The latest e-Chamber report, or what has changed in the industry over the past 10 years? eCommerce news #no. 37

The first month of 2023 never fails to surprise in terms of astonishing news in the world of eCommerce. As of January 14, e-consumers can no longer place orders through the Polish version of the Shopee platform, the logistics industry is developing eco-friendly forms of returns, and the Chamber of the Digital Economy is celebrating its tenth anniversary and releasing an anniversary report to mark this occasion. Reading the Advox Press Release - which is a summary of the most important news from the industry - will certainly make sure you "don't get lost" in the maze of information - read on and make sure you stay up to date!

The logistics industry's next step toward sustainable delivery

We wrote about the first attempts to introduce reusable packaging in eCommerce a few months ago on the occasion of the cooperation between InPost and MODIVO. It resulted in the creation of EkoBox, a packaging made of certified and durable cardboard designed for reuse. Further steps towards popularizing sustainable delivery were taken by two Polish companies from the logistics industry - Packhelp and PickPack joined forces and introduced the first commercial offer of using such solutions for e-Commerce representatives. What exactly are the innovative services based on?

The new proposition is called LoopPack, and its goal is not only to provide environmentally friendly shipping conditions, but also to improve the experience in this area. What sets the solution apart is that buyers don't have to return the package themselves - the courier is responsible for everything. At the time of delivery, a company employee picks up the main packaging, handing over the goods to the customer in a foil pack made from recycled material. If, on the other hand, there is a need to pick up the products, the delivery man himself prepares the shipment for transport. The result? The packaging goes back into circulation, and the customer doesn't have to worry about taking care of the shipping details.

Reusable packaging needs to be durable enough - this is guaranteed by the use of advanced materials in their production. This makes them more long-lasting than cardboard boxes used in traditional shipping. Will the innovative solution prove to be the future of eCommerce logistics? We will find out soon enough. What is certain, however, is that the number of returns is constantly increasing. An analysis by Dun & Bradstreet in 2022 shows that Poles are increasingly choosing to send back orders. The growing level of returns is a problem not only in the country, but across Europe. This has been recognized by the European Commission, which has proposed a series of changes to the packaging regulation. The EU authority aims to reduce waste from shipping by, among other things, promoting reusable material solutions and recycling.

Is the logistics market in for a revolution? Read more about new ideas in the world of delivery in this article.

How have the last 10 years in eCommerce gone?

When considering the purchase of a new product, what almost immediately comes to mind is checking its availability online and conveniently shopping via eCommerce. It is hard to think that until recently such a decision was not obvious, and the rapid development of eCommerce has been going on for only 10 years. The Chamber of Digital Economy is also celebrating a decade of its activities, and to mark the occasion it has issued a report summarizing the transformations that have taken place in the industry during this period. What has changed over the years in the world of online sales?

The publication entitled. "Dekada polskiego e-commerce" details both the development of online stores themselves and the changes in the behavior of Polish e-consumers (the percentage of which has increased to as much as 87%). The key factors influencing the continuous improvement of eCommerce are primarily modern technologies, but also the rise in popularity of omnichannel sales and the growing awareness of the opportunities brought by cross-boarder commerce.

What exactly are the conclusions of the report?

• In 10 years, the eCommerce market has achieved a 5-fold increase in value in the B2C area and a 3.5-fold increase in the B2B sector,
• Currently, the number of e-traders (both those selling through their own platform and those using marketplace portals or social media) is more than 150,000,
• Ecommerce is playing an increasingly important role in the structure of total commerce, and in some branches of trade (such as textiles, apparel and footwear) it generates as much as one in every five zlotys,
• More than 90% of consumers are able to say what perks influence them to buy via the Internet. Such statistics indicate a significant improvement in the level of education of Polish shoppers in this area.

In all probability, digital sales in B2B and B2C channels will exceed 850 billion zlotys in 2022. Although the coming year will certainly not be one of the easiest (if only due to the still unstable inflation), forecasts for eCommerce are still positive. Maintaining satisfactory growth dynamics is possible due to the fact that eCommerce responds to the needs of customers in a flash. Buyers in times of crisis appreciate the fact that online stores allow greater control over spending, often offer attractive prices, and additionally guarantee multiple forms of payment (including deferred payments). Not surprisingly, in such a situation, one in three consumers sees online channels as the most innovative and trend-setting ones.

You can read the full reporthere. How do you think eCommerce will evolve in the next 10 years?

Is this the end of Shopee's activity in Poland?

While for most the new year is conducive to starting new projects, Chinese marketplace Shopee has made a decision regarding the end of its operations in Poland, as well as in other countries. The shopping platform has also already withdrawn from Spain and France, and outside Europe - from Mexico, Chile, Argentina and Colombia.

January 13, 11:59 pm - it was at this time that the ability to place orders through Shoppee Poland was stopped. Practically, this means that Polish consumers will no longer be able to take advantage of the platform's offerings aimed at their home market, but they will still be able to place purchases on its foreign counterparts. What were the reasons for the Asian giant's failures?

Shopee recorded its first losses as early as May 2022, when a massive advertising campaign failed to bring a significant increase in the number of buyers. The company gained only individual customers who made trial purchases (using discount coupons), but chose not to repeat the transaction. The platform's owners also said in a special statement that they had abandoned expansion in Europe due to the region's uncertain macroeconomic situation. The company plans to focus on expanding its business in Asia and Latin America, where it sees strong and long-term growth potential.

You can read Shopee's announcement by following this link. How do you think - how will the decrease in competition in the marketplaces market affect the situation of other such platforms?