All current pod product lines inherit the advantages of previous vape product lines in the past. The number of vape users is constantly increasing, the user base is increasingly widespread, and the discovery factors for technically savvy players are gradually giving way to personal products. Pod systems are widely known today, fully converging the factors: ease of use, convenience, device cost and reasonable daily usage cost. Through the article, readers will easily summarize the successive formations between today's pod system product lines.
I. Open pod takes the throne from AIO
After AIO, thanks to the pivotal birth of Salt nicotine, manufacturers were able to launch a product line that was even smaller, simpler to use, lighter to carry, and more personalized with the concept: POD MOD .
POD/Personal Operable Device
POD is a personal device, which can be used by an individual, for personal purposes.
This includes devices like smartphones, tablets, and laptops. It can also include wearable devices like smartwatches and fitness trackers.
MOD/Module
A module is a separate unit, many modules will form a whole, each module will perform a different function but work together to complete the whole job.
The easiest way to distinguish between AIO and current pod mod lines is not in size, but in integration:
- From AIO to previous product lines, the combustion core and juice chamber are two separate parts that users can choose from.
- From Open pod onwards, the combustion core and juice chamber are integrated into one by the manufacturer.
This is the biggest improvement, thanks to the integration of the combustion core (occ) into the juice chamber (cartridge).
Manufacturers: reduce production costs, standardize to solve problems such as leaks, burner failure, etc., problems that users often encounter due to lack of understanding of technical factors, or become product weaknesses due to user factors (majority).
Product: reduced size, more stable quality.
Users (majority): easier to choose, less operations, easier to use.
In summary, in the eyes of users, the early stage pod system (or open pod today) has the following advantages:
- More acceptable price than AIO -> more users.
- Easier to use than AIO -> better experience.
More users with better experience -> pod's viral potential is stronger than previous product lines.
Up to this point, Pod has won over AIO thanks to inherited and superior factors: Compact, easy to use, better price than AIO.
II. Birth of closed pod (first generation closed pod)
Closed: means closed, or not open
It is inevitable that when you do well, people will follow you. Smart brands start to launch pod products, most brands today have pods. In the midst of a sea of pod products, how do users choose?
One thing is for sure, the first people who think of this question are the manufacturers. Still based on 2 conditions:
- Always improve the quality of use.
- Always have competitive prices.
This time, the manufacturers chose to integrate juice. Or rather, they embraced the whole juice segment.
Essential oils are clearly something that directly affects the flavor, nicotine strength, and furthermore, the quality of the user experience.
Early open pods often had many options for atomizers with different ohm numbers, and users would choose juice. This made the product experience inconsistent, on the same product, the same type of juice but different ohm numbers -> users would prefer a certain type of atomizer. This meant that atomizers with different ohm numbers would sell slowly, or not at all (not beneficial for business people). At the same time, it limited the product's ability to spread due to disagreement among users.
When embracing the entire juice segment, Closed pod manufacturers have many advantages:
Juice manufacturers need to bottle it, while pod device manufacturers just need to pour the juice into the pods.
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Pod manufacturers can adjust the type of juice, type of atomizer, and battery capacity suitable for the device. They proactively design for the target audience, so the quality of use is consistent and manageable.
Their products are more competitive, the combo price is always cheaper than selling each type individually, instead of spending an extra 300k for a bottle of juice, users can use it right away on the closed pod product with pre-made juice. When considering, most users often choose the option with the lower cost.
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Closed pods cannot be refilled with juice like open pods, and with a salnic usage of 1-2ml/day, a pod capacity of 5ml or less will be used for 3-5 days. This is the safe time (best smoking time) for 1 core. So the closed pod manufacturer both ensures the smoking experience for users and is clearer about the production plan of the supplied products.
For the user, when compared to Open pod:
Lower initial cost: juice is already available in the Closed pod pack (if you buy an open pod at the same price, you still have to buy an additional 300k bottle of juice).
Instead of 300k for a bottle of juice with 1 flavor, users can buy 3-6 pods with different flavors. Have more experiences with the same cost.
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Better experience: after 3-5 days of continuous use, when the juice runs out, the user will replace the closed atomizer with a new one. As for open pod, trying to use it or forgetting to replace the atomizer will accidentally make the user get used to the bad vapor before realizing it. Then they will lose money looking for a better product without understanding the reason.
So, compared to Open pod, Closed pod has won. Integrating juice into the replacement atomizer, in general, makes the user's usage habits more correct, bringing more standard and delicious experiences, at a cheaper cost than Open pod.
III. Disposable pod is born, a funnel top product
Disposable is an adjective that describes an object that is designed to be thrown away rather than repaired or reused.
Still from the manufacturer, but bear with me for a moment. The story of disposable pod is truly a quintessential one.
The closed pod approach is the right one, but it only really works for those who have used open pods, when they understand the issues of usage costs, or the quality of use required of a daily gadget product.
The problem is, vaping has been closely associated with the concept that we now agree on: a replacement for traditional cigarettes.
So, the target audience that vape wants to serve is still traditional cigarette smokers.
How can traditional cigarette smokers try and experience e-cigarettes, when cigarette prices in countries like Vietnam are so cheap? This is clearly a gap that vape, or the newest representative in the flow at that time, Closed pod, has not been able to reach: The ability to compete on the price of first use for beginners.
The author believes that this is a vape niche that only the most shrewd and experienced manufacturers would think of first (OEM production stream).
AIO to Open Pod is design integration, Open pod to Closed is distribution flow integration, these products can be considered optimized for bottom of funnel customers.
As for the Disposable pod, it acts as a brilliant drill, finding the gold mine of top-of-funnel customers.
“TRIAL PRICE ONLY 150K”
No one buys a Downy bag to try forever. If you like it, buy a big bag because the price is better when you use more.
The Disposable price is also the trial price of Closed pod in the Vape product line.
Disposable is good, yes it is good, but in the long run it is not as economical as Closed pod.
And why is Disposable so cheap?
Going back to the old manufacturers' point, disposable is cheap because it is minimalist:
Disposable, can't be recharged, can't add juice, can't replace the burner
Non-rechargeable -> uses non-rechargeable battery materials -> cheaper than rechargeable batteries
No more juice -> remove the tank -> store juice with cheaper cotton foam
Do not replace the burner -> remove the connection pin -> connect the battery directly to the coil
Minimizing production costs without reducing quality is because manufacturers have gone through the Closed pod stage, when they have managed most quality issues, from ohm to juice, and usage time.
As a result, thanks to the development of closed pod, vape has an additional product line:
Great price.
Basic standard suction quality.
Optimized for first time experience.
Extremely easy to use, convenient for anyone.
Dispos was not born to surpass Closed pod, on the contrary, it is an indispensable companion for the development of Closed pod in particular, or vape in general.
IV. Summary
The formation and development of pod system product lines is the result of market selection. Vape from a hobby is gradually becoming a personal product used every day in the true sense. The continuation of these advantages has not stopped, but will continue to develop further in the future, promising to bring more and more convenient product lines, with better prices.
We will continue to wait and see!
