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COVER STORY
building of communities with shared inter-
- RATE OF NEW DIGITAL CUSTOMERS COMPARED TO TOTAL SERVICE CUSTOMERS
ests. Through communities, Shopee con- IN SOUTHEAST ASIA
nects like-minded consumers and caters
to their needs, while offering them even 41%
greater savings on essentials. 37% 36% 37% 36%
In the first half of 2021, it maintained
stable growth and continued to provide a 30% 30%
seamless, multi-utility online shopping
experience along with many valuable incen-
tives. “Traffic and transaction volumes
have remained robust during this period,
and we have also seen rising demand for
products relating to groceries, health, and
personal hygiene, as well as other essential
household items during social distancing,
especially since July,” he said.
Another foreign e-commerce site, Cho Indonesia Malaysia Philippines Singapore Thailand Vietnam SEA
Tot, was launched in Vietnam as a Classi- Source: Adsota, June 2021
fieds 2.0 marketplace, offering a virtual
market for people to buy and sell, and
then upgraded to Classifieds 3.0 with a with the integration of market price reports, Manager Vietnam. “Many Vietnamese SMEs
mobile-first approach. In 2021, it trans- loans, and insurance, among other things. have sensed the crucial contribution of e-
formed to Classifieds 4.0, an AI-first concept As the global supply chain is shifting to commerce to their business strategies. This
that will simplify the buying and selling Vietnam, workforce demand is expected year we have welcomed many strong Viet-
process on the platform, provide a per- to skyrocket in the next three years. After namese brands on board, for example the
sonalized user experience, and enable noting the significant growth of the jobs Thai Tuan Fashion Group, a traditional man-
transactions. With a verticalization strategy category over recent years, this year we ufacturer looking for new customers during
for properties (Cho Tot Nha) and vehicles have been accelerating investment to build Covid-19 and which has successfully utilized
(Cho Tot Xe), it has continued to invest a new blue-collar job vertical.” RQF, a critical product feature on Alibaba.com
heavily in these categories. Supporting Vietnamese enterprises to that helps suppliers take the initiative to
“Harnessing the power of Big Data and expand globally via e-commerce platforms, explore business opportunities.”
AI, we have built up a master pricing Alibaba.com is planning to have a specific
model that provides real-time and trans- roadmap with solutions and training courses GROWTH POTENTIAL
parent valuations of real estate or used that can help small- and medium-sized enter- The pandemic has sped up digitalization
cars,” said Mr. Nguyen Trong Tan, CEO of prises (SMEs) become successful exporters. and revealed the power of e-commerce and
Cho Tot. “With the expansion of new serv- “Businesses joining Alibaba.com will be pro- online tradeshows, Mr. Lou noted. As Covid-
ices, Cho Tot Nha and Cho Tot Xe have vided with full services as well as training 19 has changed business models, most B2B
been shifting from a purely buy and sell courses for comprehensive development,” companies are more likely to choose the
classifieds site to one-stop-shop platforms, said Mr. Roger Lou, Alibaba.com’s Country digital trading model as their second engine,

PHOTOS: VIET TUAN

12 | VIETNAM ECONOMIC TIMES | SEPTEMBER 2021