IT has only been five days since the Government allowed interstate travel but data suggested that the flying-high online sales commerce platform is already affected by the exodus of people leaving the state for their hometowns.
In fact, a check with several courier services showed that sales have already begun to dip slightly.
“Yes, online spending has weakened a bit as revellers shift their focus on the holidays.
“They spend more on fuel, toll, holidays and accommodations,” said courier operator Ainon Mohd.
Ofisgate Sdn Bhd CEO Shamsul Bahari Mokmin said the online shoppers have lessened a bit as they have begun to travel back home.
“But the impact is insignificant as online shopping will always be part of the Malaysian retail landscape.
“Sales will be impacted slightly but there is nothing to be alarmed about as most Malaysians are expected to return shopping after they have taken their holidays,” Shamsul told FocusM.
But now that interstate travel is allowed again, will it put the skids on e-commerce activities?
More importantly, will interstate travel diminish the shopping taste buds of Malaysians just yet?
Malaysian-based regional leading e-commerce group Commerce.Asia did not think so as he foresaw stronger growth ahead due to the booming domestic and regional e-commerce market.
Commerce.Asia chief operating officer Sam Shin Gern said the group itself recorded the group’s gross merchandise volumes (GMV) of RM3.5 bil in 2020, and gross profit is set to almost double for 2021 due to the industry’s continued strong growth.
“Our GMV in the first half of this year alone was RM2.96 bil, which was almost equivalent to the whole of last year,” Sam was reported as saying to SME magazine.
“We are confident that our GMV this year will more than double compared to last year.
“This is not surprising as online shopping is now a substantial part of the ‘new norm’ with more Malaysians shifting their spending to online platforms due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Given the fact that it has only been five days since the ban on interstate travel was lifted, a clearer picture can be seen in the next few weeks to see whether online shopping was merely a fad riding on COVID-19 or is the new face of shopping. – Oct 15, 2021
