Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Ho Thi Kim Thoa said that e-commerce has revolutionised how consumers do their shopping, allowing them to transcend physical boundaries to buy goods from anywhere only with an internet-connected computer.

E-commerce and mobile technology are revolutionising how consumers do their shopping.

Due to the wide usage of smartphones and tablets by consumers, as well as the popularity of mobile app stores, the retail sector is also witnessing another revolution.

Mobile technology helps consumers search and compare products, and then choose what to buy with only a smart handheld device.

On the other hand, retailers are also given an effective tool to recognise the demand of their customers which they can use to provide information and advice that may influence the choices of buyers.

AVR Chair Dinh Thi My Loan said many factors are driving the growth of mobile commerce, notably the popularity of mobile devices not only in developed countries but also in developing markets like Viet Nam.

She added that mobile technology is giving retailers a new means to manage their stock levels of goods and make shopping easier and more convenient, such as notifying customers of nearby shops and helping them learn about the products on the go.

Nguyen Thanh Hung, Chairman of the Viet Nam E-commerce Association, said that mobile technology is reshaping the interaction between buyers and sellers.

Market surveys suggest that about 40% of online retail transactions are related to fashion while the rest account for mobile phones, cooking equipment and kitchen appliances as well as dried food.

The majority of online shoppers in Viet Nam are office workers aged between 22 and 40, living in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Aside from the endless opportunities afforded by this new technology, challenges still remain as customer loyalty is low and 90% choose cash on delivery as the main payment method.

(Source: nhandan.com.vn)