#TECH: Malaysians shop more since MCO – study finds

KUALA LUMPUR: Based on a recent survey conducted by cashback platform ShopBack, 84 percent of the respondents indicated that they have shopped online more frequently compared to the period before the implementation of movement control order (MCO) in Malaysia.

Free shipping comes out as the top factor that influences their online purchasing decision, followed by cashback and seller discounts.

The 2020 ShopBack Shoppers Survey gathered views from 22,865 ShopBack users, of which 90 percent of them are aged between 18 to 44 years old, 9 percent aged 44 years old and above, and 1 percent aged below 18 years old. The survey respondents are 62 percent female and 38 percent male; and about half of them reside in either Kuala Lumpur or Selangor (49 percent), while the rest are based in the other states in Malaysia.

“The implementation of the movement control order has further accelerated the rate of e-commerce adoption. Malaysians are increasingly sourcing for products online due to convenience, and we decided to conduct the 2020 ShopBack Shoppers Survey to collect data and insights on how our users are shopping, what they are buying, and what they hope to buy during 11.11. These insights are important for us to understand consumers’ ever-changing preferences in order to stay ahead of their needs and make meaningful preparations for our upcoming sale,” said ShopBack Malaysia’s country general manager, Eddy Han.

When asked about the items shoppers usually buy online before the MCO period, the respondents selected fashion, beauty, and personal electronics as the top three categories. After MCO began, personal hygiene and healthcare products took over personal electronics, becoming the third most purchased category. Their priorities remain the same when it comes to online shopping plan for the upcoming 11.11 sales.

Interestingly, zooming into each age group’s purchasing priorities, the fashion category came out on top for respondents aged 24 years old and below, while personal hygiene and healthcare emerged as the top category for those aged above 54 years old. Meanwhile, fashion, beauty, and personal hygiene and healthcare were weighted more evenly among respondents in the remaining age groups.

Source: NST