E-commerce: "Highway" for trade promotion in the digital age

(GLO)- In the era of comprehensive digitalization, speed and global connectivity have become key competitive advantages. E-commerce has been reshaping all methods of trading, marketing and distributing goods.

Livestream sales is one of the ways to promote e-commerce development. Photo: Vu Thao

Inevitable trend

Approaching e-commerce early, Ms. Tran Lam Phuong Tam - Director of My Hoang Gia Avocado Import-Export Company Limited (Ia Kha town, Ia Grai district, Gia Lai province) shared: When starting operation, the company aimed to export avocado products, frozen avocado, avocado buds, avocado seedlings...

The company has applied AI to exploit social networking platforms Youtube and Facebook to optimize customer searches, then rely on AI to support content writing or product promotion scripts, support the design and implementation of more effective marketing programs, helping to increase customer interaction. Thanks to that, the company has closed many export orders to markets such as Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Nepal, India, etc.

“From 2024, the company will start to launch avocado oil products for use in therapy, cosmetics, food processing, etc. With this new product, the company is continuing to promote e-commerce applications to find customers, targeting customers who are companies specializing in making natural cosmetics,” Ms. Tam shared.

Thanks to the ability to connect without borders, interact directly with customers and optimize marketing, sales and customer care processes in the digital space, many small businesses, cooperatives and even individual businesses have achieved results beyond expectations.

This positive effect is not only reflected in sales but also in changes in business thinking, customer approach and production organization methods. Many establishments and cooperatives that once struggled to find outlets are now, thanks to digital platforms, proactively adjusting designs, packaging, building online brands, and gradually professionalizing business processes.

Ms. Lam Kieu Loan (right cover) participates in a livestream session. Photo: Vu Thao

Ms. Lam Kieu Loan - owner of Phong Loan spring roll shop (Pleiku City) shared: "Participating in a Mega livestream for only a few hours, the shop closed up to 300 orders. This is a number that would take a whole week to collect if sold in the traditional way. This momentum is an inevitable effect when applying technology to promote and reach consumers."

Mr. Pham Van Binh - Director of Gia Lai Department of Industry and Trade - said: The most difficult thing in developing e-commerce is improving human resources and information technology infrastructure. According to the assessment, currently human resources and information technology infrastructure are still limited, only about 40% of enterprises build e-commerce websites, the established websites have not been exploited effectively. Human resources with skills and expertise in e-commerce, digital marketing, online sales management, logistics and electronic payments are still lacking.

“Therefore, to improve the e-commerce component index, the Department of Industry and Trade will work with relevant departments and sectors to support businesses in digital transformation and application of science and technology. At the same time, the Department also regularly organizes training courses on new business solutions on e-commerce platforms, shares livestream sales skills through platforms, solutions for applying business management software to production and business activities; supports the application of new technologies such as AI, big data to e-commerce activities to optimize customer experience and business management...

Through the coordination with the E-commerce Association, TikTok Shop organized agricultural product livestream sessions, showing that trade promotion using technology has strongly spread the province's typical products directly to consumers. The success of applying e-commerce in operations has helped many businesses and cooperatives reach domestic and foreign customers," Mr. Binh informed.

Training support programs have contributed to the development of e-commerce in the province.
Photo: Vu Thao

“Highway” for digital marketing

Along with traditional trade promotion (XTTM) associated with exhibitions and trade connection programs, XTTM is currently shifting rapidly to digital platforms, where direct connection speed, geographical distance and time are no longer barriers. Despite its limitations, it is undeniable that e-commerce is the "highway" that opens the door for manufacturers to connect to the global market.

According to the assessment of Mr. Vo Van Khanh - Chief Representative of VECOM in the Central Highlands region: "I see that the access to the online environment of the business community, cooperatives, and production households in Gia Lai is relatively fast. However, through practical research, currently the scale of most enterprises in Gia Lai is small and micro, so human resources, especially human resources participating in supporting the subject, are still lacking and weak. Because e-commerce skills always have to be updated with continuous changes in technology.

Thanks to the support from content creators, the province's typical products are widely promoted, reaching consumers more closely. Photo: Vu Thao

Regarding the issue of human resources, Ms. Hoang Thi Kim Duyen - Training Department of VECOM, said that, in addition to skills in direct sales on social networks such as livestream, video making, AI-related skills are extremely necessary, because knowing how to use AI tools will help businesses cut costs related to human resources, such as human resources related to image design, content creation, content writing, etc.

However, since it is a tool, it must have its own programming, so learning to use the tool effectively is essential. The first problem for businesses when using AI is that they must understand the product, the strengths, the differences of their products when selling compared to competitors, and understand the customer portrait. From there, they can convey to AI and turn AI into an effective assistant tool.

Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/thuong-mai-dien-tu-duong-cao-toc-cho-xuc-tien-thuong-mai-thoi-so-hoa-post329214.html