To seize opportunities, boost e-commerce

The Covid-19 posed a great challenge to the market, yet has been a catalyst for strongly changes in consumer behaviors, gave great opportunities for businesses to develop e-commerce.

In the pandemic, traditional commerce faced many difficulties, many businesses switched to e-commerce. In photo:  Enterprises introduce their products at Thu Dau Mot city socio-economic achievements' exhibition fair 2020.

To adapt to difficulties

The Covid-19 had negative impacts on almost all socio-economic activities. Domestic as well as international trade was interrupted, many enterprises had to cut down their production and business activities, even shut down. In that situation, enterprises developed digital distribution channels, then revenue soared. At conventional markets in the area, small shopkeepers have begun to pay attention and implement the digital transformation by putting their special products online.

 Besides industries that are easily switched to online business such as fashion, consumer goods, cosmetics etc., familiar agricultural products and foodstuffs are trying to build up its e-commerce system.

In fact, online shopping not only brings convenience and speed for users, but also helps restaurants and eateries to earn stable revenue in the current difficult context. Giants of retail industry have also caught up with the e-commerce market.

A representative of Lotte Mart Binh Duong Supermarket said, from beginning of March until now, their online shopping channel via mobile phone has increased 10 times compared to before. The breakthrough growth came partly from a preferential delivery policy. Regarding export, the Covid-19 has also created new consumer behaviors that favor the online segment.

Meanwhile the supply chain was broken, timber industry is making efforts to promote online sales on e-commerce floors. Dien Quang Hiep, Chairman of Binh Duong Furniture Association (BIFA), said that even at the peak of the epidemic, timber enterprises remained optimistic and quickly switched to online promotion on big e-commerce pages, like Amazon and Alibaba. BIFA actively assisted enterprises in digital transformation, especially e-commerce development, combining traditional with online sales to boost product consumption and find customers. To sign contracts with a number of technology solution providers to build up databases, digitize management activities, apply virtual reality technologies, 3D showrooms...

To improve competitiveness

Many experts believe that, in the midst of the Covid-19, in order to develop online consumption, it is necessary to boost digital transformation in enterprises and build their own brands. In addition, a quality management process is in need to keep the trust of consumers.

Chau Viet Bac, Deputy Secretary General of Vietnam International Arbitration Center (VIAC), said that in order for e-commerce to develop synchronously and effectively, in addition to being affected by market demands, the State plays an important role in building legal bases, infrastructure... Enterprises participating in e-commerce need to sell high-quality products, have a clear address, good after-sales service.

In the future, e-commerce should be developed in the form of a guarantee contract; parties receiving guarantee fees must be responsible for both parties. According to Nguyen Thanh Toan, Director of provincial Department of Industry and Trade, in the Covid-19, traditional trade promotion activities, such as conferences, seminars, exhibitions in Binh Duong, must be canceled or postponed.

Therefore, in order to promptly help enterprises, overcome difficulties, and at the same time take advantage of new-generation trade agreements, the industry and trade authority have made efforts to support associations and enterprises in applying information technology and digital platforms on trade promotion. Department of Industry and Trade has been taking advantage of the support from Ministry of Industry and Trade to update world market developments in order to diversify export and import markets and find new markets.

 With strong support solutions from the Government, ministries and localities, it is expected that Binh Duong's import-export turnover in general and the timber industry in particular would have a strong breakthrough after the epidemic.

* Dien Quang Hiep, Chairman of Binh Duong Furniture Association (BIFA), said that enterprises get involved in online business would be very proactive. Enterprises have to sell their designed products when researching the online market. For a long time, companies have been very weak in design, because most of them are processors. At first, there will be many difficulties, but after some short time businesses will perform well. At BIFA, more than a month after cooperation, many enterprises have built their online sales system, been proactive in export and trade through e-commerce floors.

* Huynh Thai Hoa, Business Director of OSB Technology Joint Stock Company, an authorized agent of Alibaba trading floor, said that Vietnamese enterprises in general and Binh Duong in particular need to improve their capacity and competitiveness of Vietnamese goods. In addition to designs and product quality, enterprises should focus on training human resources for e-commerce. Personnel need to swiftly capture information, discuss with customers to fill "gaps" as not directly trading.

Reported by Tieu My - Translated by Ngoc Huynh