KUALA LUMPUR: Online buyers rely significantly on online reviews to assist them in making purchasing decisions, and this is a two-way street.
In Malaysia, 93 per cent of those surveyed by Ninja Van Group mentioned that they would share their reviews of the purchased product with friends and family or publish the feedback on the product website or app.
The survey also showed that in today's digital age, the rise of social media had enabled influencers to be the new storefront.
"Of those surveyed, 83 per cent will decide on a purchase based on their favourite influencers' recommendations," it said in E-commerce Southeast Asia (SEA) Barometer Report 2021.
Ninja Van said bargain hunting behaviour is a key driving factor for online shopping in Malaysia.
The survey revealed that 73 per cent of those surveyed believe that shopping online saves them money.
"While Malaysia makes the least returns for purchased products (12 per cent), it does report having the most difficulty with returns (79 per cent) when compared to other markets," it said.
Ninja Van Malaysia chief executive officer Adzim Halim said in the past two years, the company has witnessed how the pandemic has triggered the growth of e-commerce and drove more existing shoppers to order more online and new users to try online shopping for the first time.
Adzim said to be successful in this changing e-commerce landscape, Ninja Van believes that companies will need to understand the shift in consumer shopping behaviour and expectations.
"This study in partnership with DPDgroup has allowed us to do that and understand the challenges that online shoppers face.
"At Ninja Van Malaysia, we are committed to providing our shippers and shoppers with the experience of hassle-free deliveries.
"We trust that the findings in this study will be a useful guide for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and other industry players alike as they navigate the world of e-commerce in a post-pandemic world," he said.
Ninja Van Group has partnered with DPDgroup to release their first-ever SEA Barometer Report 2021- Uncovering SEA online shoppers & delivery preferences.
The report highlights SEA online shoppers' buying habits and their desired shopping experience from purchase to delivery.