This report analyzes e-commerce in Asia and the Pacific, assesses its environmental impact, and explains why providing adequate internet, online payments, and last-mile logistics is key to creating a sustainable and inclusive digital marketplace. Noting the region makes up the largest share of the world’s online retail market, it tracks the impact of the pandemic and emphasizes the need to level the playing field for small businesses. It outlines ways for companies to measure their carbon footprint, highlights the potential risk of anti-competitive behavior, and explains the need to improve digital taxation policies in line with e-commerce’s rapid growth.

Asia is the world's largest e-commerce marketplace and continues to grow rapidly. Some countries lead. Others need to catch up. An efficient e-commerce marketplace requires information and communication technology infrastructure—including internet access, speed, and affordability—along with logistics, an effective legal and institutional framework, and social acceptance and awareness. This report reviews the opportunities and challenges in developing business-to-consumer e-commerce in the region. It also examines how Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies—blockchains, the internet of things, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and 5G wireless networks, among others—will transform the industry and unlock its dynamic potential. It also offers policy recommendations to help lower barriers to e-commerce development.

Technological advances -particularly in the areas of information and communication, transport, and electronic commerce and payment - have spurred international trade. Internet and mobile phones have greatly facilitated international trade and led to new business models. The so-called Fourth Industrial Revolution, the frontier technological breakthroughs such as artificial intelligence (AI), blockchains, robotics, 3D printing, and the Internet of Things can reshape international trade. This report supports policy makers and the general public to better understand the interplay between technology and trade in a context of Asia-Pacific region. It also provides policy recommendations.

E-Commerce in Asia has been receiving considerable attention as a result of the proliferation of Internet connectivity and technologies in the region. In response to this trend, a series of studies to investigate the various economic, social, methodological, and security issues related to this emerging business paradigm.

This book explains how rapid digitalization during COVID-19 has accelerated the growth of digital services trade in Asia and the Pacific, and provides analysis on the opportunities, challenges, and associated risks. It explores evolving trends and considers trade agreements, cybersecurity, and effective taxation. It outlines how a greater focus on developing human capital, connectivity, investment in information and communication technology, and a positive regulatory environment can help digital services thrive. By underscoring the principal drivers and policies, it aims to build a better understanding of digital services to guide policy makers as they undertake domestic reforms designed to reduce the digital divide.

Asia has been a hub for e-commerce companies in the past decade and the growth trajectory narrates the story of bright future. Its growth has largely impacted the economic, social and technological advancements in every country and contributed to global trade. Nonetheless, the success and failure of e-commerce companies lies on various factors, some of which include product pricing, competition, strategies and business models. However, with surveys in India indicating how sale of counterfeit products remains a significant problem for online shoppers across many e-commerce sites, e-commerce companies claim they are taking tough steps to ensure that counterfeit products do not make their way to customers, by delisting fraud sellers, using tamper-proof packaging and monitoring warehouses.This book aims to unwrap the stories of e-commerce companies in Asia and how they have contributed to the society. It discusses the growth and failures of some e-commerce giants and looks at both theoretical and practical aspects of e-commerce by presenting the issues, challenges and successes of e-commerce businesses. It examines interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary aspects from micro and macro perspectives and links disciplines like strategy, management, entrepreneurship, competitiveness, finance, technology and operations.