Category: Ecommerce

E-commerce in the Philippines has grown exponentially in recent years, especially during the pandemic. This is evidenced by hundreds of online stores being launched every day. Looking into different E-commerce platforms in the country for this type of business is crucial if you want to take your business to new heights.

If you want to know more about the types of E-commerce platforms in the Philippines, you’re on the right page. In this guide, we’ll round up the types of E-commerce platforms you can take advantage of.

What Is an E-commerce Platform?

An E-commerce platform is an end-to-end solution that enables the process of buying and selling services and products over the internet. 

There are various types of E-commerce platforms available locally, and each type offers its own unique set of benefits. 

The major purpose of these platforms is to help entrepreneurs have a functioning online store where their target customers can easily purchase their offers.   

Types of E-commerce Platforms in the Philippines

The Philippine E-commerce industry grows at a compounding rate year on year, and so does the list of E-commerce platforms available in the country.

To stand out among your competitors, you must know your options and the different types of E-commerce platforms in the Philippines. These platforms, depending on your needs, could make E-commerce easier for you.

So how do you identify which E-commerce platform would best serve your purpose? Let’s break down each type!

Self-Hosted Website

This type of E-commerce platform requires merchants to host or pay for the domain of their website to market products. It could be a little tricky for newbies in E-commerce in the Philippines because managing your website means you’ll be the one updating, maintaining, and fixing it. 

On the other hand, some merchants hire web developers to handle the initial process of building the site. The merchant then has the choice of managing their website on their own once it’s up and running. 

This platform is perfect if you are a tech-savvy merchant who wants full control over your platform. Since you’ve built it, you have the flexibility of what appears in your store. Plus, you’re not limited in customizing it and you can include anything you like on your site.

Pros:

• You will save on monthly costs
• You will have total control over your website 
• You can choose the exact services you want for the website
• You can monetize it
• You can easily build brand trust
• The SEO capabilities is topnotch

Cons: 

• You constantly need to update the website
• The initial setup cost is high
• You are in charge of the security
• You need to manage the site in case it goes down
• It is time-consuming to set up 

Social media platforms 

E-commerce is not new to social media. It already has a significant presence across different platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok, and Pinterest. It makes sense to use it as an E-commerce platform in a country with over 89 million active social media users. 

Facebook and Instagram offer a conducive space for E-commerce merchants in the Philippines. Many have been using these social platforms to connect with their customers for a while now. You can also create shoppable content in the form of videos, photos, and articles that will allow your customers to add to items they’re viewing into their carts. 

There is also the convenience of live selling, where you can give your customers a whole new level of online shopping experience. And setting up Facebook Shop or an Instagram Shop gives you the advantage of built-in solutions for advertising, selling, and customer service.

Pros:

• There is little to no setup cost
• It is easy to advertise
• You can reach more audiences 
• It’s a great additional channel to sell your products
• You can build a community on your brand

Cons:

• There is limited flexibility
• The competition is high
• You need to focus more on your products than your brand

Facebook

If your target market includes people within your vicinity, Facebook Marketplace can be your ultimate E-commerce platform. This is an in-app destination where people can browse, discover, and buy items easily. 

On Facebook Marketplace, customers can purchase items directly on the listing, and these items are usually covered by Purchase Protection. 

Instagram

With the Instagram marketplace, businesses like you can easily tag your photos and reels with product links. Therefore, audiences don’t need to head over to your website to know the details of products. 

TikTok

This is a fast-emerging marketplace that Filipinos love thanks to its voucher-stacking features. On TikTok shops, brands can display products for sale and showcase them through videos. TikTok also makes it easier for you to work with affiliates and go viral. 

YouTube

This platform offers video creators the ability to market their works to various audiences. It is in the same category as video streaming services. 

Online Marketplaces 

The steady rise of online marketplaces has reached the Philippines’ E-commerce industry in no time. Online marketplaces are advantageous for merchants looking for ways to scale their businesses. Platforms such as Shopee and Lazada allow you to sell products without setting up your own online store.

Also, it provides a flexible business opportunity for merchants with relatively low start-up costs. Through online marketplaces, you can reach more customers globally if you are selling items under homeware, fashion, sporting, and pets’ needs categories. 

But online marketplaces can be challenging for merchants, too. As there are a lot of products and stores displayed with yours, it is tricky to stand out from the competition. It’s very important to create a satisfying shopping experience to attract loyal customers who will become your very own brand ambassadors.

Pros: 

• You can easily reach a wide audience 
• It provides a seamless customer experience
• There’s a low barrier to entry
• You can make it big fast

Cons: 

• The competition is high
• There are limitations to how you can showcase your branding 
• Marketplaces may charge a high commission on orders
• You may experience payment delays

Shopee

Shopee is one of the most used platforms by Filipinos. It gives your customers an easy, fast, enjoyable, and secure online shopping experience. Brands that offer tons of products can take advantage of Shopee, especially if they want customers to enjoy seamless order fulfillment. This platform gets around 72 million monthly web visitors in the country. 

Lazada 

Lazada is another leading E-commerce platform in the Philippines. It provides customers with a great shopping experience that covers a wide array of product categories such as gadgets, fashion, food, appliances, and many more. Lazada gets over 37 million monthly visitors from the Philippines.  

Zalora

When it comes to fashion, Zalora is the leading marketplace in the country. It carries tons of local and international fashion brands, and the platform is well-designed to make the customer’s experience easier and more convenient. 

Carousell

Carousell is another marketplace in the Philippines. What sets it apart from its competitors is it focuses on secondhand goods and vintage items in a myriad of categories such as fashion, gadgets, cars, and even properties. 

E-commerce website builders

Want to impress your customers with a beautiful and seamless site without the hassle of building one from scratch? Website builders are your best way to go.

This type of E-commerce platform is by far among the easiest to navigate even if you’re new to online selling. Website builders are perfect if you want to create your page fast. There are many easy-to-use website builders for online stores that can help you stand out like Shopify, WooCommerce, Wix, and many more. Most site builders feature drag-and-drop page editors, as well as plug-ins to manage orders, shipping, and more. 

Pros

• You can enjoy better flexibility
• It is easy to set up
• You don’t need coding or design skills to set it up
• Most website buildings are already mobile responsive

Cons

• The monthly cost will add up over time 
• Customer support may be poor
• You can’t have full control over the design
• There are SEO limitations

Shopify 

This is a subscription-based software that lets you set up your online store and sell your products in an easy way thanks to its streamlined dashboard. 

Shopify fees start at $29 per month, and you get to enjoy business management tools like sales and inventory tracking, customer accounts, reporting, shipping, and marketing. If you want to expand your toolkit, you can take advantage of hundreds of Shopify apps.

WooCommerce

This is an open-source and customizable E-commerce platform that is built on WordPress. When you add this plug-in to your WordPress site, you can set up your new store in just minutes. It also makes it easy for businesses to secure payments, set up your shipping options, and customize your store needs for free.

Wix

Wix is a very popular website-building platform. It offers tons of capabilities and E-commerce functions such as catalog management, dropshipping, marketing, payment fulfillment, and inventory management, among many others.

Tips for Choosing the Best E-commerce Platform For Your Business

Make sure to keep these tips in mind if you’re choosing your E-commerce platform. 

Assess the pricing plans

Cost is one of the most integral factors to consider when it comes to choosing your E-commerce platform. Make sure to assess the pricing plans of each platform carefully and choose the one that fits your budget best.

For instance, if you don’t like paying monthly and setup costs, you can go with social media marketplaces. If your business can’t handle a high setup cost, you can go with self-build websites. If you can’t hire a developer but you don’t mind paying a monthly fee, you can go with E-commerce website builders. 

Choose more than one platform if needed

If you have a wide range of products or services to offer, you may want to consider having a presence on multiple E-commerce platforms. This can help you reach a wider audience and increase your chances of making more sales. 

However, it’s important to ensure that you can manage all the platforms effectively to avoid any confusion or errors in orders and payments.

Test its SEO capabilities

Before you finalize your E-commerce platform of choice, it’s your job to ensure your products or services can be easily found by potential customers through search engines like Google.

Look for platforms that offer built-in SEO features like customizable meta tags and URLs, easy-to-use sitemaps, and mobile optimization. As much as possible, test each platform’s SEO capabilities to see which one performs the best.

Make sure it’s mobile friendly

In this day and age, having a mobile-friendly E-commerce platform is a necessity. With the majority of internet users accessing websites through their mobile devices, you must make sure that your online store looks great and functions smoothly on smartphones and tablets.

Go for platforms that offer responsive design or mobile optimization features to ensure that your customers can easily browse and shop on your website using their mobile devices.

Consider its ability to scale

As your business grows, you’ll need an E-commerce platform that can keep up with your increasing demand. Choose a platform that has the ability to scale, whether it’s through additional features, bandwidth, or support. 

It’s also important to consider the platform’s ability to handle high volumes of traffic and orders without slowing down or crashing.

Think about integrations

E-commerce platforms should make it easy for you to integrate other tools and services you need for your brand such as payment gateways, shipping carriers, and third-party apps. 

It’s also vital to choose a platform that can integrate with your current systems, such as your inventory management software or CRM.

Make sure the security is top notch

Security is a major concern when it comes to E-commerce platforms.  It is your job to protect your customers’ data and payment information from any potential threats. 

A secure platform not only protects your customers but also helps build trust and credibility for your business.

As much as you can, go with platforms that offer good encryption, as well as regular updates and patches to address any security vulnerabilities that may arise. You may also want to consider platforms that offer fraud detection and prevention tools as an added layer of security.

Consider the level of personalization you want

Some platforms offer more customization options than others, such as the ability to add your own code or design your own templates. If you want complete control over the look and feel of your online store, self-hosted sites are the ultimate option. 

On the other hand, if you prefer a more streamlined and user-friendly approach, then an E-commerce website builder like Wix or Shopify may be a better fit.

Assess which platforms your competitors use

It’s always a good idea to do a bit of research on your competitors and see what E-commerce platforms they are using. This can give you a better idea of what works and what doesn’t in your industry.

If your competitors are using a certain platform, it may be worth considering that platform as well. 

However, don’t just choose a platform simply because your competition is using it. Make sure it meets all of your business needs and suits your goals.

E-Commerce Platform FAQs

Still got questions about the best E-commerce platforms? We’ll answer some of them below. 

• What features should I look for in an E-commerce platform?
  • The type of E-commerce platform you choose will depend on several factors, such as your store size, your target audience, and where you feel most comfortable selling. Ultimately, you should look for features that align with these considerations. 

• How much does an E-commerce platform cost?
  • Depending on the platform you choose, your E-commerce platform can be free or range from $15++. 

• What payment methods are supported by E-commerce platforms?
  • You can set up your platform to be compatible with different E-commerce payment methods. Most E-commerce platforms offer card payments, e-wallet payments, and Cash on Delivery payments. If you’re looking to integrate Cash on Delivery to your selling platform, that’s something that Payo can do with its CoD Plugin. 

• What warehousing and fulfillment options are available with E-commerce platforms?
  • If you need a Warehousing and Fulfillment partner, Payo is the perfect choice for you! With warehouses across the country, you’re sure to reach more customers at a faster rate. Additionally, Payo takes care of pick and pack, parcel hand-off, and courier coordination.

• Do I need technical expertise to use an E-commerce platform?
  • This would depend on the platform you choose, and how much knowledge you have when it comes to using it. If you choose a website builder or a social media platform or an online marketplace, you would need a basic understanding of how each of these platforms work. If you’re looking to build your own website and don’t know where to start, it may be better to look into hiring developers to help you with it. 

With so many platforms to choose from, it can be overwhelming to settle on one that works best for your business needs. This is where an E-commerce enabler, like Payo, can help you!

Payo, one of the Philippines’ leading E-commerce enablers, can set up your store for you and help you sell your products no matter what platform you choose! Shopify? WooCommerce? Your own site? We got you!

We can even help you with selling across multiple E-commerce platforms in the Philippines. Plus, we can be your reliable Warehousing, Fulfillment, Last Mile Management, and Marketplace Optimization partner, too!

E-commerce is a whole lot easier with us! Send us a message at [email protected] or sign up now to explore more of our tech-driven innovations especially made for Philippine E-commerce.

E-commerce in the Philippines has been gaining momentum as more Filipinos dive into the digital marketplace. With just a few simple clicks or taps, they see the opportunities that E-commerce offers for both consumers and businesses.

But before anything else, what is E-commerce exactly? How did it start in the Philippines and how can merchants get into it?

Defining E-commerce

E-commerce is defined as the buying and selling of goods and services through an electronic network, which is mainly powered by the Internet. Simply put, it’s similar to how goods and services are sold in brick and mortar stores only this time, it’s online.

Nowadays, E-commerce in the Philippines is more visible and is rapidly integrated into people’s way of living. Anyone has access to it because of how widespread it has become. These include social media, online marketplaces, digital stores via websites, and so much more.

Thanks to technology, E-commerce unlocks many opportunities, from putting up small businesses to creating savings for consumers. It ultimately makes for a vibrant and thriving E-commerce ecosystem in the Philippines.

What Are the Types Of E-commerce?

Not all E-commerce businesses are the same. Here are the various types of E-commerce you should know about. 

Business to Business (B2B)

This E-commerce type involves businesses selling products or services directly to other businesses. It is usually characterized by larger order volumes and longer sales cycles than other types of E-commerce. 

Usually, items are sold in bulk at a discounted price to other businesses who then resell the products at a marked-up price.

Business-to-consumer (B2C)

This E-commerce type are businesses selling products or services directly to individual consumers. It is the most common type of E-commerce, with some of the most common examples being retail and online shopping.

Consumer-to-consumer (C2C)

This E-commerce type consists of individuals selling products or services directly to each other. Some notable examples are online marketplaces like Shopee, Lazada, Carousell, and Facebook Marketplace. 

Consumer-to-business (C2B)

C2B refers to individuals selling their products or services directly to businesses. This type of E-commerce is gaining popularity with the rise of freelance work and the gig economy. 

Business-to-administration (B2A)

This E-commerce type refers to businesses selling products or services directly to government bodies or agencies. It is often characterized by longer sales cycles and specific requirements for compliance and regulation. 

It requires a thorough understanding of government regulations and procedures, as well as strong networking and relationship-building skills. 

Consumer-to-administration (C2A)

This type of E-commerce includes individual consumers selling products or services directly to government bodies or agencies. 

It is often associated with citizen services like filing taxes or applying for government permits.

Download: Payo’s Free E-commerce Checklist

Pros & Cons of E-commerce

To give you a better understanding of E-commerce and what it’s like to be in the industry, we’ve rounded up its pros and cons below.

Pros

It’s convenient

With E-commerce, consumers can easily shop for products or services from the comfort of their own homes. They don’t have to travel to physical stores or deal with long lines at checkout. 

This convenience makes it easier for consumers to make purchases. Not only that, but it saves them time and energy.

It’s cost-effective for businesses

One major benefit of E-commerce for businesses is that it can be more cost-effective than traditional brick-and-mortar stores. 

With E-commerce, businesses can save money on rent, utilities, and other expenses associated with a physical storefront. They may also be able to operate with fewer employees.

It offers global reach

With the internet, businesses can sell their products or services to customers all over the world, expanding their customer base and potentially increasing revenue.

It’s flexible

E-commerce allows businesses to be more flexible in their operations. They can easily change their product offerings, adjust pricing, and run promotions without having to make physical changes to a store. 

This flexibility can help businesses stay competitive and adapt to changing market conditions.

It’s easier to show your products

Another advantage of E-commerce is that it allows businesses to showcase their products or services more visually and interactively than traditional brick-and-mortar stores. 

With high-quality images, videos, and product descriptions, customers can get a better idea of what they’re buying, which can lead to increased sales.

You can give your audience a personalized experience

As an online store owner, you can personalize the shopping experience for your customers. 

This means you can offer product recommendations based on their previous purchases or browsing history, send personalized emails with special offers, and even create a loyalty program to reward loyal customers. 

This can lead to increased customer satisfaction and loyalty.

You can process a higher order of orders at the same time

With the power of technology and automation, you can process a higher volume of orders at the same time compared to traditional brick-and-mortar stores.

You can scale your business easily

Another advantage of E-commerce is that it allows businesses to scale up their operations easily. With a physical store, businesses may need to invest in a bigger space, hire more employees, and increase inventory to expand their operations. 

But with E-commerce, businesses can simply add more products or services to their website, upgrade their website infrastructure, and increase their marketing efforts to reach more customers.

Cons

The customer’s brand experience may be weaker

One potential drawback of an online store is that the customer’s brand experience may be weaker compared to physical stores. In a physical store, customers can touch, feel, and try out products before making a purchase. 

This creates a more memorable and satisfying experience. But with E-commerce, customers rely on product descriptions and images, which may not fully capture the product’s quality or functionality.

There is intense competition

With the ease of setting up an online store, the market can become saturated with similar products or services. This makes it more challenging for businesses to stand out and attract customers.

There’s limited in-person interaction

Another potential downside of E-commerce is the lack of in-person interaction with customers. While E-commerce can offer personalized experiences through technology, it may not fully replace the human connection that customers can experience in physical stores. 

This can make it more challenging for businesses to build strong relationships with their customers and address their needs and concerns in real time.

You may face data security concerns

With online transactions, customers may be hesitant to share their personal and financial information, especially with the rise of cybercrime and data breaches. 

Businesses need to take extra precautions to ensure the security of their customer’s data, such as implementing secure payment systems and regularly updating their website security measures.

There may be logistical challenges

Another potential challenge with E-commerce is the logistics of shipping and handling. 

Businesses need to ensure that they have the necessary infrastructure and resources to handle a high volume of orders, including shipping and handling, inventory management, and order tracking. 

E-Commerce Statistics in the Philippines

Take a look at some E-commerce statistics in the country. This will help you understand the current state of E-commerce in the Philippines and its growth potential.

1. In 2021, E-commerce sales in the Philippines reached $17 billion.

2. In March 2020, the number of online sellers was less than 2,000. By the end of the year, it reached 93,000.

3. By 2023, revenue in the E-commerce market is expected to reach $18.16 billion. By 2027, it is expected to reach $29.5 billion.

4. The number of users in the E-commerce market is expected to reach 60.41 million by 2027. In the same year, user penetration is expected to reach 48.6%.

5. The average revenue per user is expected to settle at $352.80.

6. The top E-commerce platforms in the Philippines are Shopee, Lazada, Zalora, and BeautyMNL.

7. The top product categories in the Philippines include beauty, electronics, household care, furniture, health, and fashion.

8. A foreign retail company may open a local office in the Philippines with $200,000 equity for 100% ownership.

9. In 2020, the Central Bank of the Philippines reported 20.1% digital payments from financial transactions worth $48.6 billion. This is a 61% increase from 2019.

10. According to DTI, E-commerce distribution to the country’s GDP is 3.4% in 2020. This year, it has increased to 5.5%. The government agency has also launched a roadmap to help eCommerce performance.

11. A lot of Filipinos still opt for cash payments as over 70% of Filipino adults remain unbanked. The Central Bank of the Philippines aims to bank around 70% of Filipinos by 2023. 

12. Mobile wallet payments make up 30% of E-commerce payments in 2021.

13. English-speaking Filipino youth drive online media usage and E-commerce at a compounded annual growth rate of 27% and 58% from 2019 to 2020. 

Ready to start of your E-commerce journey? 

We hope this overview of today’s Philippine E-commerce landscape has been helpful for you. If you’re now thinking about putting up your own online store, that’s something that Payo can help you with! 

Payo is a holistic E-commerce enabler in the Philippines that can help you with all your online selling needs. Whether you’re looking for a partner to help you with Warehousing and Fulfillment, or someone to give you Advanced Remittance and provide your customers with Live Customer Support, we’re the right choice. 

Need more information about how you can tap into the Philippine market? Sign up with Payo today or send us a message at [email protected]. Let’s collaborate and find the best strategy for your business!

Online retail now plays a major role in the lives of consumers. This is why merchants need to know how they can innovate and elevate their E-commerce service in the Philippines.

Similar to how brick and mortar stores function, a customer’s experience starts when they visit a website and navigate through your pages. A single bug or error may already trigger them to look at another shop, so it’s important to always consider how you can provide a seamless purchase journey for them.

To help you better understand, here are five E-commerce website examples that you can explore and draw inspiration from.

Zulu Longines

Luxury watchmaker Longines designed their website to pay tribute to pioneers of the aviation industry. Zulu Longines was listed in the top E-commerce website examples because of how interactive and playful it is.

Taking inspiration from airplanes, users go on a journey as if they themselves were flying thanks to the flight-inspired scrolling feature of the site. They also get to learn more about the brand’s history as it features a timeline of their key milestones before being led to their E-commerce site.

Crate & Barrel

Crate & Barrel is known worldwide for their houseware and other home essentials. They are one of the best E-commerce website examples because of how visual and clean they present their brand online.

Being in the business of homeware, they designed their website to feature large images. This helps consumers study their furniture just like how they would in stores. In addition, they allow visitors to sort and filter what they want to see, and keep track of those that they’ve viewed already.

Notebook Therapy

Notebook Therapy specializes in Korean and Japanese-inspired stationery. It is among the E-commerce website examples that are good because of how it brings out its brand personality.

The brand banks on simple and cute designs to carry their products’ overall appeal. Whether it’s notebooks, stationeries, or other items like bags, stencils and pencil cases, they provide that signature bookstore feel but with their own branded twist. Photos highlight different aspects of their products and their designs, while also being mirrored throughout the website itself.

Bite

When looking at E-commerce website examples, Bite ranks high not just because of its design, but its message. Bite is a company that sells dental products like toothpaste with the core mission of promoting sustainability. 

The brand’s website is very direct on what it’s selling through clear and strong visuals. By banking on sustainability, they also attract the attention of consumers with the same advocacy. Their website design and products all align with their cause, reinforcing the brand’s ultimate purpose. 

Zalora

Locally, Zalora is one of those E-commerce website examples that remain popular with Filipinos. While it carries wide clothing options, the brand also takes pride in their website’s functionality. 

Aside from offering apparel, Zalora highlights the convenience of doing fashion online. It integrated features like image search, virtual fitting rooms, and an intuitive seller center for a holistic shopping experience. Together, these help elevate the brand’s variety with class and sophistication.

These five E-commerce website examples all have their own strengths that make them shine. In designing your own, you need to go back to your brand’s identity and your target market. But remember, having a good website is just one of the things you have to consider in E-commerce. If you really want to step up your game, Partnering with Payo can help you deliver the best E-commerce service in the Philippines.

As a leading E-commerce enabler, Payo helps merchants come up with out-of-the-box ideas for their E-commerce problems. With solutions like Cash-on-Delivery Integration, Marketplace Optimization, Fulfillment, and Live Customer Support, you can provide a holistic and engaging purchase journey for your consumers even after they check out their orders.

Need help drawing inspiration for your shop? Sign up with Payo today or send us a message at [email protected]. Time to churn out ideas to help you stand out!

Venturing into E-commerce in the Philippines is an exciting idea. And with its continuous growth, it’s never been a better time to start an online business. 

But no matter what business you are in, having a user-friendly E-commerce platform is not an option but a necessity for you to grow and expand. Good thing there is Shopify.

One of the leading E-commerce solutions, Shopify offers a whole host of E-commerce features and integration possibilities to start an online store. It is user-friendly as it gives you tons of flexibility and control in building their online store. Shopify also offers solutions that best match your needs to help you attract customers, drive sales, and manage your day-to-day.

Thanks to Shopify, millions of people across the globe are able to open and run their online stores. And if you’re still wondering what you actually get when you use it, keep reading. 

Is it suitable for a newbie seller?

Absolutely! Shopify is a great choice for newbies who are yet to explore the vast world of E-commerce. The platform has an already-built store structure, so you just need to input some necessary information to get your shop going. 

How does Shopify work?

Shopify is an all-in-one solution for E-commerce businesses. It offers numerous tools that cater to your online store requirements, such as Store Set-up, Shipping, Payment, and many more. Basically, it provides merchants with the foundation to run an E-commerce business.

What features does Shopify offer?

Shopify offers a number of tools to help your business grow. It enables business owners to open a storefront, showcase products, engage with customers, accept payments, and more. Shopify offers all the tools you need to manage each of those activities. 

How to get started on Shopify?

First, you need to design or modify your store, add products to it, and test your website to ensure that both desktop and mobile versions are ready. You can promote your store easily as the platform offers a range of marketing and sales tools. And when a customer buys from you, Shopify will process their payment for you.

What’s in it for you as a merchant?

If you are launching an online store or embracing E-commerce for your brick-and-mortar shop, Shopify is the ideal option. It is a complete solution that makes it easy for you to sell products and services. Because you can automate your processes through Shopify, you have all the freedom from the technicalities involved in running an online business. This helps you just focus on more important matters like marketing and nurturing customer relationships.

How can Shopify give your business an edge?

Customers have become more discerning these days and they want convenience on top of everything you offer them. While your basic online store offers the essentials, you might not be able to serve them as seamlessly as possible. But with Shopify, you can add new features and integrate tools into your store. This can enhance the experience for your customers and boost sales revenues for you. Plus, they’re quick and easy to install!

These are just some of the things you need to know for you to offer a great online shopping experience through Shopify. And as the competition gets tougher in the Philippine E-commerce industry, you need to optimize your store with Shopify integrations to provide a great customer journey.

If you need help with Shopify, Payo is here for you!

Payo, the leading E-commerce enabler in the Philippines, can make your E-commerce journey with Shopify easier. With Payo’s Shopify Integration, you can provide more payment options for your customers and give your online platform a competitive edge. The Payo plug-in also provides you with options when it comes to the types of packages you want to ship. Additionally, your platform is automatically integrated into Payo’s system, which means you can easily monitor your store’s data on your Payo Merchant Dashboard.

There are many possibilities with Shopify’s platform, and when combined with Payo’s unparalleled service, you will have everything you need to grow your business.

Want to learn more about Payo’s Shopify Integration? Sign up with Payo today or send us a message at [email protected] so we can get started!

As the year comes to a close, merchants doing E-commerce in the Philippines must remain on the lookout for what’s next. From ways to innovate operations to new offerings, there’s always merit in learning about top E-commerce trends, especially for 2023.

The fast-paced development of technology has opened up a lot of opportunities for businesses online. Now is every merchant’s chance to become an early adapter with this list of E-commerce trends in 2023.

The rise of video shopping

Photos will remain an essential part of the online shopping experience, but among the top E-commerce trends for 2023 is the use of videos. While Filipinos have learned and adapted to live selling, merchants can’t always host them. Video shopping is another way of showcasing products in detail. It offers a 360-view and a demonstration of how they work – similar to how TV shopping is done, only it’s on mobile and on social media.

More variety in payment options

Cash-on-Delivery has become an increasingly effective payment option for those doing E-commerce in the Philippines. As the financial landscape changes, many platforms are starting to offer other options including a Buy-Now-Pay-Later scheme, and even loans. These allow customers to purchase products and settle payments at a much later time, providing more flexibility.

Chatbots for 24/7 service

The world of E-commerce in the Philippines is becoming smaller and more on-demand. In reality, merchants can’t always be present or online to respond to inquiries. Thus, among the E-commerce trends expected in 2023 is the growth of chatbot integration. It offers a seamless shopping experience through automated responses, helping provide 24/7 service and allowing merchants to step in during more crucial or important concerns.

Over the years, the function of chatbots has evolved. Chatbots today are no longer simply offering automated responses. They’ve become the online personas of brands, complete with names and avatars, and can provide more complex answers to queries. In 2023, chatbots are forecasted to be capable of automating payments, streamlining operations, providing consumer insights, and many more tasks.

Greener and more sustainable packaging

The growth of E-commerce has also seen the spike in use of plastic, which poses potential threats to the environment. With society becoming more self-aware, many businesses are shifting to greener and more sustainable options in place of bubble wraps, packaging tapes, and other single-use plastics. Widespread use of these packing alternatives will also be one of the main E-commerce trends in 2023.

Growth of voice shopping

As the world becomes smarter and more digitally connected, different parts of the world saw an increase in the purchase of smart speakers. One of the more interesting E-commerce trends in 2023 is the growth of voice shopping through these devices. Merchants are encouraged to explore this trend to also cater to consumers who prefer this shopping method.

Increased digital presence through omni-channel selling

Nowadays, it may no longer be enough for a merchant to focus on one channel or platform alone. E-commerce in the Philippines is becoming more competitive as many learn the convenience and opportunities it offers. That said, one of the top E-commerce trends next year is omnichannel selling. This means having a multi-channel presence to cater to more audiences on online marketplaces, social media, your website, and other platforms. 

These E-commerce trends in 2023 can serve as a guide for merchants that want to try something new for their shop. These can help offer a new shopping experience for customers, while also maintaining competitiveness in the digital marketplace. But what would be most effective is partnering with an E-commerce enabler like Payo!

Payo is a leading E-commerce enabler in the Philippines that offers solutions to help merchants adapt to the ever-evolving E-commerce landscape. Among these services are Live Customer Support, Marketplace Optimization, Warehousing, Fulfillment, and Cash-on-Delivery Integration, which enable merchants to immediately embrace some of the aforementioned trends.

Want to leverage these top E-commerce trends to elevate your business? Sign up with Payo today or send us a message at [email protected]. Let’s welcome 2023 with an effective E-commerce strategy!

Gone are the days when Facebook was just a multimedia entertainment platform. As E-commerce evolved, the social media site also became a place where people can connect in another way: through buying and selling.

When Facebook introduced an online marketplace, small businesses joined in to cater to their local communities. This marketplace on Facebook eventually morphed and became one of the fastest-growing online channels for merchants and customers to connect, especially at the onset of the pandemic. It is a convenient and accessible place for aspiring merchants to grow their businesses where they can tap millions of its users in just a click.

If you are thinking of joining it anytime soon, here are some of the basics you need to know to navigate this marketplace on Facebook.

You can sell anything here!

Well, almost. Since it is a free feature on Facebook, the marketplace allows merchants to sell almost anything from fashion items, home improvement supplies, toys, and games, to pet supplies, vehicles, and properties. Aside from new products, merchants can also sell pre-loved items. It’s kind of like a garage sale, but online. 

You can optimize your marketplace 

In this marketplace, you can simply create a new listing to sell something. A word of caution though — since a lot of merchants are already on Marketplace, it pays to stand out. So what can you do? Use quality photos for your listing, price your items competitively, and provide as many details as possible in the item description. 

You can target your listings based on location

The online marketplace can help you sell different items on Facebook right off the bat. The platform welcomes any user with image tiles of items posted within their vicinity, so they can see the items that they need straight away. But if you want to make your listings targeted, you can adjust your location and radius to capture potential customers within your area. You can also choose from its categories to further help your customers narrow down their search. 

You can easily connect with your customer

As a peer-to-peer platform, the marketplace on Facebook has devised a way to help you communicate easily with customers. All transactions in this online marketplace are started through Facebook Messenger—letting you connect with potential customers through a one-on-one conversation. Because it provides you with a real-time mode of communication, you can capitalize on their interest while it’s hot, helping prevent the customer from moving on and looking for other products.

You can integrate other E-commerce platforms seamlessly

As it is an online marketplace, merchants are given the liberty to integrate other E-commerce platforms such as Shopify and WooCommerce with the Marketplace on Facebook. This enables merchants to leverage either platforms to expand their customer base and increase sales. 

You can pay for ads, acquire new consumers, set up a shop on Facebook to sell your products, and track the insights of customer actions when you choose to connect your marketplace store to your website.

You can choose your mode of payment

As the online marketplace does not facilitate payments or deliveries, merchants can choose payment modes for their stores. If you are an online seller in the Philippines, you’d know that cash is king and that customers would prefer Cash on Delivery. But with the growth of digital payments, some would offer online banks or mobile wallets like GCash, PayMaya, or Coins.ph to their customers.

You can also choose a logistics partner

In terms of delivering the items, you have the power to choose a reliable partner, or which method works best for you. Typically, marketplace sellers on Facebook would hand it over to the customer especially if they are within the vicinity. But to some, having a logistics partner is the best way to manage the deliveries. For one, it is more convenient. And secondly, it is easier to just have someone else deliver the items.

These are just some of the basic knowledge that you need to be equipped with when joining the marketplace on Facebook. With its massive audience and streamlined shopping experience, this online marketplace could be a fantastic addition to your E-commerce strategy in the long run. 

If you’re ready to start selling on online marketplaces, to level up your selling efforts, or just want a better handle on your strategy, Payo can be your reliable partner for it!

As an E-commerce enabler, Payo’s expertise can assist you in optimizing your marketplace, automating your processes, or even managing your logistics. E-commerce is made easier with our tech-driven tools such as our Courier Algorithm, Live Customer Support, and so much more. Plus, we can also manage your Cash on Delivery integration for more seamless and hassle-free payment transactions. Sounds convenient, right? 

So what are you waiting for? Sign up now or send us a message at [email protected] to start your marketplace journey!