More Vietnamese firms turn to e-com to directly reach global buyers

The number of Vietnamese enterprises engaged in online exports has climbed sharply in recent years.

Shopee International Platform (SIP) now has nearly 400,000 Vietnamese sellers and offers over 15 million products to consumers in Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand and Taiwan, a domestic news agency reported.

According to Access Partnership, Vietnam’s online exports hit $3.5 billion in 2022—up by 7 per cent year on year. If current efforts by small and micro enterprises continue, the figure could reach $5.5 billion by 2027, or potentially $13 billion with more coordinated, robust engagement from stakeholders.

However, about three-fifths of Vietnamese businesses use e-commerce platforms now, while the rest rely on self-built websites or apps, and this poses a challenge. Just 37 per cent report that e-commerce contributes 10-20 per cent of their total export value.

Other difficulties include operational bandwidth, limited knowledge of e-commerce workflows and managing customer service across time zones.

ALCHEMPro News Desk (DS)