There has been a global rise in online shopping and the ecommerce business has become a popular venture in recent times. The shift from retail business to online business has been more prominent due to the COVID-19 pandemic and frequent lockdowns. The consumer’s buying habits and trends have also upgraded with time and more people prefer shopping online from the comfort of their home. Hence, the time is absolutely ideal to start an ecommerce business.
When it comes to the Middle East, Saudi Arabia has been observing comprehensive growth in the ecommerce industry. The online business in Saudi Arabia is rising at a rate of two times faster in comparison to the Asia Pacific. Therefore, if you are thinking of starting an ecommerce business or expanding your ecommerce business internationally, Saudi Arabia is the right and attractive choice.
Why Choose Saudi Arabia for E-Commerce Business?
Saudi Arabia is a big, flourishing and youth-driven country in the GCC. It is the largest country in the Middle East region and ranks 47th in the world in terms of population. According to the World Bank’s World Development Report, more than 45% of the people living in this region are below the age of 24. The ecommerce business in this region is growing primarily because of Internet-savvy users.
The internet penetration rate is quite high in Saudi Arabia in comparison to other Middle East countries. Most of the people in this country use the Internet however it is worth mentioning that the penetration rate has only increased in the last few years. Hence, within a short period of time, the use of the internet has increased in this region which directly influences the success of the ecommerce business.
According to a recent study conducted by Northwestern University in Qatar on internet use and media in Middle East countries, Saudi Arabia ranked the first and showed promising outcomes for market expansion in the future. Saudi Arabia also outperformed other Middle East countries in terms of building trust in online business. Saudi Arabia is the new commercial hub because of its large economy and excellent opportunities. The country and its young citizens are expanding the quality of life which helps to boost ecommerce businesses.
Steps to Start an Ecommerce Business in Saudi Arabia
For someone thinking of starting an ecommerce business, he/she needs to take a few parameters into consideration for a successful business venture. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to start your own ecommerce business in Saudi Arabia.
Choose an Appropriate Business Plan and Model
This is the first step to start any new business venture. Think of the perfect online ecommerce business plan and model before moving ahead with other steps. Choose whether you want to go for a B2B domain where B stands for business or a B2C domain where C stands for customers. Think of the products or services you wish to sell online as per your targeted audience.
Pick a Name for Your Brand
After deciding the perfect business model, proceed further and decide a name for your brand. Do not underestimate the importance of having a good name for your brand. Evaluating the domain name availability & trademark availability shall be amongst primary checks before finalizing on the brand name.
Classify the Products and/or Services
Classify the products and services on the basis of categories, subcategories, colour, size, brands, features. Also, assign them a unique identity number, this step can play a key role in operating a successful e-commerce business.
Create Your Ecommerce Website
You can either go for a pre-built platform or create it from scratch. Shopify, BigCommerce, Volusion, etc are few online store builders. Both the options have pros and cons, however, building a website on a platform is most favourable, as it come with long-term sustainable solutions.
Content and Product Images
When starting up an online business, the product images on the website along with optimized content can put a lot of impact on the audience. Good descriptive content and crisp images of products is a very important aspect of an ecommerce business.
Payment Gateways
Setting payment gateways for your ecommerce business is another step. You can use the payment options such as credit cards, debit cards, Internet banking, etc on your website for prepaid transactions.
Social Media Marketing
Social media marketing can make an ecommerce business flourish within a very short span of time. You can use social media to promote your products and services and can ask your followers to visit the website. Reaching to influencers or bloggers for promotions can be equally helpful.
Last Mile Delivery
Last Mile Delivery is the process of shipping the product to the end consumer. It can help you know the current location of the products, till they are shipped to the customer door-steps or PO box. The constant updates about the delivery will also enable the customers to trust your brand.
Customer Service
Customer satisfaction should be your top priority if you want to retain them. Investing in reputation management, analysing the customer reviews, informing customers about delivery delays are very crucial for a successful ecommerce business.
Why YRC as growth partner for your E-commerce Business
At YRC, we can help you with every parameter correlated with starting or running a flourishing e-commerce business. Our key aim is to assist our clients to create a feasible and prosperous e-commerce business. From concept to implementation, our team of expert and dedicated professionals will assist you with making the right strategies and help take the right decision at the right time.