1 in 6 orders were made by first-time users, while the number of Shopee sellers outside major cities grew by 70% in 2021
Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, celebrates the growth of the region’s digital economy and shares the impact that e-commerce and digital financial services had on local communities in 2021.
Southeast Asia continued to see accelerated technology adoption, with 40 million new digital users added in 2021. As adoption continues to grow, Shopee is powering digital inclusion by empowering more people and businesses to capture new opportunities online.
In 2021, more were able to access and benefit from technology through Shopee. Across the region, 1 in 6 Shopee orders were made by first-time users, while the number of sellers outside of big cities grew 70% from 2020. Shopee also delivered more fun and convenience for shoppers, and groomed talents to thrive in the growing digital economy.
Kenneth Soh, Head of Marketing Campaigns at Shopee Malaysia said, “In 2021, Shopee stayed true to our mission to benefit our local communities through technology, especially the underserved. With more people and businesses coming online, we continued to innovate and serve their needs better, adapting to the new ways people live, work, and shop. As we become more connected, we can make a bigger impact on one another and more importantly, uplift others so that no one is left behind. This is how we forge new opportunities and create value for our communities. Let’s work towards a more vibrant and inclusive digital economy together.”
Fostering inclusion and growth
In 2021, more local communities and businesses were able to access and benefit from the digital economy with Shopee.
In fact, Shopee’s 3.15 Consumer Day post-campaign findings reveal that the number of Malaysian rural and community businesses participating as Shopee Marketplace sellers has increased 7.5 fold since January 2020 to-date.
- Widening access: Shopee continued to make buying and selling online easier for all. Across the year, it introduced localised campaigns tailored to meet shoppers’ evolving needs and expanded its delivery network so users can shop and receive purchases reliably, even in more rural areas. It also stepped up its outreach to help more MSMEs digitise, especially local producers and farmers at the heart of local economies. Across the region, highlights include:
- 70% year on year growth in the number of Shopee sellers outside big cities
- 1 in 6 orders in 2021 were made by users new to Shopee, while the number of Shopee users outside big cities grew by 40%
- The number of ShopeePay users outside of big cities surged 2.5 times, as more people enjoyed the convenience of digital payments, while ShopeePay connected online and offline merchants to new customers.
- Uplifting livelihoods: Through Shopee, local businesses translated their digital presence into tangible growth in incomes and livelihoods. In 2021, Shopee created new tools and features to increase local sellers’ exposure on its platform. One example was its #ShopeeSapotLokal initiative, spotlighting sellers and helping them to reach more shoppers and grow their customer base. Across the region, highlights include:
- Over 1,000 local sellers exceeded US$100,000 (RM439,450) in sales in 3 days of Shopee’s year-end festivals – 9 September, 11 November, and 12 December
- First time online sellers also saw a big boost at the year-end, with sales for new-to-Shopee sellers surging by up to 18 times on 11 November
- ShopeePay Near Me, a new feature that helps users discover deals for offline merchants around them, created 5 million in-store transactions for partners
- Unlocking growth for brands: Shopee Mall continued to power the way forward for its brand partners, pioneering innovative solutions and tools to support sustained growth. Brand partners saw strong growth momentum and reached new milestones, as 42 million users made their first buy on Shopee Mall in 2021, while 5 partners achieved US$100 million (RM439,449,949) in GMV.
Uplifting communities
In 2021, Shopee continued to equip local talents, entrepreneurs, and the community with new skills to succeed in the digital economy of today and tomorrow.
- Developing tech talent: Shopee increased its efforts to engage and upskill local tech talents and enthusiasts. More than 20,000 participants took part in Shopee’s tech training initiatives, including its “Tech@Shopee” webinars and the Shopee Code League competition. At Shopee, 8 in 10 employees learned new skills at Shopee Academy, with over 27,000 training hours in total.
- Levelling up local businesses: Shopee continued to step up its learning resources to help all kinds of businesses upskill for an online world. Its digital Shopee University curriculum allows more sellers to conveniently access vital e-commerce courses and skills no matter where they are, while its online Seller Education Hub offers a wide range of courses catered for all levels, from experienced business owners to aspiring entrepreneurs. As of 2021, 1.3 million sellers have enrolled in Shopee University courses.
Giving back to communities in need
In Malaysia, Shopee used its platform and resources to accelerate pandemic recovery, and support local communities in most need.
- Supporting communities in need: Shopee donated more than 60,000 ‘Kotak Kasih Shopee’ food aid boxes to communities in need nationwide such as residents in low-cost housing, welfare homes, and Orang Asli villages.
- Contributing to pandemic recovery: In partnership with several State Governments and the Federal Territories Ministry, ShopeePay sponsored 120 pushcarts and provided carefully tailored incentives to B40 micro traders affected by the pandemic.
