eCommerce news #no. 23

The holiday season is in full swing, but that doesn't mean that we are suspending the creation of our bi-weekly eCommerce Press Release for two months! On the contrary - throughout this period we will make sure that when you return from your vacation by the sea, in the mountains or abroad, you will have the opportunity to read about the most important events that took place in the world of eCommerce while you were away. In the first summer edition, we write about, among other things, the results of a survey on omni-channel shopping commissioned by the Chamber of Electronic Economy, EcoBoxes introduced by InPost in cooperation with MODIVO, and reports of mall owners demanding more rent from their tenants due to eCommerce. Curious? Feel free to read on!

What does the Chamber of Electronic Commerce's latest survey reveal?

For the seventh time, the Chamber of the Electronic Economy is coming to us with the detailed results of its research on multichannel shopping and the report "Omni-commerce. I Buy Conveniently," which analyzed the consumer behavior of Poles (online and offline) over the course of a year. What are the conclusions of this year's survey? IGE concludes that we have a new e-normality, but at the same time there are still considerable demands on stationary sellers (we are increasingly counting on the penetration of solutions from the online to the offline sphere, not the other way around).

The survey conducted by IGE allowed us to learn, among other things, that:

• as many as 87% of Internet users shop online, of which 61% buy 2 to 5 times a month, and 16% buy more than 5 times a month (up 6 percentage points from last year),
• modern eCommerce solutions (such as mobile forms of payment, video product presentations or virtual fitting rooms using AR technology) are used by as many as 79% of respondents (up from 59% a year earlier),
• BNPL deferred payments are gaining in popularity (38% of e-buyers use them),
• 64% of customers require the store to have a responsive mobile version.

What's more, the study should conclude that customers expect eCommerce to set trends and shopping standards. They are increasingly increasing the average value of their online spending, while at the same time demanding from eCommerce stores the best possible service and high quality of completed transactions.

The survey, conducted by the Mobile Institute research firm on behalf of IGE, is available at e-Chamber.

Will eco-friendly reusable packaging serve its purpose?

It's been a while since we mentioned that eCommerce delivery market leader InPost had teamed up with fashion platform MODIVO, where the two companies aimed to introduce secondary packaging by creating reusable cardboard boxes. This goal has been achieved - the EcoBox, designed by InPost and MODIVO, is made of FSC-certified cardboard, meaning it comes from responsibly managed forests and is recyclable.

The option to order the product in eco-friendly packaging has already been made available to MODIVO platform customers. All that needs to be done is to select the appropriate option on the store's website. After receiving the shipment, one should in turn take out the ordered products, reassemble the packaging according to the instructions, and then return it at the selected parcel machine (with no time limit) by scanning the code placed on the packaging. In this way, the packaging goes into secondary circulation. Currently, a promotion is running on the MODIVO website and the option of choosing a returnable package can be used free of charge. What's more, for each purchase made with such a delivery option, the customer receives a voucher with a discount for repeat purchases.

According to Rafal Brzoska, from the very beginning the EkoBox system was met with huge interest from customers, so companies very quickly decided to introduce reusable packaging on a large scale. They are also motivated by the high percentage of purchases made online, and thus - the ever-increasing production of packaging, and thus waste. InPost predicts that the EcoBox will reduce the amount of cardboard used in circulation by up to ten times, making eCommerce logistics more environmentally friendly.

Any eCommerce market player that is focused on making its logistics greener can join the program. Brzoska encourages such action, pointing out that all eCommerce companies are responsible for the production of trash and should face this challenge together.

Detailed information about the EcoBox is available on the website of InPost.

Increased rents for tenants of mall space?

An alarming report by the Polish Association of Retail Tenants recently surfaced on the Internet regarding the fact that shopping center owners are trying to push through new agreements with increased rents for their tenants. The decision to raise the cost of rent is supposedly dictated by gaining turnover on the Internet, but PART stresses that online sales are completely separate from stationary sales. The differences between the two areas appear in virtually every aspect (financial outlay, strategy, teams), and the demand for fees for online turnover is not justified.

PART also stresses that it is the tenants of mall space who are responsible for offering jobs, stimulating the economy, and bearing the costs of operating the mall. What's more, with the ability to pick up parcels ordered online at stationary establishments - they increase daily traffic and provide additional benefits (e.g., subsequent purchases at other establishments). With ever-increasing costs for shopping mall tenants (rent, energy, exchange rates, wages, transportation), the increase associated with online trading is causing a great deal of resistance in the industry.

You can read more about this situation here.