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It’s official – 55% of Internet shoppers globally say they buy online because of better deals!
And that is why retailers, even in Malaysia, must develop a customer-focused business model and invest in technology to capitalise on the fast-growing e-shopping market.
The PwC survey entitled ‘Achieving Total Retail: Consumer Expectations Driving the Next Retail Business Model’ covered more than 15,000 online shoppers in 15 countries.
This emerging trend has prompted retailers to make it easier for customers to find and buy products online.
And in Malaysia, consumers have their preferred top products and brands which figure prominently on their shopping list.
Malaysia is a good benchmark as it is one of the fastest growing nations, with research showing that it is quickly becoming a goldmine – a third growth force in Asia, next to China and India.
Now, let’s take a look at what’s trending in the Malaysian shopping cart!
Mobile phones and tablets seem to be a necessity now – what with the latest 2013 statistics stating that 91% of all people on earth have a mobile phone. Of these users, 50% use mobile phones as their primary Internet source.
It’s no surprise that the Apple iPhone and Samsung Galaxy smartphone series are doing so well. Low-cost OEM tablets such as Tenko are also making a name in online portals.
The PwC survey also found that globally 41% of online shoppers buy products through tablets, up from 28% in 2012 and 43% purchase products through smartphones, up from 30%.
While some users enjoy the convenience of their smartphone cameras, nothing beats having a digital SLR camera by industry leaders such as Canon, Nikon and Fujifilm. They remain the best-selling brands in online shopping sites. GoPro, the camera for extreme action video photography are also trending online because they are not exclusively available in physical stores yet.
Gadgets aside, e-commerce is also redefining the global fashion industry and with women being more frequent shoppers, this may well be the reason for the transformation!
Busy working women or housewives find their fashion cravings can be fulfilled with just a click. And male shoppers are also part of this transformation as they become more discerning purchasers.
However, fashion e-commerce is still largely local due to shipping costs and delivery speed.
On the domestic scale, online shopping is no longer a task. Unlimited number of products can be bought online and delivered to your doorstep, sparing you the agony of pushing the loaded shopping trolley at the hypermarket.
The PwC survey shows that nearly 60% of online shoppers follow their favourite brands or retailers via social media and use the Web to discover new brands.
Some of the most frequently-shipped domestic products by Lazada www.lazada.com.my include the multipurpose Happycall double-sided pan and the Shake ‘N Take blender.
The products and brands mentioned are essentially some of the top purchases of Malaysian shoppers and all these products are also available from Lazada via www.lazada.com.my and on the Mobile App (available on both the iOS and Android).
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