Tag: Ecommerce

Singapore – TikTok has rolled out its new ‘Shop’ tab feature for its e-commerce solution, TikTok Shop, to offer users a more convenient way to access its shopping portal.

The ‘Shop’ tab feature, represented by a shopping bag icon, takes users straight into TikTok Shop’s shopping portal in one touch, providing greater convenience and interaction for online shoppers and merchants.

With the new feature, online shoppers will easily have access to the familiar shopping interface where they can browse products, view orders, access their shopping cart, set addresses and payment methods, and chat with merchants.

Furthermore, the products in the Shop tab are also divided into categories to help users quickly and easily find what they are looking for. The feature also highlights products that are based on the users’ habits and interests while using the app. This ensures an even more pleasurable and convenient experience for users while also assisting merchants by having their products matched with a customer’s profile.

Additionally, the top of the page contains prominent flash sale information and countdown timers to remind users of sale discounts and other shop and item promotions.

Doven Yap, seller acquisition lead at TikTok Shop Singapore, said, “TikTok Shop has a rapidly growing community, and our innovation and developments are meant to address the desires of sellers, merchants, and creators to learn, discover, and promote one another on TikTok. The Shop Tab becomes a natural extension of the users’ journey from being entertained to learning something new and getting interested in buying. Consequently, this feature lets businesses grow to be discovered more easily and gain more new customers, leveraging the power of the TikTok community.”

China – JD.com (Jingdong) has announced its partnership with UK-based parcel delivery company Evri to empower and enable the further growth of British and European businesses in the Chinese market.

The newly-inked partnership aims to assist European businesses selling their products on JD.com’s marketplace.

JD.com will enhance its pick-up service to European and UK businesses, including local pick-ups, warehousing, international transportation, access to Chinese bonded warehouses, customs clearance, and comprehensive delivery across China.

Additionally, JD Logistics will leverage Evri’s local distribution network and their self-operated overseas warehouses to provide integrated warehousing and comprehensive delivery solutions to their clients in Europe.

Combining JD.com’s advanced e-commerce capabilities with Evri’s extensive delivery network, this partnership is set to offer a more seamless and efficient gateway for European businesses to access and promote to customers in China.

Moreover, Evri’s partners will also have access to valuable insights on the Chinese market. This includes data on consumer behaviour, marketing and pricing strategies, product selection advice, and online operational strategies that are only specific to this market.

The partnership will initially focus on areas where JD.com has substantial insights in terms of customers’ shopping preferences, such as in the beauty and apparel sectors.

David Saenz, chief growth officer at Evri, said, “This is an exciting partnership between Evri and JD.com and a powerful testament to the growing synergy between the UK and Chinese economies. By combining our expertise and resources, we’re supporting the growth of British businesses in new markets and also fostering sustainable growth for both Evri and JD.com. We’re confident that this collaboration will pave the way for a vibrant future of innovation and collaboration in the e-commerce landscape.”

Meanwhile, Qun Xue, vice president of JD.com and head of JD Logistics International, shared, “By integrating Evri’s extensive delivery network with our cutting-edge e-commerce and logistics solutions, JD.com is enhancing our service capabilities in Europe and simultaneously offering European brands a direct and efficient pathway to the expansive Chinese market. This partnership underscores our dedication to building a robust global logistics network and our commitment to the success of international brands.”

Singapore – Retail and e-commerce network Hmall has recently unveiled a new branch in Singapore, marking a stride into the Southeast Asian market.

This action not only establishes a pivotal presence in Singapore but also sets the stage for Hmall’s plan to fully expand throughout the region using its powerful affiliate system.

The strategic move into Singapore underscores Hmall’s goal of reaching a broader audience and becoming a prominent player in the Southeast Asian market. The new branch will be serving as a hub for innovation, collaboration, and customer engagement.

Beyond being a retail space, Hmall recognizes the importance of staying ahead in the ever-evolving e-commerce landscape, and the Singapore branch is poised to become a centre for experimentation, adaptation, and the development of cutting-edge strategies.

Furthermore, Hmall’s affiliate system will play a central role in the expansion throughout Singapore, providing a unique opportunity for affiliates to not only benefit individually but also actively contribute to Hmall’s growth in the region.

For Hmall, this strategic move sets the stage for a comprehensive and influential global presence, marking the beginning of a year that promises numerous branch openings in key markets, including Australia, Hong Kong, Brazil, and more.

Manila, Philippines – Local telecommunications company PLDT and its wireless unit Smart Communications recently partnered with the Philippines Partnership for Sustainable Agriculture (PPSA) to roll out a digital upskilling learning session for Filipino cooperatives (coops), MSMEs, and local entrepreneurs.

Under their digital upskilling-to-e-commerce program dubbed ‘eBiznovation’, PLDT, Smart, and PPSA provide local entrepreneurs, including those in the agriculture and fishery sector, with the right digital tools to help them grow their businesses online.

During the session, participating coops and MSMEs learned about effective strategies for boosting online presence, creating engaging content, and capturing an online market and turning them into loyal customers using basic social media platforms.

Apart from digital upskilling, PLDT and Smart also offer fundamental cybersecurity learning sessions for coops and MSMEs to ensure a safe and secure online business environment for all.

As part of these efforts, the group also recently supported the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and conducted a learning session among Laguna-based MSMEs on how to protect themselves and their businesses against fraud both offline and online.

Talking about these initiatives, Stephanie Orlino, AVP and head of stakeholder management team at PLDT and Smart, said, “In this rapidly evolving digital world, learning the fundamentals of digital marketing unlocks plenty of livelihood opportunities. Through eBiznovation, we aim to assist small-and medium-scale local enterprises in navigating the digital space efficiently and safely, and eventually help them boost their income.”

Meanwhile, Ma. Angela Primitiva Bautista, country director of PPSA, commented, “PPSA collaborates with a network of different stakeholders across the agricultural value chain to attain inclusive and sustainable agriculture in the Philippines. Through this particular initiative with PLDT and Smart, we aim to accelerate the adoption of digital innovations and ICT solutions and interventions across the agri-fisheries sector.”

Melbourne, Australia – Global commerce company CommerceHub has announced its rebranding to Rithum, bringing together multi-channel commerce solution ChannelAdvisor, distributed inventory platform Dsco, and UK-based AI startup Cadeera under a single name.

The rebranding comes as the company aims to help brands and retailers worldwide power seamless shopping journeys for their customers.

As part of its rebranding efforts, Rithum, formerly CommerceHub, has acquired the AI-enabled technology platform Cadeera to accelerate its investments in AI-powered search and discovery.

Rithum’s acquisition of Cadeera allowed for the utilisation of its multi-modal AI platform, which has the ability to combine the latest advances in computer vision, language processing, and machine learning to power applications including product onboarding, search, and discovery.

Now the commerce company has the ability to power positive business outcomes for its customers, including reduced costs and operational efficiency to enable better consumer experiences.

And with the culmination of multiple commerce companies, Rithum’s network now spans more than 40,000 brands, retailers, and suppliers, enough to support the entire e-commerce lifecycle. This includes managing product listings, marketing, sales, and delivery, which enables businesses to rapidly expand their category and product assortment.

Rithum can also manage inventory with fluctuating consumer demand, establish dropship or marketplace distribution, and integrate digital marketing with listing optimisation, all while testing performance to help maximise ROI and investment.

The commerce platform now processes US$50b in annual gross merchandise value (GMV) and manages over US$500m in digital marketing and retail media ad spend.

Bryan Dove, CEO of Rithum, said, “We’re thrilled to introduce Rithum, which now represents the company we’ve built over the last 20 years—one that has brought industry-leading businesses together to create unmatched value for our customers. Our mission is to build profitable and lasting commerce businesses for the world’s greatest brands, retailers, and suppliers. It’s truly how we operate every day.”

He added, “This next chapter will be our best yet. I’m incredibly proud of the momentum and innovation we’ve seen in our business, and we are committed to fueling our customers’ growth well into the future.”

Also commenting on the rebranding, Aarthi Ramamurthy, chief technology and product officer at Rithum, shared, “We’re excited to welcome the Cadeera team to Rithum. With this new platform, AI will accelerate Rithum’s disruption of commerce by automating a number of processes across the e-commerce lifecycle, enabling retailers and brands to meaningfully reduce operating expenses and increase speed-to-site for new products. This is just the beginning for us. We will continue to invest in this area significantly to infuse AI across our entire platform, equipping brands and retailers with the tools they need to grow their businesses.”

Meanwhile, Heather Hershey, research director for worldwide digital commerce CIS at IDC, said, “Leaders from brands and retailers need a partner that is thinking holistically across different partnership models in the connected commerce ecosystem. Rithum aims to fill this gap in the industry and serve as a one-stop shop, powering the entire e-commerce shopping journey.”

Indonesia – ByteDance’s TikTok is reportedly in talks to partner with Indonesian technology company GoTo Group to restart its online retail operations in the country, Bloomberg reports.

According to an insider familiar with the matter, the deal may take the form of a joint venture instead of a direct investment. The two companies’ discussion also involved jointly creating a brand-new e-commerce platform.

While looking for several more options, TikTok is reportedly working to invest in GoTo’s e-commerce arm, Tokopedia, to bring its online shop back to the Indonesian market.

These talks come after TikTok Shop announced the shutdown of its local operations in Indonesia in October 2023 in accordance with local orders. The company was forced to close down after the country’s government passed a regulation prohibiting the use of social media for e-commerce transactions.

It is worth mentioning that the new regulations were placed with the aim of protecting the interests of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME’s). However, the shutdown also meant a loss of livelihood for about 6 million social sellers and 7 million affiliates on TikTok Shop alone.

In an previous exclusive interview with MARKETECH APAC, industry leaders in Indonesia also shared their insights on the future of social commerce in the country after the regulations were set in place.

Rolly Pane, managing director for Indonesia at Clozette, shared that “Social commerce can still be done, promoting products in social and driving people to e-commerce. The only difference is that it will not happen in one ecosystem or app. It just has to cross over apps.”

Pane noted that while the regulation would cause a significant drop in e-commerce transactions originating from social media posts and engagements, brands can still implement alternative strategies to make their social commerce strategies stand out.

Meanwhile, Anish Daryani, founder and president director at M&C Saatchi Indonesia, also believed that social commerce will continue to move forward in Indonesia, adding that there is more growth for the Indonesian social commerce scene compared to more mature markets like China’s.

“Though this regulation would bring social commerce to a stop, there is no stopping commerce from becoming more social,” Daryani told MARKETECH APAC.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – With the holiday season around the corner, TikTok Shop gives Malaysian SMEs a boost during this 11.11 sales period by providing greater support for local small businesses with a brand spotlight segment. 

Focusing on Malaysian local brands, Tiktok Shop’s spotlight segment promoted several brands including dessini, casevalker, farm fresh and barang dapur basah as well as its very own Pertarungan Livestream Mega 11.11 (Mega Livestream Showdown 11.11).

This event, which was streamed on TikTok Shop, featured 10 well-loved local creators @tulippetals, @khairulaming, @dearcarynn, @bossa_sce_oe, @bossjerry88, @crackbrader, @aidunoo, @peemondayz, @almiyaz.my, and @akak_e, which took to their livestream sessions and highlighted their 11.11 product promotions as part of one of the biggest e-commerce events of the year.

Shoppers also acquired no minimum spend vouchers available through these livestreams between 8pm to 12 midnight on 11.11 itself to enjoy further savings on their purchases.

Alongside the livestream sessions, as part of the event, TikTok shop also provided entertainment with live performances by talented artists such as @daliafarhana, @gastonpong, @shilaamzahofficial, @itzputridahliaa, and @danialkifli__ .

These efforts by TikTok Shop to assist SMEs follow through from their efforts in 2022, partnering with 50 local ministries, GLCs, Educational institutions, and state governments to provide and build support for its sellers. 

This also includes a joint investment with MDEC worth RM31 million for the DE Dagang initiative, which benefitted 22,000 sellers in the form of product discounts, shipping vouchers, and transaction fee subsidies.

This was further amplified through the TikTok Shop Summit, held in 2023 to celebrate the platform’s 1-year anniversary in the Malaysian market, with TikTok Shop celebrating, educating, and awarding sellers for their contribution to the nation’s economy.

Singapore – Online fashion and lifestyle retail company ZALORA has announced the launch of ‘The Terminal By Zalora’, its newest omnichannel retail experience that aims to play a part in kicking off the year-end shopping season. 

Inspired by the magic of the year-end travel season, The Terminal by ZALORA is a week-long offline pop-up experience that showcases the latest and greatest from ZALORA’s top global brands in fashion, beauty, luxury, and lifestyle.

Located at Wisma Atria within Singapore’s shopping district at Orchard Road, The Terminal will be open to the public from 2 to 13 November. The pop-up store will kick off ZALORA’s campaign for 11.11, one of the world’s largest shopping events, with Zalora’s 11.11 sale going live from November 8th till November 13th.

The Terminal features over 40 specially curated international brands across the fashion, beauty, luxury and lifestyle categories, from over 3000+ global brands that Zalora carries on its app and web platforms. The experience store also features the latest arrivals and an exciting array of products from popular global brands such as The Ordinary, Paula’s Choice, & Other Stories, Nike, Monki, and Adidas, to luxury brands like Kate Spade, Coach and Gucci.

Talking about the campaign, Achint Setia, chief revenue and marketing officer at ZALORA, said, “In today’s retail landscape, consumers increasingly crave for immersive and seamless omnichannel shopping experiences. Our commitment at ZALORA has always been about creating WOW moments by innovating and elevating the customer journey.”

“We are thrilled to launch ‘The Terminal by ZALORA’ to mark the exciting start to the year-end shopping season and in partnership with featured well-loved global brands. This pop-up embodies our dedication to providing shoppers with a curated, and immersive experience, ensuring our valued customers enjoy not just the finest fashion for one and all in the family, but also unmatched ease and unbeatable prices,” he added. 

Singapore – Amidst economic headwinds, Asia’s digital economies continue to post impressive gains, with cross-border initiatives and tools offering businesses new avenues to unlock unprecedented growth, according to the latest report by market intelligence firm IDC and commissioned by global payments platform 2C2P and Ant Group.

Data from IDC’s report mainly suggests that SEA leads in digital economy growth at 15.8% for the next five years, unlocking significant commerce opportunities for SEA and outpacing the United States and Europe.

Coupled with Korea and Japan, SEA’s digital economy is on the verge of explosive growth, projected to skyrocket from $501.7 billion in 2022 to a staggering $914.9 billion in 2027, marking an impressive 82% leap in just five years.

SEA also anticipates a 100% expansion in the e-commerce market, driven by accelerated digital payments growth, led by ‘buy now pay later’ options (38%), mobile wallet (18.9%), domestic payment (16.9%) and credit cards (14.4%).

Furthermore, private and public sector efforts are poised to inject an impressive $232.4 billion in fresh cross-border revenue into the SEA, Korea, and Japan economies from 2022 to 2027, as cross-border e-commerce revenue is primed to grow by 70% in those five years, outpacing the growth of domestic e-commerce revenue.

Talking about the results, Aung Kyaw Moe, founder and CEO of 2C2P, said, “Our mission at 2C2P is to empower businesses to navigate and thrive in the dynamic payment landscape in Asia. We hope the findings of this report encourage businesses to unlock the immense potential of Asia’s digital economies by tapping on existing public-and private-sector initiatives and tools.”

Meanwhile, Douglas Feagin, senior vice-president of Ant Group and head of cross-border mobile payment services at Alipay+, commented, “The rapid rise in the number and diversity of digital payment options presents a challenge  for small to mid-sized merchants. Which is why it is now imperative for businesses to cater positively to these digital habits, and I believe that by working together, we can help more consumers and businesses benefit from digitalisation.”

Manila, Philippines – Omnichannel digital agency Skyrocket Studios has announced the launch of TechStack.ph, a subsidiary dedicated to empowering businesses with bespoke marketing and e-commerce solutions. 

The launch of TechStack.ph is a result of Skyrocket Studios’ strategic partnerships with leading SaaS platforms in the dynamic marketing and e-commerce industry.

Specifically, the initiative aims to be an unparalleled one-stop destination for cutting-edge technology that caters to diverse business needs, including mobile measurement, marketing automation, customer data management, customer engagement, and comprehensive e-commerce enablement. 

Furthermore, these features encompass an array of essential solutions such as e-commerce platforms, secure payment gateways, efficient order fulfilment, streamlined operations, loyalty programs, and effective promotional tactics.

Khalil Cala, head of business development and partnerships at TechStack.ph, commented, “TechStack is more than just the solutions and platforms we’ve partnered with. We share a mission to create value and growth for organisations that need marketing and e-commerce support.”

“Our partners’ solutions are tried, tested, and proven to deliver results each time—the ultimate satisfaction we get is being able to pass these solutions to aspiring businesses of all sizes in the Philippines,” he added.