Asia Pacific – Social commerce and conscious consumerism have emerged as top contributors to online shopping behaviours in Asia-Pacific, according to logistics company DHL’s latest report.
In a survey including Australia, China, India, Malaysia, and Thailand, more than 90% of respondents reported that they have purchased from social media platforms. In China, Douyin, WeChat, and Kuaishou users also purchase from the platforms. In Thailand, 7 out 10 shoppers use the TikTok application, while Instagram and Facebook are used for online shopping in India.
Meanwhile, conscious consumerism is also on the rise with 70% of online shoppers viewing sustainability as an important factor before purchasing items online. Finding sustainability as a significant consideration are 83% of Indian shoppers, 77% of Thai shoppers, 67% of Malaysian shoppers, 59% of Chinese shoppers and 57% of Australian shoppers.
Consumers also prefer to know if their deliveries are climate-friendly with 73% of social media shoppers saying they want to know the carbon dioxide emissions of their delivery.
Consequently, 75% of shoppers report knowing their delivery provider before purchasing online in pursuit of efficiency and reliability.
“Online shopping behaviors are changing rapidly, driven by the rise of social commerce, conscious consumerism, and increased consumer spending. These present both opportunities and challenges for e-commerce businesses looking to penetrate and thrive in a dynamic Asia-Pacific market. With the region’s e-commerce market expected to reach over $3 trillion by 2028, businesses must tailor their strategies to target and engage online buyers, who have a plethora of shopping platform alternatives. This also means voluntarily offering information on carbon emissions and providing reliable delivery options to differentiate from competitors,” Pablo Ciano, chief executive officer at DHL eCommerce, said.
“Asia Pacific consumers will only continue to transact more online. With virtual reality, artificial intelligence and metaverse anticipated to redefine customer engagement and online shopping, companies must be quick to adapt to consumer expectations, by reducing the business’s environmental impact and picking a trusted delivery partner. Only then can companies expand their customer base and foster customer loyalty,” Ciano added.
