SMEs CONQUER ONLINE SALES

SMEs are a fundamental part of the country's economy; however, they face great challenges that sometimes they do not manage to overcome and disappear.

It is of utmost importance to support local commerce and promote the growth of small and medium-sized companies. These, in turn, are urged to be updated and adopt in the best way the consumer trends that set the tone in the demand for products and services.

In recent years, the consumer trend has been e-commerce, which has transformed the business landscape for SMEs, offering unprecedented opportunities for growth and expansion, as well as presenting challenges for them.

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Global market

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One of the main revolutions that e-commerce has generated in small and medium businesses is to reach a global market, where the geographical location of your customers is not a limitation at the time of purchase, even without a physical presence in different locations.

Expanding your business to other countries and borders is now much easier with e-commerce, since you do not have to invest in expensive physical premises, personnel, and advertising so that the market knows your product and/or service and can purchase it.

However, one reality is that SMEs are slow to start a global network. Only 48% of small and medium-sized companies export, the rest are afraid to start exporting because they do not know the procedures and requirements, and it is not in their short-term plans to start exporting.

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Marketplace

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6 out of 10 companies that sell on the Internet do it through marketplaces, and one of the favorites is Amazon and Mercado Libre.

Amazon has been a great ally for SMEs. Amazon Prime Day is one of the most relevant dates for small businesses, since sales soar and represent an important growth for the company. This initiative by the electronic giant was intended to support the growth of small businesses, especially those owned by women, marginalized communities and even veterans of the armed forces.

Many businesses turn to the e-commerce business model through the marketplace because they do not have the technical knowledge and resources necessary to create their own web portal.

Among some of the advantages of marketplaces is the ease of sales not only in your country, but also abroad; also, the company gives constant feedback to companies on how to improve their publications to increase their sales.

Some challenges...
We can find endless advantages and opportunities that e-commerce opens to SMEs, however, it is time to analyze the challenges it generates.

Value proposition: Online competition can be fierce, so companies must strive to generate their value proposition and be able to differentiate themselves from the rest.
Security: Cyber security is a constant concern, as SMEs must protect their customers' confidential data and ensure the integrity of their online payment systems.
Shopping experience: Providing the user with a shopping experience that exceeds the experience of shopping in a physical store will allow the user to replicate their digital purchase. Personalization from the moment the user enters the page until the moment of post-sale, increases the chances of conversion and customer loyalty.

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Digital transformation is reaching every corner, generating new trends that in turn transform the way businesses operate. To get the most out of these changes, SMEs need to embrace the digital age, dedicate resources to technology and be ready to overcome the hurdles associated with online sales.

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