PUBLISHED : 30 Jul 2024 at 09:15
Thai business operators should improve their operating strategy in order to stay ahead of their competition, Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said on Monday.
He stressed the need to continuously upgrade their business operations, noting the success Chinese e-commerce platforms, such as JD.com, TikTok or Douyin, TaoBao, and Meituan, had after they introduced same-day delivery for customers in certain areas.
He made the call after he received a report from Oranuch Wannapinyo, director of the Department of International Trade Promotion’s (DITP) office in Guangzhou, which highlighted the popularity of same-day delivery services among Chinese consumers.
Instant delivery is now the most popular delivery method among Chinese e-commerce platform users, with 64% of customers choosing the option when it is offered, he said.
The DITP report noted that the Covid-19 pandemic radically shifted consumers’ behaviour, with up to 75% now saying they prefer to have their orders delivered on the same day.
Recognising the shift, Chinese platforms began offering various options for faster delivery for their customers.
Alibaba, for instance, debuted its instant delivery service last month on its e-commerce application TaoBao, and courier service Ele.me.
JD.com, meanwhile, offers its clients a nine-minute delivery guarantee with JD Instant Delivery.
Douyin, the Chinese edition for TikTok, recently jumped into the game, with many shops, including tech company Xiaomi Home, participating in the campaign.
Mr Phumtham suggested Thai business operators study the strategies used by Chinese platforms, which would, in turn, bring benefits to small- and medium-sized businesses.