The Power of E-Commerce:
“Achieving Success with Mathematical Thinking"
Do you know the answers of “what, where, how, when and to whom I can sell” to be able to say I can sell a product?. How difficult are these especially when digital and artificial intelligence came into prominence these days… aren’t they? Well, have you ever thought how important to think mathematical thinking even for these?
Yes, to sell the product successfully, knowing the answers of “what, where, how, when and to whom I can sell?”, is quite important. Answering these questions properly can determine the success of the e-commerce business. Factors such as product selection, determining the target market, creating proper marketing strategies, selling on the right platform at the right time are of great importance. Particularly nowadays, in an era in which digital and artificial intelligence are in the foreground, e-commerce companies need to use these Technologies properly to be able to compete and succesful. In addition to that, Mathematical Thinking plays a big role in e-commerce. Analysing the data, evaluating trends and customer behaviours mathematically are critical importance to determine the right strategies. Mathematics gives a huge advantage to e-commerce businesses about understanding the data, problem solving and strategic decision-making.
“I understood the meaning and importance of the mathematics from an early age and I noticed what brings thinking with mathematics to the person” said the mathematical prodigy Murat Baş. He summarizes the reality of life by saying “The fact that everything has a mathematics and that it occurs in this direction took an important place in my life”
We are meeting with the mathematical prodigy, Murat Baş, to find answers to our questions with Senay Güncavar, a reporter of Gazete Yazıyor and Vesim Parlar, who is an expert on this subject from our team.
We asked, and Murat Baş, an expert of this subject, answered the questions for Gazete Yazıyor readers:
Who is Murat Baş? We are wondering about your career, can you tell us?
We can say that a 37 year-old version of a child who is curious and questions about everything, but not satisfied with the answers he received and knowledge obtained. As a child wondering and questioning the life around me, I spent my life away from the ordinary. I began interested in different fields by doing a double major in Bilkent University in my student life. I worked in banking and finance fields in my career, but I explored my curiosity about technology subjects in Türk Telekom. I gained various firmitudes with consultantship projects and then later on I learnt the importance of data analysis and business intelligence at Borsa Istanbul Group. I did not like being statical and worked in several departments in various companies. I was always open to constant change and improvements like a catalyzer. I focused on creating high-class projects after spotting the distresses on furniture and textile sector at Erciyes Anadolu Holding. I managed IT, Sales, Marketing, Performance Management, R&D and E-commerce departments throughout my long career. Emphasizing the importance of correct information and experiences in e-commerce, I saw that the sector is full of deficient and incorrect information. I believe in the importance of giving information unprejudiced and properly. I emphasize the necessity of learning online sales from the experts and reliable sources. Having great products are not sufficient to be successful, substantial elements such as data analysis, system integrations and understanding algorithms of platforms need to be considered also. As a result, I was always a person who is open to learn, questioning and pushing to achieve the correct knowledge throughout my life. I believe that success comes from real enlightenment, from different perspectives, by constantly learning and improving.
I LEARNT THE MATHEMATICS IS EVERYTHING IN LIFE.
The agreement I made with my mathematics teacher, who had been a professor of mathematics at Marmara University for years and crossed our paths on a same region due to the health issues, began to alleviate my hunger for knowledge slightly. My teacher, told the little child in front of him that his eyes can not see well enough but while solving mathematics problem and drawing geometrical figures, It looks like as If a seperate shine sparkles in my teacher’s eyes. Effort of my teacher in the meantime was trying to show that the agreement we made is actually based on single-sided winning principles. Agreement was:I was going to read book to my teacher for an hour daily after school, then in return, he would give me an opportunity to learn mathematics and rational knowledge for an hour. Thus, I understood the importance and the meaning of the mathematics at small ages and I noticed how much thinking with mathematics brings to people. In my life, the fact that everything has a mathematics and that it takes place in this direction has taken an important place.
How do you describe your profession?
Selling products on online platforms seem like a simple and easy task to many people, as it is often conducted solely through the internet. In a colloquial manner, It is considered as earning Money while sitting on the computer. However, e-commerce is a huge ecosystem, and at the same time an ocean addresses to most of the consumers and sellers in the world and can reach easily. Thinking of extensiveness and wideness level of Internet around the world, online sales are indispensable for companies/individuals. Unfortunately, most companies in Türkiye are not aware of it yet or do not make any move even though they are aware, and when they want to take action, finding a qualified personnel gets difficult day by day, and If the found one improved themselves well and when they see the big Picture, resigns and starts their own company.
MANUFACTURING OR HAVING A PRODUCT IS NOT ENOUGH
However, manufacturing or having a product is not enough. Drawing on many pieces of information and experience, reading and analyzing data accurately, and making strategic moves are necessary to succeed, just as in any other field. Lets say you will manufacture and sell a product or sell an existing product. The decision-making process/analysis for the product you will sell is actually the most significant step. Afterward, when you launch the product for sale, you need to specialize in operations, logistics, and then customer satisfaction stages or work with truly expert colleagues in these fields. Of course, this also requires "capital," meaning money.
THE QUESTIONS “WHAT, WHERE, HOW, WHEN AND TO WHOM?” MUST BE CLARIFIED
I am someone who is constantly searching according to my experiences. Not only I am interested in with the product or content; but also visualization, aesthetics, storification, various software tools etc. I do researches not in a single sector, but in various sectors. Also I am roaming factories, attending exhibitions in domestic or abroad, making conferences with the expert friends in their fields and gather data. In short, I am trying to Access fresh information and stay up to date. Like on a chessboard, Need to see 5-6 steps after and create action plan according to it. Yes, to say I can sell this product, answers of the questions of “what, where, how, when and to whom?” must be clarified. In summary, we are doing these with our core team, and together, we are formulating our strategy and action plans by finding clear answers to our questions..
Can you tell us about your projects?
I work on several innovative projects that can be take place on sales platforms and create added value. For example, I am currently dedicating a considerable amount of time to the development and production of goods like beds, futons, bedspreads, pillows, etc., designed with innovative technology aimed at improving people's sleep hours. We are also making various developments on software/application Technologies we have been working on for several years; for example with “hiri.app” application we are developing, we are making hiring processes of companies easier and more productive with the questions sets prepared with AI (artificial Intelligence), Machine learning and Boğaziçi University. In addition to this, we are working on an integration that gathers producer, wholesaler and various retail channels, we are in a process to be make the application more productive with the pilot studies in some cities we determined since 6 months. With our Xbirdy organization, my team and I are currently putting in intense effort into a project that aims to bring together inventors and innovators in Turkey.
What is the most interesting and favorite project ?
We have a Project called Xbirdy, which we have been working on with our team for 6 months and also we have obtained the brand registration in the USA market, to put it shortly; it is a structure where brilliant ideas in various categories and fields making people's lives easier such as design, technology, digital gaming, food, drink, environment, sustainability, film, video, and music are transformed into products that differentiate from competitors and are not available for direct consumer sales on any marketplace worldwide.
THE PROJECT WILL BE EXPLAINED WITHIN ONE MINUTE
We will receive applications through our website for the bright ideas came after advertisements and calls from TV, printed publication and digital channels. Then, we will create question sets using our self-designed artificial intelligence, machine learning, and big data system, which will automatically pose questions to the "inventors." Following the relevant responses, a camera will be activated, and the inventor will have 1 minute to explain their project. Meanwhile, our custom software will analyze the body language, tone of voice, and facial expressions of the inventor to assess their confidence in the project and measure the consistency of their answers to the questions, generating a scoring mechanism. Afterwards, we will invite the “inventor candidates” who are in conformity with the criteria we determined, to our campus and the product enter the foreign markets with legal counselling, coaching, design, prototype production and marketing visual Works.
What is digital in your eyes?
In short, I can say that an extensive data network range where you can realise your solid dreams by taking the right steps and make connection with anyone in the four corners of the world, reflection of ideas which took action with depending on how and what for you use. Of course, some may use the digital for bad intentions or perception management, but also the opportunity to create many things that can be beneficial for the mankind and the future is on your keyboard. To clarify this subject, I would like to write a passage from a poem written by Yılmaz Erdoğan;
“In literary discussions during night shifts, in competition, a battle rages on
From idea to idea, crossing bridges of thoughts
I neither wish for Murat's water to flow with blood
Nor do I abandon the fight for the sake of poetry
My profession is to endure
The cost of benefiting the crowd
I pay with what I receive from here and there
My only legacy and wealth are my words”
“I WISH THE DAY IS LONGER THAN 24 HOURS”
What is your source of inspiration?
I can say almost anything such as history, experiences, epoch-making ideas, questioning urge and people whom I see them as role model, texts, poems, paintings, musics, products etc…Leonardo Di Ser Piero da Vinci has a very special place for me. Great pleasure of reflecting the visual intelligence and analytical perspective to his studies, inventions and Works. Also the most wonderful speciality of Steve Jobs’ for me is to be able to mix the different ideas / products and designs. I am trying to go on this road crawling. As a result, I am someone who, regardless of the industry, travels to numerous domestic and international fairs, strives to be part of artistic works and events, and rushes to meet new minds, ideas, and people while surviving on only 4 hours of sleep per day. Sometimes, I wish there were more than 24 hours in a day because you can't fit everything into time...
If you think about it, how would you comment on your progress so far?
I am a person who is trying to get rid of all kinds of troubles and challenges with quote/experience, I was never offended from positive or negative experiences, especially from the people I was beaten because I know this; I am always winning from the beatings. But I would like to remark this especially, However, I would like to emphasize that in my work, projects, and interactions with people whose future I touch and benefit in the slightest way, my purpose of existence is to remain unknown and hidden among shattered shells, ideas, inventions, and humanity. In short, I am still in the beginning.
WHY DID MEHMET THE CONQUEROR SPEAK 8 LANGUAGES AND WHAT WAS HIS MAIN PURPOSE?
Do you have a message or suggestion to the young people?
Telling common things like “Read this, Do that!” to youth will not be beneficial in any way. In my eyes each person is a different world, a great treasure waiting to be explored. First, youngsters need to explore what they are, who they are, what they want to be and how to achieve that. Of course, they will not know themselves completely, but at least what they learn about themselves will light their ways in this journey. Besides, they can start by learning why did Mehmed the Conqueror speak 8 languages and what was his main purpose for example.
“DIGITAL WORLD IS NOT ONLY CONSISTS OF SPENDING TIME ON SOCIAL MEDIA”
There shouldn’t be an end of questioning, researching and thirst for knowledge. However, to reach the accurate knowledge and ideas, they need to learn many languages and interpret the source directly by reading, understanding and translating instead of relying solely on translations or commentaries. Only then, they will have a chance to experience in their own lives the renaissance of a butterfly which breaks its cocoon and fly. For this reason, foreign language is quite important, and the digital world is not only consists of spending time on social media, they also need to improve themselves to stop being a consumer and become a producer.
INTERVIEW – SENAY GÜNCAVAR
