‘E-commerce’ demands more promotion and connection

Electronic commerce grows by leaps and bounds in the region and Ecuador is no exception. However, it still faces some challenges for greater revitalization.

‘E-commerce’ demands more promotion and connection

The Ecuadorian Chamber of Electronic Commerce ( CECE ) estimates that in 2019 a little over $ 1.2 billion was billed . The figure would be $ 200 million higher than what was registered in 2018 on all payment platforms . By 2020, an amount close to $ 1.5 billion is expected.

One of the main challenges is “to achieve better connectivity so that more people have access at a lower price,” said CECE president Leonardo Otatti .

According to data from the Ministry of Telecommunications, four out of 10 Ecuadorians have access to a smartphone and that same portion has internet in their home. While one in 10 people has a laptop and five in 10 access 4G technology . The objectives of the Ecuador Digital strategy is precisely to improve these connectivity indicators.

Another important point for the development of electronic commerce is tax and labor regulations . “Specifically on issues of market place (website where buyers and sellers interact) to understand the new economy, ” said Otatti.

In his opinion, the current legislation of the country “does not consider the new economy”. The platforms are required to be more regularized so that they even contribute with income for the State.

In addition to the legal issues, another need of the sector is the joint promotion campaigns “so that the consumer understands that buying online is safe,” says the representative of the CECE.

The study “Behavior of non-contact transactions in Ecuador 2018” indicates that fear and distrust are still the main reasons for not buying online.

The general manager of Echopex, Reimundo Martínez, adds that it is also necessary to attack the ignorance of the payment methods , such as bank deposits , transfers, payments on delivery, credit cards , among others. And don’t fear electronic shopping in other parts of the world.

Echopex is a logistics operator that facilitates the purchase from abroad , especially in the US, and recently made an alliance with eBay to expand its product offering.

Martínez also believes that another major limitation for companies is the lack of training in the use of these platforms to buy cheaper products in the US. and other regions. “These avoid maintaining large inventories that generate financial costs , losses due to obsolescence, theft, damage , among others,” he says.

On the other hand, the employer believes that it is necessary to contemplate the reduction of tariffs on products that are purchased online that weigh 3 kg on average and do not cost more than $ 150, such as supplies or spare parts for vehicles. “Ecuador charges a fee of $ 42 to packages that are in category B (4 × 4).”

To boost sales in 2020, international brand trends include designing custom platforms for each type of phone, including videos or virtual reality experiences to promote products and enable voice search on platforms.

https://www.eltelegrafo.com.ec/noticias/economia/4/comer-electronico