E-commerce sector eyes another boom in second-phase lockdown

The e-commerce businesses are expecting a boom in their sales yet again as the country entered into the weeklong lockdown on Monday.

The government after almost a year on Saturday announced the second phase of the lockdown following the rapid surge of Covid-19 cases in the country.

In the first phase, the sector saw a surprising growth as people became e-commerce dependent for buying their necessary goods — from electronics to kitchen items.

Despite limiting physical businesses in the second phase, the government keeps online shopping and food ordering out of the restriction, like the previous time.

Sector insiders said the e-commerce businesses related to grocery and other necessary items already have witnessed a sharp rise in sales in the last two days.

AjkerDeal CEO Fahim Mashroor believes that e-commerce may see better growth in the second-phase lockdown.

“In last year’s lockdown, the industry was not ready and did not have the infrastructure to meet the extra demand in such condition,” he told Business Insider Bangladesh on Monday.

“For example, we had a very tough time in the last year to deliver product outside Dhaka. Even in Dhaka, there was a shortage of deliveryman,” he explained.

Fahim said the industry is now better prepared to face such challenges.

“So, if we can serve more customers the revenue will also go up this time,” he added.

In the 66-day lockdown last year, the e-commerce industry sold products worth Tk3,000 crore, according to the insiders’ data.

The number of the E-Commerce Association of Bangladesh (E-CAB) members, one of the parameter to understand the sector growth, was 1000 and it jumped to 1,400 in just 6 months, up by 40%.

The e-commerce initiatives have grown far more, the organisation says, adding that about 60 lakh direct beneficiaries have been created.

“Now we are working to bring more small businesses to come into the online platform. And the response is also good. We are conducting workshops for them and also for our members,” Abdul Wahed Tomal Secretary-General of E-CAB said.

More businesses will join the online platform ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr and people will get quality products and services, he hopes.