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. 

Working in eCommerce is like conducting a full orchestra: all orders across multiple channels must be picked, packed, and shipped on time—all day, every day! Timing is crucial: the longer a customer waits for their parcel(s) to arrive at their doorstep, the higher their anxiety (and dissatisfaction with you!) goes.

Most eCommerce entrepreneurs make two big mistakes in the early stages of their business. First, they think they can DIY the entire process, and routinely choose and switch up who they’ll work with from product ordering to the actual parcel delivery.

It took some time for eCommerce in South East Asia to catch on, but now it’s going full speed ahead. The internet economy has grown in size to a record US$100 billion in 2019, and is foreseen to hit US$300 billion by 2025.

Congratulations, you are now officially a Lazada seller!

Whether you’re set to do business on LazMall or the local marketplace, or you’re an approved LazGlobal merchant getting into the Singapore market, being on the Lazada marketplace is just the beginning of your journey in eCommerce in Southeast Asia.