Lazada: Online shopping is almost offline shopping

In South East Asia, the Ecommerce industry is challenge for anyone in the past. One thing to consider is that the current market at that time who can pay via online was insufficient. Only a few of them own a credit card. The minority of the population who has credit cards, only a few of them will try online payment. Since online frauds and scams happen regularly, the reactions are actually expected. Online businesses are actually challenged on its credibility compared to offline businesses since offline business are done in person, it gives us a security blanket over online transactions. However, we are overlooking other legit online stores who offer better deals. Online business offer greater discounts and lower pricing compared to offline business since they don't usually pay for rental fee. It's the edge of online stores since they can offer better discounts and promos.

Logically, it's the only edge that they can offer to their customers to convince them that they should try online shopping over offline. Online stores like the Lazada Venture, which is also available in other countries in South East Asia. Their venture here in the Philippines is one of the first to offer various selections that we only see on traditional local malls. They offered Cash on Delivery or more known as C.O.D., which was first introduced by them in the country. In my own opinion, it helped them reach new heights and eventually reached the success that they are getting up to this point. Despite just turning one year of existence last April, they managed to become of the key players in the market.

Competitors only showed up after they arrived last year in the country. It only signifies that the local businessmen are now open to the idea of having a local online business since their arrival in the Philippines. It's only a matter of time on how online shopping will further thrive. With their approach to the local customers, they managed to captivate their loyalty. Now that they can avail C.O.D. anyone can become customers since they can pay in cash. Now that customers can pay in cash, the usual online audience increases significantly. To top that of, they even offer free delivery as long as the transaction value exceeds one thousand pesos. Once the one thousand-mark transaction value is met, Lazada will waive the shipment fee. Since they can combine Cash on Delivery and Free Delivery, it can entice customers to try online shopping instead of offline shopping.

This is very powerful combination that can easily attract any potential customers. It may even lure customers who don’t necessarily intend to buy online. Probably just a surfer who stumbled upon their website and eventually was enticed with Lazada’s offer. It also helps that they expanded their payment method. People were already sold with the Cash on Delivery idea. What more if an online mall offers credit card installment options, which they are currently doing for their BDO account customer? I’m pretty sure it will expand further to other banks. They also opened PayPal payment method. Overall, this gives them an edge over their competitors as they are stuck with conventional online payments for their customers.