Thursday, 3 April 2025
25.7 C
Singapore
28.2 C
Thailand
20.8 C
Indonesia
26.9 C
Philippines

Breaking down the top four e-commerce platforms in Singapore

In one of our Disruptive Technology Series, weย explored the future of retailย and began with the rise of e-commerce amidst a VUCA world. Although patrons can look forward to increased capacity limits and group size restrictions in malls during theย Phase 3 period, the new normal of working from home and entry restrictions in malls/establishments remain. Regardless, […]

In one of our Disruptive Technology Series, weย explored the future of retailย and began with the rise of e-commerce amidst a VUCA world. Although patrons can look forward to increased capacity limits and group size restrictions in malls during theย Phase 3 period, the new normal of working from home and entry restrictions in malls/establishments remain.

Regardless, e-commerce is not likely to lose its reign – as always, convenience is king. According to analysts, theย top four e-commerce platformsย in Singapore based on monthly online traffic are Shopee, Lazada, Qoo10, and Amazon. The government has also identified these four platforms as e-commerce partners in theirย E-commerce Booster Packageย to support businesses’ digitalisation.

Although companies might have an online presence via their social media page (eg. Instagram, Facebook), these may not be sufficient to drive online sales, and e-commerce platforms offer holistic solutions to achieve this. Due to the additional services offered, starting an e-commerce business or opening an e-commerce account may not be as straightforward as there are many factors to consider to ensure the right platform is chosen.

If you are just beginning your research on e-commerce platforms, this article would be an excellent place to start to cover the bases while we cover the cost aspect of each platform.

Set-up & registration

The costs of set-up and registration vary across platforms. Within each platform, there are also different tiers depending on the level of selling activity. The infographic below is a brief breakdown comparing the set-up/registration needs of each platform.

Breaking down the top four e-commerce platforms in Singapore - 3

Commission

Depending on the level of business activity, e-commerce platforms also charge a commission fee for successful transactions. The rates vary across platforms and are summarized in the following infographic.

Breaking down the top four e-commerce platforms in Singapore - 1

For in-depth details on each platform’s commission/service fee charges, do visit their official websites – AmazonShopeeLazadaQoo10.

Delivery & shipping

Getting your first order on an e-commerce platform is only half the job done as the product would then need to be delivered to the customer. Some e-commerce companies partner-up with local delivery providers to ship out/deliver your product while others will have their own internal delivery service. Businesses selling on their e-commerce platforms can also choose to engage the platform’s fulfilment centre if they wish. The following infographic tersely covers the information on delivery and shipping.

Breaking down the top four e-commerce platforms in Singapore - 2

For specific details on the shipping rates/calculations & fulfillment centre fees that each platform provides, do head on to their official websites –ย Fulfilment by Lazada,ย Lazada Shipping Fee Rate Card,ย Qdelivery Service by Qxpress,ย Shopee Supported Logistics,ย Fulfilment by Amazon fees.

Starting an e-commerce journey requires much research and the above is a non-exhaustive summary of the costs involved in running an e-commerce business. Other aspects that are worth taking note of would be the type of product a business is focusing on, and the chosen platform’s market presence as each platform have strengths in different product categories and serve different markets. This would obviously play a big role as it helps businesses plan and align their needs accordingly to their target consumer base and product. The exciting world of e-commerce awaits you.

Hot this week

Canon unveils new cameras and lens to support content creators’ video needs

Canon unveils video-focused EOS R50 V, PowerShot V1, and power zoom lens to support creators with new filming and livestreaming features.

Huawei reports 38% revenue surge as smartphone sales soar

Despite US sanctions, Huaweiโ€™s consumer business revenue surged 38% in 2024, driven by strong smartphone sales and home-grown chip production.

Owndays and Huawei launch new titanium smart audio glasses

Owndays and Huawei launch the Eyewear 2 Smart Audio Glasses Titanium Edition, featuring Bluetooth 5.3, 11-hour playback, and a premium frame.

Apple prepares for M5 iPad Pro and MacBook Pro release

Apple is set to launch the M5 iPad Pro and MacBook Pro in late 2024, with the M6 models expected to introduce an in-house modem in 2027.

Facebook introduces friends-only feed to cut out algorithmic content

Facebookโ€™s new Friends tab removes algorithmic recommendations, letting you see only posts from friends. It is now rolling out in the US and Canada.

Qualcomm expands AI research with MovianAI acquisition

Qualcomm has acquired Vietnamese AI research firm MovianAI to boost its AI development in smartphones, PCs, and software-defined vehicles.

Roblox introduces new parental controls to enhance child safety

Roblox introduces new parental controls, allowing parents to block games, restrict friends, and monitor their childโ€™s activity for better safety.

Anthropic introduces Claude for Education, a new AI chatbot plan for universities

Anthropic launches Claude for Education, an AI chatbot plan for universities that offers advanced learning tools and administration support.

Exabeam introduces Nova, an agentic AI that boosts cybersecurity operations

Exabeam unveils Nova, a proactive AI agent that boosts security team productivity and reduces incident investigation time by over 50%.

Related Articles