ecommerceIQ, a research unit of aCommerce, predicts the trend of e-commerce in Southeast Asia
1.Brands Shift Their Focus from Data Gathering to Data Utilization
The biggest differentiator between online and offline retail is the ability to track, collect, monitor, and manage information, all in real time.
Through online channels, brands are able to access customer data through chats, social media, and their own websites. This information can be used to devise online strategies. Globally, 73% of brands plan to allocate their ecommerce budget on data & analytics services in 2019.
In China, Alibaba and JD.com have taken this a step further by utilizes the data gathered online to improve inventories and experiences at their physical stores.
2.Social Commerce Channels are Brands’ New Sales Outlets
Facebook groups have long established as an online space where people connect to buy and sell goods. Following Facebook’s footsteps, social platforms like Instagram and Pinterest have also developed their own shoppable features. Line also acquired Sellsuki to work on social commerce.
3.E-Marketplaces Launch New Services to Differentiate
One thing the successful ecommerce players in more developed markets that have in common is full control over their supply chain.
JD.com’s investment to the development of their own supply chain allows them to scale their technology and offer Retail-as-a-Service proposition to help other retailers or brands sell online. Alibaba is unrivaled for to its extensive ecosystem beyond commerce, including a logistics network Cainiao, a payment firm Ant Financial, not to mention its recent foray into the entertainment industry.
The same practice has infiltrated down to Southeast Asia. Lazada has strengthened its logistics arm FBL (Fulfilled by Lazada) post the acquisition, and although no concrete plans has been disclosed, Shopee has expressed the intention to build its own logistics network.
More e-marketplaces are coming up with new services to get more sellers onboard. Singapore’s Qoo10 is set to launch its blockchain-based ecommerce site QuuBee this year, leveraging the blockchain technology to eliminate the transaction and listing fee which in turn increase the retailers’ profit margin and make a more sustainable commerce approach.
In Indonesia, Tokopedia is set to offer “Infrastructure-As-a-Service” with the fresh $1.1 billion funding. They also plan to use AI for customer care services and to run credit checks on merchants seeking loan to expand their businesses.
Facebook is also showing more of intention to jump into the bandwagon that is the region’s ecommerce. The social network has launched Marketplace feature in Thailand and Singapore without much fanfare, but the recent partnership with Kasikorn Bank in Thailand to allow in-app payment feature might be the start of the company’s effort to bulk up its commerce capabilities and cater to those that utilised the platform for their business.
4.Brands to Reinforce Reviews and Fund User-Generated Content to Win Ecommerce Consumers
E-marketplaces in Southeast Asia has been upscaling and building add-ons which provide consumers with the utmost convenience. The search for better technology and assistance for the consumers is constant and never-ending.
5.Brands Employ Direct-to-Consumer strategies to Acquire Direct Consumer Data
89% of companies are now competing mostly on a customer experience playing field and the Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) approach is becoming more important for brands as it allows them to gain insights into their end users and anticipate their needs.
One trend observed among brands to promote DTC is ecommerce subscription. From a consumer perspective, subscription offers convenient, personalized, and often cheaper way to buy what they need. For brands, it’s a subtle method to create customer loyalty in the digital landscape.
6.2019 Will Finally see Regulation of Ecommerce across the Region
Ecommerce practice in the region has remained largely unregulated as a nascent occurrence. As the industry grows, it is only a matter of time until governments step in to tax this fast-growing segment and level the playing field for foreign companies to offer digital services and goods locally.
A couple of months ago, Economic Ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) signed an agreement to facilitate cross-border ecommerce transactions within the region.
Singapore might also see a decrease in cross-border shopping as prices increase with the introduction of Goods and Service Tax (GST) on ecommerce goods and services from overseas. Currently, 89% of all cross-border transactions in the Asia Pacific region are conducted by Singaporeans.
7.Grab and Go-Jek Challenge Logistics Providers to Capture Ecommerce and Online Food Delivery
The recent regional expansion from Indonesia’s Go-Jek, the competition between Grab and Go-Jek will only get fiercer. Go-Jek has successfully carved their existence in Vietnam, Singapore, and Thailand last year alone. In addition, Grab’s competitor in Malaysia, Dacsee, has also expressed the plan of expanding to Thailand.
Both companies are not racing to be the best ride-hailing providers, they’re aiming for something much bigger; superapps. Go-Jek has secured $1 billion funds from Google, Tencent, and JD.com in part of their plan to raise $2 billion for this venture. Meanwhile, Grab recently nabbed $200 million investment from Thailand’s Central Group, boosting their valuation to 11 billion to date.
2019 will see these two competitors steer toward the same goal of food and ecommerce delivery. Google and Temasek reported that the online food delivery business grew 73% CAGR in 2019. By 2025, they predict online food delivery growth at 36% CAGR with online transport only 23%.
8.Brands and Retailers will Double Down on Omnichannel is Southeast Asia’s Preference over Pure-Play Ecommerce
The omnichannel shopping experience is not a new concept, but companies do have diverse interpretations of the concept. Headlines revealed that online retail behemoths, such as Amazon and Alibaba, are moving into physical retail.
The main reason why Alibaba ventured out of online space reflects its determination to solve core problems of the shopping experience, such as scattered operations and lack of payment transparency.
JD.com pipped Alibaba for once by opening the first unmanned convenience store in the region in Jakarta to leverage the enormous database by offering beneficial insights to brands such as the best products to stock and advertise. Through their JV with Central Group in Thailand, JD Central also planning the similar launch in the country by 2020.
