user test was conducted with six Makro Business customers who were already familiar with the brand. The objective was to evaluate two initial design iterations and gather insights to determine which design should be advanced for final implementation.

A user test was conducted with six Makro Business customers who were already familiar with the brand. The objective was to evaluate two initial design iterations and gather insights to determine which design should be advanced for final implementation.

Version A

Version A featured a snapshot view of "Buy Again" on the homepage. The Buy Again landing page had a list view, enabling users to adjust quantities and make bulk purchases in a single click. It contained added purchase mode, previously bought quantity and saving tip

Version A featured a snapshot view of "Buy Again" on the homepage. The Buy Again landing page had a list view, enabling users to adjust quantities and make bulk purchases in a single click. It contained added purchase mode, previously bought quantity and saving tip

Version B

Version B showcased a full carousel view for "Buy Again" and a shoppable page similar to the PLP, focusing on a familiar browsing experience over bulk purchase efficiency. It displayed more limited product details, showing only the previously bought date and mode.

Version B showcased a full carousel view for "Buy Again" and a shoppable page similar to the PLP, focusing on a familiar browsing experience over bulk purchase efficiency. It displayed more limited product details, showing only the previously bought date and mode.

People used a tedious process to
add items from "My Orders"

People used a tedious process to
add items from "My Orders"

They would click reorder then manually update the items in cart everytime

Tiana

Tiana

Large Corporate Existing Customer

"I find the last order I did in the previous month and just click reorder"

Discoverability improved for
buy again page

Customers responded best to snapshot view of buy again and header link. The carousel wasn't noticed much

Ryno

B2B Hospitality Customer

" I like this much more because you can actually see it on the page"

Charmaine

Corporate Existing Customer

Didnt notice the Buy Again carousel in version B and found the link easily in navigation

Version A: Difficulty adding products from list view

Users felt it difficult to add quantity in bulk with a separated add to cart. It didn't aid the bulk purchase process neither did customers feel a need for the feature and found it confusing

Mokgadi

Corporate Customer

Isn't clear on the actions to select a quantity and add to cart before selecting next product. User prefers B Version

Vangile

Corporate Existing Customer

"I have added everything to cart no no I haven't added"

(forgot to press add to cart in version A and just selected quantities)

Version B: Shopping Page View for Buy Again

Customers responded well to this version and found it familiar

The ability to purchase bulk in one go was something they didn't feel a lack or need for and were happy with the functionality offered by version B

Ryno

B2B Hospitality Customer

Added items easily and was able to notice the deal callouts as well

Vangile

Corporate Existing Customer

The B prototype shows me more business related items more close to what i buy (items were exactly same in both versions but user felt a bias towards B)

Jenny

Education Existing Customer

Easily flows through adding the items from the PLP as it feels like shopping

💡 Insights gathered for final design

💡 Insights gathered for final design

Users found the current experience difficult and were most were unaware of a buy again and using My Orders

Prioritising familiarity by creating a layout similar to a shopping page not list view

Deprioratizing bulk purchase in one click (users didnt show an affinity for the feature) and the info od previous quantity purchased

When questioned on whether users would be interested in a subscription model the responses were positive.
The users valued all the added product information provided on version A was valued by users

Lets get to the redesign

Lets get to the redesign

🏠 Homepage

🏠 Homepage

PREVIOUS DESIGN

PREVIOUS DESIGN

The Problems

The Problems

No descriptor about the product being sold only image to guide user

No action for user (CTA) to click if they like the product

Not enough exposure of the buy again items for user to be interested

Old Buy Again Component on Homepage

Old Buy Again Component on Homepage

Old Homepage View

Old Homepage View

THE REDESIGN

THE REDESIGN

What was Fixed

What was Fixed

Option A: Adding the item title and price two very important chunks required for a purchase. Adding a CTA so the user can take action

Option B: If the first option isn't enough exposure a full length carousel could also result in more purchases

Your favourite" tag added as persuasive copy to pursuade the user to buy through familiarity

Shop All Link added to have an entry point to buy again page

🧭 Header

🧭 Header

Old Header View

PREVIOUS DESIGN

PREVIOUS DESIGN

The Problems

The Problems

No entry points or awareness to buy again page on main header

No way to access buy again even through profile (most common section in which buy again usually rests)

New Header View

THE REDESIGN

THE REDESIGN

What was Fixed

What was Fixed

Buy Again Link given highest priority after category links for a logged in user

Access point added for buy again page under profile

🔍 Search

🔍 Search

PREVIOUS DESIGN

PREVIOUS DESIGN

The Problems

The Problems

No indication whether user has previously bought a product

x % users click on search once on the website so its a missed opportunity of signalling to users

THE REDESIGN

THE REDESIGN

What was Fixed

What was Fixed

Including signalling when a product was previously purchased and prioritising it in search

Signalling of when a product category was previously purchased when user does a more generic category based search

📦 Product Display Pages (PLP & PDP)

📦 Product Display Pages (PLP & PDP)

PREVIOUS DESIGN

PREVIOUS DESIGN

The Problems

The Problems

No identifier or prioritisation of previously bought items

Users lack context of previous history during browse journey

Old PLP View

Old PDP View

New Design

THE REDESIGN

THE REDESIGN

What was Fixed

What was Fixed

Added Tag of "previously purchased" and filter for users to quickly filter to previous purchases

Product Page has added information of previous purchase with context of previous purchases, mode of purchase and date for easier recall value to user

🔄 Buy Again Page

🔄 Buy Again Page

PREVIOUS DESIGN

PREVIOUS DESIGN

The Problems

The Problems

Not enough entry points to this page to get substantial traffic

User cannot select other options available for this product

(the exact variant that was previously bought is displayed)

THE REDESIGN

THE REDESIGN

What was Fixed

What was Fixed

Dedicated page added for buy again under profile

Created buy again as a shoppable page based on user test result preference as customers find the products more accessiblea and familiar to the usual shopping pattern

Entry point into subscription model- a new idea that would be relevant for B2B allowing users the flexibility of reorder without having to put the effort everytime


Business Value Proposition of subscription conveyed upfront as well on banner

In addition, the stepper method is the easiest to add multiple of a product making bulk purchases easier with all options at users disposal

Entry point to reorder to cater to the minority users who want to reorder at an order basis

Filters and sort options added for a conveniant browsing experience like PLP

Smart Saver Option gives intuitively calculates what purchase option is best for them utilizing previous purchase history for that product

🧭 My Orders

🧭 My Orders

Old My Orders View

PREVIOUS DESIGN

PREVIOUS DESIGN

The Problems

The Problems

On clicking reorder user gets all items from previous order added directly to cart without having a view of what items are being added

User needs to go to cart to understand what items have been added and in which quantities

Old My Orders View

THE REDESIGN

THE REDESIGN

What was Fixed

What was Fixed

On click of reorder user gets. a view of what products are being added

User can easily modify items to be added and their quantity through the addition of a checkbox and stepper respectively

Additional Touchpoints

Additional Touchpoints

📢 Cart & Communications

📢 Cart & Communications

PREVIOUS DESIGN

PREVIOUS DESIGN

The Problems

No comms or personalised recommendations currently nudging the user back into the shopping journey creating a lost opportunity

No offline touchpoint informing users of this key feature

THE REDESIGN

THE REDESIGN

What was Fixed

Utilising the current infrastructure of email and messaging to inform users of previously bought products and sending reminders in case of inactivity

Adding a personalised carousel at cart where users have high probability of adding the product

Offline Banners to be handed out to customer after check out in store (they shall be able to access offline purchase history as well)

IMPACT
AFTER
RELEASE

IMPACT AFTER RELEASE

9M Zar

of revenue generated

7% of

increase in add to cart

  1. Homepage: Adding product info, add to cart

cta, link to buy again page

  1. Buy Again Page: Info like purchase mode, date and quantity added


Store purchases reflecting

  1. Navigation: Adding entry point on header

and embedding under profile

  1. Cart: Including a buy again carousel

Thank You for Viewing

Thank You for Viewing

Old PDP View