Business owners often go where their customers are. And in an era when ‘socials’ don’t always mean actual, physical connections between human beings, social media has quickly become a critical eCommerce component for entrepreneurs.

With approximately three-quarters of Internet users in Singapore shopping online, going into eCommerce makes sense because that’s where the action is. Selling online also means fewer overhead costs like store rental, but there are still expenses to be incurred at every stage. You will definitely need to spend some money to make money—just like any other business. 

In Southeast Asia, eCommerce has opened up the regional marketplace to big and small players alike. It has opened up paths for solopreneurship, and given small businesses the chance to compete with large brands without spending on a brick-and-mortar shop in a prime location.

Most eCommerce entrepreneurs channel their efforts into getting sales. But what happens after customers place their orders?

Cross-border eCommerce—defined as the selling of goods online from one country to another—is the next frontier for online merchants in Southeast Asia. According to Mordor Intelligence, Southeast Asia’s cross-border eCommerce sales account for more than 40% of the region’s eCommerce market, which itself is predicted to surge to US$150 billion by 2025—US$50 billion more than previous forecasts. 

When it comes to shopping, there are several steps in the journey from browsing to purchase. In fact, research from Facebook and Bain & Company revealed that while 54% of digital consumers in Southeast Asia discover products via social media, 33% still check physical stores before making a purchase.