The dynamic e-commerce landscape of Southeast Asia presents a fertile ground for international brands seeking market expansion. With its rapid user growth, mobile-first nature, and diverse consumer base, this region holds immense potential for brands that can navigate its unique market dynamics. This guide will walk you through how to sell on popular Southeast Asian e-commerce platforms, specifically Shopee and Lazada, while highlighting Qallix’s multichannel integration capabilities to streamline and optimize your sales process.
Understanding Southeast Asia’s E-commerce Landscape
Southeast Asia’s e-commerce is dominated by two major platforms: Shopee and Lazada. In 2023, their Gross Merchandise Values (GMV) reached $47.9 billion and $20.1 billion, respectively. Shopee is the top platform in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines, while Lazada is second in all of these countries except Indonesia, where it ranks third. This consumer behaviour is marked by mobile app preference, diverse payment options, and a high impact of local sales events on shopping habits.
To tap into this market, consider using a comprehensive solution like Qallix, which enables seamless multichannel management by centralizing inventory, orders, and chat. Qallix offers integration with Shopee, Lazada, and other major Southeast Asian platforms, ensuring streamlined operations and higher sales potential through improved efficiency.
Getting Started on Major E-commerce Platforms in Southeast Asia
How to Sell on Shopee
Setting Up a Seller Account
Begin by creating a Shopee seller account. Register and provide essential business details, verify your identity, and select your preferred payment options. Shopee’s seller guide offers a clear onboarding process.
Optimising Product Listings on Shopee
To increase sales on Shopee, optimizing product listings is essential. Follow these guidelines to ensure discoverability and build trust:
- Structured Product Names: Include brand, model, and specifications to boost search rankings.
- High-Resolution Images: Shopee allows up to 12 images per product, so showcase the product from various angles.
- Detailed Descriptions: Write original, comprehensive descriptions of at least 400 words, detailing key attributes like material, colour, and size.
- Keyword Usage: Use relevant keywords 1-2 times in descriptions to enhance visibility.
- FAQ Section: Address common questions to help convert potential buyers.
Utilising Shopee’s Promotional Tools
Shopee offers promotional tools that help increase visibility, especially during high-traffic events:
- Vouchers: Use discount vouchers for specific products or store-wide promotions.
- Flash Sales: Participate in flash sales to attract shoppers during limited-time promotions.
- Shopee Coins: Reward buyers with Shopee Coins to encourage repeat purchases.
- Free Shipping: Offering free shipping can boost conversions significantly.
- Bundle Deals: Create bundles to increase average order values.
- Shopee Ads: Use Shopee’s advertising options to promote products at the top of search results and category pages.
Automate and Manage with Qallix: With Qallix’s multichannel e-commerce management, all your Shopee listings, orders, and inventory sync in real time. Qallix's centralized dashboard lets you manage product updates and customer communication, so you stay agile during promotional events.
How to Sell on Lazada
Setting Up a Seller Account
Registering on Lazada as an international seller allows you to sell across all Lazada platforms. Lazada doesn’t charge an upfront fee but takes a commission of 2%-4% per sale. To begin, visit the Lazada Seller Centre and sign up as a LazGlobal Seller.
Optimising Product Listings on Lazada
Boost sales by improving product discoverability and trust:
- Clear Product Names: Use structured names with brand, model, and specifications.
- High-Quality Images: Lazada allows up to 8 images, so use high-quality visuals from various angles.
- Detailed Descriptions: Write a minimum of 300 words, providing details on materials, colours, and usage.
- Keyword Usage: Include relevant keywords in titles and descriptions.
- FAQ Section: Address common questions to help convert potential buyers.
Utilising Lazada’s Seller Tools
Lazada offers several seller tools to attract buyers and increase visibility:
- LazMall: Premium branding helps assure quality and authenticity.
- Seller Picks: Highlight best products for better visibility.
- Sponsored Ads: Use sponsored ads to top search results.
- Flash Sales: Participate in Lazada’s flash sales to drive urgency and increase visibility.
- Free Shipping: Offering free shipping can be a powerful motivator.
- Bundle Deals: Increase average order values by bundling products together.
Simplify Operations with Qallix: Qallix's multichannel integration means you can manage your Lazada listings, inventory, and orders from a single platform. With real-time updates, Qallix allows you to optimize listings, manage customer communication, and handle large sales events efficiently.
Best Practices for Selling on Southeast Asian E-commerce Platforms
Understanding local cultures, festivals, and languages is essential for building customer trust in Southeast Asia. Qallix helps you seamlessly manage this complexity by supporting localization for multiple languages and sales events.
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Align Promotions with Festivals: Schedule promotions around events like Lunar New Year, Hari Raya, or big sales days like 11.11. Qallix’s platform offers customizable promotional and campaign management tools to help you time your promotions effectively.
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Localise Content: Invest in translation services and use culturally relevant images. With Qallix’s bulk listing capabilities, you can easily upload translated product information and update images to resonate with local consumers.
Customer Engagement through Qallix: Qallix provides powerful data analytics and customer insights to improve engagement. By tracking key metrics, Qallix can help you identify opportunities to use local influencers and build loyalty programs tailored to Southeast Asian shoppers.
Efficient Fulfilment and Logistics
Fast and reliable delivery is vital for success in Southeast Asia. Qallix provides logistics integration with third-party providers, streamlining delivery tracking and fulfillment processes.
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Understand Customs Regulations: Qallix can help with customs compliance by ensuring products are accurately listed with complete information, reducing delays.
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Partner with Local Fulfilment Centres: Qallix’s logistics integrations allow you to partner with local fulfillment centres for faster delivery and enhanced product handling, ensuring timely deliveries that meet customer expectations.
How Qallix Boosts Your Sales in Southeast Asia
Qallix is more than a multichannel e-commerce solution; it’s a powerful tool that aggregates orders, inventory, and chat for Southeast Asia’s leading marketplaces. Here’s what Qallix offers to help you thrive:
- Multichannel Integration: Seamless integration with Shopee, Lazada, and more.
- Real-Time Inventory Sync: Keep track of inventory levels and avoid overselling with real-time updates.
- Analytics and Insights: Get insights on sales trends and customer behaviours to improve strategies.
- Centralized Order Management: Manage orders from multiple platforms through one interface, reducing manual work and errors.
- Product Listing Optimization: Use Qallix to automate keyword and SEO recommendations for optimized listings.
- Automated Marketing Recommendations: Generate recommendations for vouchers, flash deals, and product bundling based on historical data.
With Qallix’s comprehensive tools, your brand can reach and engage Southeast Asian consumers effectively, increasing sales and brand loyalty across the region. Ready to expand into this exciting market? Let Qallix help streamline your operations, providing everything you need to succeed on Shopee, Lazada, and beyond.