Digital economy and online services

SHOPBACK Malaysia (ShopBack), a cash-back platform, has clearly been keeping an eye on the flourishing digital economy and success of online services businesses.
At an event recently, its country general manager Alvin Gill (pix) shared his views on the industry that is taking not just Malaysia, but the world by storm.
Gill said that he expects the number of online cash-back users in the country to reach a million by end of this year. His prognosis was by no means one taken from thin air as the company he represents, ShopBack, garnered information and figures from research and via its working partners.
THRIVING INDUSTRY
According to its findings, the number of cash-back users in Malaysia has soared by 260% to reach 750,000 users, and this figure is attained within just a year, from July 2016 to July 2017.
Gill commented that there is a boom in on-demand delivery services, especially looking at companies like HappyFresh and honestbee. The success of these and other similar companies prove that Malaysians are fully aware of the benefits of the services provided, like saving of time and fuel, and are all for it.
Looking at the speed at which the industry has been moving along at of late, Gill now feels that the prediction may become a reality sooner. He reasons this due to:
▶ increase in demand,
▶ convenient services by online merchants and
▶ government support and backing.
He also shares that online merchants from the dining and fashion industries are becoming more aggressive and upfront, eager to tap into the market and gain from the potential the market clearly has.
STEERING THE BANDWAGON
“Merchant offerings are getting versatile. Coupled with government’s support towards digital companies such as passing the bill for Grab and Uber (both are our partner merchants on ShopBack app) in the country, we are very optimistic about the future of the digital economy here. The coming months will see us bringing higher cash-back value and other smart services to propel the growth in Malaysia,” Gill said.
His statement is backed-up especially with the additional merchants who have recently signed on to collaborate with ShopBack. These include:
▶ HungryGoWhere: a food review site which has expanded to include offering of dining deals and table reservations;
▶ Love, Bonito: a stylish fashion eretailer; and
▶ Uniqlo: the popular Japanese fashion brand.
Clearly, times have changed but so have priorities. And with individuals busy seeing to that which is keeping one on-the-go, society needs companies like ShopBack among others, to see to the nitty-gritties where possible, giving its customers more time for other things. For more information, visit ShopBack Malaysia’s website or follow it on Facebook.