Advanced technology is a must for thriving e-commerce sector: Robi CEO

Robi Axiata Ltd Managing Director Mahtab Uddin Ahmed said at least 70 percent of goods and services transactions could be done on e-commerce platforms in the country which now stands at only 5 percent.

He, in this regard, put emphasis on using advanced technologies to thrive this promising sector.

The Robi CEO came up with this statement while addressing a webinar titled "Empowering E-commerce to Accelerate Economic Growth" jointly organised by e-CAB and Robi on Sunday evening, said a media statement.

"It is pivotal to use artificial intelligence, big data, machine learning mechanism, VR, AR and other modern technologies in e-commerce to ensure customer satisfactions. In this regard, we should not lag behind the outside world, but we should be in a leading role," Robi chief executive said.

Mahtab also emphasised on ensuring the quality of products to increase the confidence of consumers in digital payments. He noted that visual chat could be helpful in this regard which Alibaba and eBay do.

Robi CEO also underscores the product diversity to achieve the goal.

He said around 80-85 percent of products sold by e-commerce platforms in our country are gadgets and the rest are fashion products. But everything is sold abroad in e-commerce.

"We need to move slowly towards that goal. 85 percent of online sales in the country are now done in Dhaka, Chattogram and Khulna— three big cities of the country. In this case, there is an opportunity to bring the entire country under e-commerce umbrella by further improving the supply chain management," he opined.

There is an opportunity to bring the entire country under e-commerce umbrella by further improving the supply chain management

Applauding the Digital Commerce Policy 2018, the local CEO of the multinational telecom company called for an emphasis on its implementation.

He also highlighted the importance of providing duty exemptions and incentives for new entrepreneurs in the development of e-commerce.

Speaking at the webinar, Shomi Kaiser, president of e-CAB, said "The e-commerce need and demand has increased because of the Covid-19 pandemic. It is uncertain when this situation will end. So we need to keep e-commerce robust to keep our economy afloat. It has also created a huge opportunity for mobile financial services or MFS."

"We will celebrate the golden jubilee of our independence next year. We want to highlight the success and progress of e-commerce in our country then," she added.

"E-commerce is not the only an economic advancement but it also has a positive impact on the financial, social and cultural empowerment of women," she continued.

E-commerce is not the only an economic advancement but it also has a positive impact on the financial, social and cultural empowerment of women

Mohammad Sahab Uddin, vice-president of e-CAB said the demand for e-commerce has increased in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. E-commerce platforms have played a major role in providing food and medicine during lockdown period.

E-commerce has played a big role in delivering products at the customers' doorsteps during the mango season. During Eid, customers also bought sacrificial cows from e-commerce platforms, he added.

The development of digital economy is necessary for overall economic progress in today's world. To this end, there is no alternative to take our country's digital entrepreneurs forward, he further said.