Closing of $2.3 billion in 2020 due to ecommerce was confirmed, which poses five challenges for 2021

Ecuador reached a business volume in electronic commerce of$ 2.3 billionIn 2020, which represented a growth of$700 million (43.75%)compared to what was achieved in 2019; and by 2021 a growth is not less than a double digit.

This according to theEcuadorian Chamber of Electronic Commerce (CECE), entity that confirmed that the categories with better performance in 2020 were food and hygiene, computing, appliances, fashion and beauty, education, online payments, online games, pet food, delivery and cell phone.

This growth had already been projected last November byLeonardo Ottati, General Director of the CECE, noting that in 2019 in Ecuador they moved around$ 1.600 millonIt is and by 2020 they were expected close$ 2 billion, although with what happened by the Covid-19 pandemic the figure should not be less than$ 2.3 billion

• Ecuador would close the year with $ 2.3 billion in online sales, 15 % more than projected

Now, Ottati indicated that 2020 marked a before and after in online trade; and that the context of the pandemic forced the brands and professionals in the sector to make efforts to adapt at full speed to the new reality and the new consumption.

Ottati shared several data on the eCommerce in Ecuador, such as that 1 in 3 buyers first chosen the online channel to generate their purchases, also that a growth of the800%In visits to websites and a44%in orders compared to 2019.

In addition, it is estimated that the mass of online buyers doubled during the quarantine days (confinement) and organically, this amount, continues to grow and increase its purchase frequency; and regionally electronic commerce advanced and grew in 2 months what I had taken 5 years.

"With quarantine, we saw the arrival of a new buyer profile. Many adult people who did not use this modality now is forced and the response was quite good," said Ottati, who points out that the CECs raises five challenges for ecommerce this year:

1.- Education to the offer:

It is necessary to professionalize the offer that exists in online stores, whether products and services, or by any non -face -to -face channel; Grant specific knowledge to provide a better experience.

2.-Sente the demand:

Companies must identify and differentiate the products that users prefer to buy via online and which ones prefer to buy in person; This will allow to have a clearer panorama, disseminate the benefits of buying online and making the necessary settings to provide a better experience and online interaction.

3.- Strengthen the public-private relationship:

It is necessary to strengthen alliances between the private company with the government to carry out a better decision -making and the design of strategies that are beneficial for both parties and for the country at the level of taxes and in market conditions. Work in a joint manner to spread the advantages and improvements on issues such as: logistics and payment means.

4.- Improve the scope of banking:

Ease that people are bankrupt, this will generate a formality ecosystem in the sector, increasing consumers' confidence to make transaction and electronic purchase.

5.- Access to technology:

Improve the scope of various sectors facilitating access to devices, such as Internet bandwidth; This not only as a way to boost the economy through electronic commerce but to facilitate teleworking and television.