The Rise of Malaysian Ecommerce
Malaysia's online shopping is trendy. Total online sales reached RM289.5 billion recently. That's a 28% increase from last year! More Malaysians are using convenient mobile and web apps for shopping. They buy all sorts of things - clothes, beauty products, electronics, and more.
But with so many platforms, how do you pick the right one? Which apps offer the best range, prices, rewards programs, and protection against fraud?
I will explain everything you need to know about Malaysia's most popular online shopping platforms.
Online shopping has become ingrained in daily life for many digitally-savvy Malaysians. The reasons are easy to see: the unbeatable convenience of 24/7 access to goods, prices cheaper than brick-and-mortar stores due to lower overheads and logistics costs, and exclusive online promotions you simply can't get elsewhere.
The statistics speak for themselves:
- Ecommerce sales hit RM289.5 billion in 2023, a 28% jump from 2022.
- Fashion, consumer electronics, health and beauty products, and home furnishings are among the top-selling ecommerce categories.
- Credit cards, debit cards, bank transfers and e-wallet platforms like Boost and GrabPay dominate the online payment landscape.
Amid this bustling ecommerce ecosystem, a few names stand out as go-to platforms for Malaysian online shoppers.
Let's look at these significant players dominating the nation's digital retail space.
Shopee: Malaysia's #1 Online Shopping Destination
With over 37 million monthly visits, Shopee has cemented itself as Malaysia's most popular ecommerce site. Launched in Singapore in 2015, Shopee expanded rapidly across Southeast Asia, including Malaysia.
Several factors account for Shopee's meteoric rise to the top spot.
Unrivaled Product Variety and Low Prices
Shopee's extensive product catalog spanning every category offers buyers unparalleled choice. Over
3 million listings cover fashion, health and beauty, home appliances, groceries, and more.
Frequent mega sales like 10.10 also let buyers snap up goods at rock-bottom prices not seen at offline retailers. Shopee's discounted shipping vouchers further sweeten these stellar deals.
Compare multiple sellers to find the best rates on your desired items. With so many choices, complexity arises, so use filters to zone in on exactly what you need.
Reliable Local Sellers and Trusted Brands
Shopee hosts three seller types:
- Average sellers: individuals and small businesses
- Preferred sellers: merchants with high ratings and strong sales histories
- Shopee Mall: official brand stores and authorized resellers
Buying from Shopee Mall and Preferred sellers gives you peace of mind – you can be confident you'll receive authentic, good-quality products.
As always, checking seller ratings and reviews from previous buyers helps determine trustworthy retailers.
Rewards Points and Convenient Payment
Shopee's COINS rewards system offers perks with every purchase. You'll get 1 COIN per RM1 spent, which you can offset against future Shopee orders. If shopping on Shopee is already your habit, why not save money while at it?
Checkout securely using Shopee's seamless payment options like the ShopeePay e-wallet.
Lazada: Quality Products from Official Brands
Part of Chinese e-commerce conglomerate Alibaba, Lazada draws over 18 million visits monthly, making it Shopee's closest competition. Let's break down why Lazada remains a firm second-place contender.
Guaranteed Authenticity Through Official Partnerships
Lazada's crown jewel is its LazMall platform for genuine brands and authorized resellers. Shop worry-free, knowing LazMall items are 100% authentic, direct from manufacturers and labels.
Beyond LazMall, Lazada also hosts local Malaysian sellers and LazGlobal merchants located overseas in China, Korea, and Japan. Review profiles and ratings carefully before purchasing from these regular sellers.
Smooth Delivery Backed by a Vast Logistics Network
Lazada owns an extensive warehouse infrastructure across Malaysia, which enables speedy shipping. Expect delivery the next day (or quicker!) in major cities like KL and Penang.
Payment and checkout are a breeze, too, with Lazada's purpose-built online shopping app and website. Pay securely using the Lazada Wallet, online banking, credit/debit card and cash on delivery.
Occasional voucher giveaways of up to 90% sweeten the experience, allowing savvy shoppers to indulge for less. And like Shopee, collect and offset rewards points against future Lazada purchases.
For many, Lazada ticks all the boxes as a one-stop ecommerce destination catering to every shopping need imaginable.
TikTok Shopping: Trending Finds from Viral Videos
Emerging ecommerce juggernaut TikTok Shopping brings a fresh, social media-powered approach to online retail through bite-sized videos showcasing quirky products.
Although a relative newcomer, TikTok Shopping already records over 48,100 monthly Android app downloads in Malaysia - a testament to its surging popularity among digitally native generations. Let’s see why TikTok is shaping up as an ecommerce disruptor:
Shop Discoveries Straight from Viral Content
Imagine impulse shopping directly through addictive short videos on your ForYou feed. TikTok Shopping makes this possible by linking featured goods straight to checkout.
It personalises recommendations harnessing data from billions of existing video views. So products you see likely match personal tastes and trends.
Direct Access to Winning Products
Hashtags bundle popular items within categories letting you easily locate winning products with proven viral potential and robust sales.
Checkout completes conveniently without leaving TikTok’s app through integrated payment gateways. This closed loop further fuels spontaneous, emotion-driven purchases based on video engagement.
As social commerce booms, count on video-powered online retail like TikTok Shopping playing a pivotal role blending entertainment with shopping for Malaysia’s highly-connected digital natives.
Carousell: Hidden Deals on Pre-Loved Items
Touted as Malaysia's top classifieds marketplace, Carousell makes buying and selling secondhand goods a breeze through its slick mobile app. Carousell enjoys over 3.9 million monthly visits from savvy bargain seekers nationwide hunting the site's listings.
As a C2C platform primarily for pre-owned items, what makes Carousell so appealing?
Save Big on Lightly Used Goods
Carousell shines for scoring the previous generation or returned consumer electronics, fashion ware, toys, furniture, and even vehicles at heavily discounted prices that are barely used.
Some lucky shoppers even chance upon rare, limited edition collectibles no longer available in stores.
Transact Safely with Confidence
While buying secondhand items traditionally poses risks, Carousell provides assurances through its integrated payment and chat features, which enable secure, seamless transactions.
The aptly named Carousell Protection for products over RM500 ensures your money stays safe pending successful receipt. Combined with checking seller profiles and communicating through the app's chat, savvy shoppers can emerge satisfied with great deals on pre-loved goods.
Remember to sensibly arrange delivery or personal collection when buying bulky products like refrigerators from Carousell sellers. Meeting in person also lets you inspect items, try electronics and negotiate prices based on condition. However, avoid carrying large cash amounts when meeting individuals.
Have an Online Store But Can’t Increase Sales?
We’ve explored Malaysia’s most popular online shopping platforms - but what about insights to improve sales and returns from these apps?
Enter local startup MyPulse, an intelligent sales analytics and automation tool tailored for ecommerce merchants on Shopee.
MyPulse taps data science to serve actionable metrics, helping vendors optimize listings for higher profits and sales conversions. Features include:
