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E-commerce: 60% of people living in the EU are online shoppers
J&P Comments
With E-commerce growing in popularity as a whole across Europe and shopping via mobile phone increasing dramatically in recent years, it is no surprise that the majority of people across the EU now shop online. With the coronavirus crisis, E-commerce can only be expected to grow further.
E-commerce: Google scraps fees for Google Shopping ads
In order to attract more sellers, Google has decided to make it so that retailers can advertise their products on the Google Shopping page for free. Up until now there was a fee that merchants had to pay in order to do this, and it is expected that this will be extended worldwide by the end of 2020. Google’s president of commerce has said “By doing this, it helps many more shoppers find what they’re looking for, but it also helps bring some quite needed relief to the retail and small business ecosystem.”
J&P Comments
Making it free to advertise on Google Shopping will benefit both online sellers and customers, as it will make it easier for sellers to get their products noticed and for online shoppers to find the products they are looking for.
E-commerce: Amazon launches Walk Out technology service
The online retail giant Amazon has launched a new website service called Walk Out technology services, and it has already signed several deals with retailers. The new website will provide retailers access to technology that will support them in operating their cashier-less convenience stores. Amazon’s Vice President of physical retail and technology Dillip Kumar said Amazon will install the technology including ceiling cameras and shelf weight sensors at retailers’ stores, whether they are new locations or retrofits, and will have a 24-7 support line.
J&P comments
This is a great opportunity for retailers who wish to replicate Amazon Go’s business model as Amazon’s Walk Out technology service will provide them with all the necessities required in order to get started. Amazon currently operates 25 checkout free Amazon Go Outlets, ranging from 1,200 to 2,700 square feet.
E-commerce: Alibaba plan to launch festival to boost sales which have been impacted by virus
In response to Alibaba’s shares dropping due to the threat of the coronavirus, the Chinese E-commerce giant announced on Thursday that they will launch an online shopping festival. The name of the festival and the date which it will take place are yet to be confirmed, but Alibaba has said that it will offer £111 million worth of spending subsidies towards the festival.
J&P Comments
Although Alibaba has seen a consistent annual growth of over 30% for years, the coronavirus could possibly pose a threat to this growth if it continues to affect the sales of the platform in the same way. Hopefully the online shopping festival will be able to boost sales for the company.
E-commerce: Amazon invests in making it possible for orders to arrive in less than 5 hours
Online retail giant Amazon has gone one step further in enhancing its same-day delivery service by building “mini-fulfilment centres” across select US cities. These new centres will be able to fulfil same-day deliveries within 5 hours, and Prime customers that are located in cities such as Philadelphia, Phoenix, Orlando and Dallas can receive their orders before 6pm if they place their order in the morning.
J&P Comments
Although this 5-hour delivery service is highly efficient for customers and is bound to put Amazon ahead in the E-commerce game, it will also create more competition for other sellers who do not offer this service, as other delivery timeframe options will begin to feel too slow in comparison.
E-commerce: Online stores in Belgium generated €8.2 billion last year
A study based on data provided by payment service providers in 2019, known as the E-commerce Barometer, has revealed that online retailers in Belgium generated a total turnover of €8.2 billion last year. The study demonstrated that this is an increase of 17% in comparison to 2018, and the number of online sellers in the country also increased by 20% to 29,231. The co-publisher of the study, Lucas De Dycker of the House of Marketing, has said “This year we are seeing double-digit growth again. That’s impressive and it also shows that e-commerce is still on the rise in Belgium.”
J&P Comments
The successful growth of Belgium’s E-commerce market could be attributed to the fact that last year Belgium opened up both an e-Hub and digital customs platform in order to make customs processes quicker and prevent delays in the supply chain.
