5 Ways to connect with Chinese ecommerce consumers

Faith Ocampo Published on September 17, 2015 Last updated on August 27, 2021

The Chinese market’s purchasing power via ecommerce platforms continue rise.

chinese ecommerce customer hands online shopping on mobile phone

In 2013, China became the world’s largest and most dynamic source of online consumers after surpassing the US‘ web-based retail sales. Economic forecasts also predict a brighter future for China.

Its sales through online shopping portals are expected to reach about US$3 trillion by 2024, passing Europe and the United States combined.

Now, many of the world’s leading companies aim to bank on this explosive growth in ecommerce, and some leading Western companies have already done so. However, entrepreneurs have yet to understand China’s key differences from other market sectors. Understanding its online market begins with knowing the online users and the companies providing e-services. Without this knowledge, penetrating this rich market would be next to impossible.

Here are five tactics that would help you capture the Chinese ecommerce market.

              

  1. Adopt a broader but integrated platform

    Chinese ecommerce decision made by business executives

    Leveraging ecommerce platforms can be a huge advantage for businesses in China. Aside from making up for the lack of a physical establishment, online shopping is rapidly becoming the number one choice of Chinese consumers. Digital Market outlook, Chinese consumers who make purchases from web-based shops is expected to grow to 1.223,9 million in 2025.

    To expose your business to a larger base of customers, maximize the use of different digital platforms popular in China.           

  2.           

  3. Get to know China’s network of distributors

    Chinese ecommerce distributor shaking hands with business executive

    The structure of China’s online distributors is different from that in the West. Along with main distributors, the ecommerce industry is made up of smaller retailers with online shops. Although this consumer-to-consumer platform is slowly declining, it still constitutes about 50% of all Chinese ecommerce sales, making it a highly valuable marketplace. Knowing how the distribution pattern works strengthens your online marketing approach.           

  4.           

  5. Leverage various social media

    chinese ecommerce business executive using social media

    In China, most consumers rely on social media and messaging apps to gain access to what their friends and relatives are saying about brands. Word-of-mouth marketing is more popular and considered more reliable by Chinese consumers, as they have some reservations about official statements from corporations. If you can create a buzz about your products or services through word of mouth, Chinese buyers are more likely to trust your brand.           

  6.           

  7. Capitalize on location-specific services

    Chinese ecommerce executive on location using virtual globe

    As mobile browsing grows in China, location-based services are also spreading rapidly. The online shopping experience of Chinese consumers is hinged on a seamless integration of social media and messaging, location-specific data, and mobile payment options—all of which make their e-commerce transactions faster and entirely more convenient.           

  8.           

  9. Use online data to understand Chinese consumers

    Chinese ecommerce business executive in data analytics

    Given the different factors that influence consumer choices, your understanding of Chinese customers’ behavior will never be enough. You need to continuously find patterns, detect emerging trends, and anticipate your market’s needs. But consumers’ online data can help you with this. By researching into the market, you can gain insights that would benefit your business and marketing approach. This would make your connection with Chinese customers more interactive than transactional.           

The key to maximizing your capacity in the Chinese ecommerce market is understanding this sectors’ key differences from other consumers in different parts of the globe. There are unique practices and trends among businesses in China, and thus, adopting the same strategies you’ve always implemented will simply not work. It’s time to unlearn your old tactics and open your mind to new strategies to unleash your potential in the world’s biggest ecommerce industry.

Open Access BPO is a premier outsourcing firm with locations in Xiamen, China and Taipei, Taiwan. We offer call center support, back office, and content management in Mandarin, Cantonese, Hokkien, and more. Get in touch with us!

Faith is a digital media enthusiast aiming to become an active part of the tech world by sharing her insights. She likes to blog about everything digimarketing, technology, and social media.
Join us on facebook
Open Access BPO 17 hours ago
Embrace the power of #diversity and drive positive change with #InclusiveHiring practices!

Our new blog post explores the transformative impact of inclusive hiring, providing insights and strategies to build a stronger, more inclusive workforce: https://buff.ly/3uHQV7c

----------
Our recruitment & training practices are meticulously designed to ensure exceptional #CX: OpenAccessBPO.com/get-started

#WeSpeakYourLanguage
#DiversityandInclusion
#inclusivity
Open Access BPO 20 hours ago
When it comes to #CustomerService, every ounce of effort—both tiny and grand—counts.

Here's a list of 10 modest gestures your #CallCenter agents can do to build meaningful customer relationships: https://buff.ly/3Rc0wdZ

----------
Elevate #CustomerExperience by #outsourcing to a trusted 24/7 multilingual #BPO: OpenAccessBPO.com/get-started

#WeSpeakYourLanguage
#outsourcing #CX #CSat
#CustomerSatisfaction
Open Access BPO Yesterday
Ensuring memorable #CustomerExperience by providing high quality #CustomerSupport means two things:
• brands need to gain a 360-degree view of their customers; and
• brands need to satisfy a large part, if not all, of their customers' needs.

Do both by implementing a multichannel #CX management strategy: https://buff.ly/418ASeP

----------
Give your customers an unforgettable customer experience with multichannel #CustomerService: OpenAccessBPO.com/get-started

#WeSpeakYourLanguage
#outsourcing #CX
#CustomerSatisfaction #CSat
Open Access BPO 11 days ago
Aside from the location advantage, the 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐥𝐮𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 in Southeast Asia because of these Filipino qualities:
• neutral accent;
• multilingual proficiency;
• dedicated work ethics;
• resilience and adaptability; and
• close affinity with Western cultures.

Read: https://buff.ly/47sGAKD

----------
Partner with a #CallCenter with strong #CustomerExperience expertise: OpenAccessBPO.com/get-started

#WeSpeakYourLanguage
#CustomerSupport #CustomerService
#CustomerSatisfaction #CSat #CX
Open Access BPO 11 days ago
𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘆 is a valuable metric to determine the challenges your #CustomerSupport team will face.
It allows you to manage your team and distribute the workload accordingly, paving the way for an efficient operational output.

Read: https://buff.ly/3R0VCk2

----------
Effective employee and ops management ensure high #productivity for optimal 24/7 coverage.

So, only partner with an #outsourcing specialist with robust and foolproof ops strategies that will make your brand soar: OpenAccessBPO.com/get-started

#WeSpeakYourLanguage
#CustomerExperience #CustomerService
Open Access BPO 12 days ago
Creating culturally diverse teams in #CallCenters is not just a moral imperative but a strategic advantage.

Here are 6 more compelling reasons for ensuring #CulturalDiversity in the workplace: https://buff.ly/3MYaCO6

----------
Choose an #outsourcing partner with diverse teams and cultures:
OpenAccessBPO.com/get-started

#WeSpeakYourLanguage
#diversity #inclusitivity
Open Access BPO