演算法定價：它如何影響您的日常生活

演算法定價是當今存在的一種商業實踐，但大多數消費者並不知道。然而，這種利用先進演算法的方法

Algorithmic pricing is a business practice that exists today, of which most consumers are unaware. However, this method of utilizing advanced algorithms to determine the ideal pricing structure for products is now more popular than ever. What is algorithmic pricing, and how does it affect your daily life? Is it better for consumers, or is driving prices skyward? Here's everything you need to know about algorithmic pricing

演算法定價是當今存在的一種商業實踐，但大多數消費者並不知道。然而，這種利用先進演算法來確定產品理想定價結構的方法現在比以往任何時候都更受歡迎。什麼是演算法定價？這對消費者來說更好，還是導致價格飛漲？這是您需要了解的有關演算法定價的所有信息

Traditional Price Setting Methods

傳統的定價方法

For centuries, prices were set by the vendor based on individual factors such as their local demand and supply. This way of setting prices manually involved analysts and managers communicating their scenarios which later would evolve into automatic pricing algorithms and Excel spreadsheets.

幾個世紀以來，價格都是由供應商根據當地需求和供應等個人因素制定的。這種手動定價的方式涉及分析師和經理交流他們的場景，這些場景後來演變成自動定價演算法和 Excel 電子表格。

Today, pricing algorithms are used by a massive selection of industries. These powerful systems provide businesses with the ability to instantly set prices based on various factors. As such, these protocols are now in use across a huge selection of markets including e-commerce, entertainment, advertising, insurance, sports, travel, and utilities markets.

如今，定價演算法已被眾多產業所使用。這些強大的系統使企業能夠根據各種因素立即設定價格。因此，這些協議現已在眾多市場中使用，包括電子商務、娛樂、廣告、保險、體育、旅遊和公用事業市場。

How Does Algorithmic Pricing Work?

演算法定價如何運作？

Algorithmic pricing takes several factors and combines the data to achieve preset goals such as increasing profit margins. These systems often utilize probabilistic and statistical information regarding market conditions as part of the equation. Additionally, these algorithms will monitor supply and demand, competitors' pricing, inventory, holidays, and even weather conditions.

演算法定價需要考慮多個因素並結合資料來實現預設目標，例如提高利潤率。這些系統通常利用有關市場狀況的機率和統計資訊作為方程式的一部分。此外，這些演算法還將監控供應和需求、競爭對手的定價、庫存、假期，甚至天氣狀況。

Pricing algorithms are easy to operate once created and they can be run at regular intervals throughout the day. For example, Amazon's algorithmic pricing is constantly altering product costs based on numerous factors. In theory, this approach should lead to more competitive pricing. However, the market appears to be veering off onto another course.

定價演算法一旦創建就很容易操作，並且可以全天定期運行。例如，亞馬遜的演算法定價會根據多種因素不斷改變產品成本。理論上，這種方法應該會帶來更具競爭力的定價。然而，市場似乎正在轉向另一條道路。

History of Algorithmic Pricing

演算法定價的歷史

Algorithmic Pricing has been around since the 1980s. It was first introduced by American Airlines as a way to set seat pricing based on seating supply and demand. If you have ever taken a flight, then you have encountered this system in use. Notably, the airline industry pioneered algorithmic pricing which helped it to spread to other markets.

演算法定價自 20 世紀 80 年代以來就已出現。它首先由美國航空推出，作為一種根據座位供需情況設定座位定價的方法。如果您曾經搭乘過航班，那麼您就遇到過這個系統的使用。值得注意的是，航空業率先採用演算法定價，這有助於其傳播到其他市場。

Source – Algorithmic Pricing Airlines

來源 – 演算法定價航空公司

Many companies have experimented with algorithmic pricing in the past. However, the technology wasn’t the same as today, and the methods could seem a bit crude to consumers, who often felt like they were being unfairly taxed. A perfect example of this scenario was a failed venture by Coca-Cola, where they attempted to have a vending machine that charged more based on the temperature outside. Needless to say, the project was a huge flop that led to consumer backlash.

許多公司過去都嘗試過演算法定價。然而，當時的技術與今天不同，而且這些方法對消費者來說似乎有點粗糙，他們常常覺得自己被不公平地徵稅。這種情況的一個完美例子是可口可樂的一次失敗的冒險，他們試圖擁有一台根據室外溫度收取更多費用的自動販賣機。不用說，該項目是一個巨大的失敗，導致了消費者的強烈反對。

Nowadays, the online market is the powerhouse, and algorithmic pricing has found new life and capabilities in the digital world. Today's large online retailers dominate the market. They all utilize some form of AI-powered algorithmic pricing to maximize profits. As such, there is growing concern related to algorithmic price collusion.

如今，線上市場是動力來源，演算法定價在數位世界中找到了新的生命和能力。當今的大型線上零售商主導著市場。他們都利用某種形式的人工智慧驅動的演算法定價來實現利潤最大化。因此，人們越來越擔心演算法價格共謀。

AI Changed Everything

人工智慧改變了一切

The use of powerful computer algorithms helped pricing strategies improve greatly but nothing boosted the tech's capabilities more than AI integration. Artificial intelligence systems such as machine learning algorithms are capable of monitoring massive amounts of data in real time, learning from the information, and providing unique responses based on the plethora of data computed.

強大的電腦演算法的使用幫助定價策略大大改進，但沒有什麼比人工智慧整合更能提高技術的能力了。機器學習演算法等人工智慧系統能夠即時監控大量數據，從資訊中學習，並根據大量計算數據提供獨特的回應。

Notably, AI integration has improved algorithmic pricing capabilities across several dimensions. For one, it's now much cheaper to operate and integrate these tools. AI systems don’t require supercomputers to run. As such, they are readily available to businesses via cloud systems.

值得注意的是，人工智慧整合在多個維度上提高了演算法定價能力。其一，現在操作和整合這些工具的成本要低得多。人工智慧系統不需要超級電腦來運作。因此，企業可以透過雲端系統輕鬆使用它們。

Additionally, these systems can utilize a massive amount of data, including supply and demand, competitors’ activities, delivery schedules, and even logistical delays due to weather conditions. All of this data allows the AI to determine optimal prices in real-time.

此外，這些系統可以利用大量數據，包括供應和需求、競爭對手的活動、交貨時間表，甚至是由於天氣條件造成的物流延誤。所有這些數據使人工智慧能夠即時確定最佳價格。

Benefits of Algorithmic Pricing

演算法定價的好處

The benefits of algorithmic pricing are obvious. For one, it enables a company to set pricing using preset coding rather than human intervention. As such, it's ideal for uniformity and response time. Additionally, the system can be set up to maximize profits based on demand and other vital factors, allowing businesses to set prices promptly, often leading to fluctuations throughout the day.

演算法定價的好處是顯而易見的。其一，它使公司能夠使用預設編碼而不是人工幹預來設定定價。因此，它非常適合一致性和回應時間。此外，該系統可以根據需求和其他重要因素進行設置，以實現利潤最大化，從而使企業能夠及時設定價格，這通常會導致全天的波動。

Drawbacks of Algorithmic Pricing

演算法定價的缺點

There are many reasons why algorithmic pricing seems like it could help to drive competition and lower prices for consumers but those factors are seen by many as simply a ruse. In almost every instance that an algorithmic pricing algorithm is introduced, the prices for consumers begin to increase. In some instances, products can double and triple throughout the day.

演算法定價似乎有助於推動競爭並降低消費者價格的原因有很多，但許多人認為這些因素只是一種詭計。幾乎在每次引入演算法定價演算法的情況下，消費者的價格都會開始上漲。在某些情況下，一天中的產品數量可能會增加兩倍或三倍。

The integration of rival price checking has led many analysts to conclude that algorithmic pricing leads to price collusion. When AI algorithms monitor competitors' pricing to set their own, it should result in lower costs for consumers. However, if all the competitors are using similar pricing algorithms, price collusion occurs as the system seeks out an equilibrium for the market.

競爭對手價格檢查的整合使許多分析師得出結論：演算法定價會導致價格串通。當人工智慧演算法監控競爭對手的定價並自行設定時，應該會降低消費者的成本。然而，如果所有競爭對手都使用類似的定價演算法，當系統尋求市場均衡時，就會出現價格串通。

Algorithms Go Wild

演算法瘋狂

Another concern regarding algorithmic pricing is its inconsistency. There have been many instances where these algorithms couldn't compute some unusual data point which resulted in insane price gouging. A good example of this occurring was the time when a textbook on Amazon saw its price rise to $24 million. Hopefully

關於演算法定價的另一個問題是其不一致。在很多情況下，這些演算法無法計算一些不尋常的數據點，從而導致瘋狂的價格欺詐。發生這種情況的一個很好的例子是亞馬遜上一本教科書的價格上漲到 2400 萬美元。希望