Southeast Asia Also Turns to ‘Social Commerce’

Just as Africa has embraced social commerce over the last three years, Southeast Asia has adopted the use of social media platforms to overcome its digital divide. The region is home to the world’s fastest-growing ecommerce markets, but even as mobile and internet penetration in the region explodes, substantial portions of many countries’ rural areas are left underserved. Due to the varied landscape, in some rural towns, infrastructure is so fragmented and poor that basic necessities can cost 3 times as much as in urban areas. Social media is being leveraged to let businesses liaise with local resellers to market and sell their products while also empowering smaller businesses and underserved communities.