Digital transformation to support consumer trend
E-commerce in Malaysia is supported by the government’s initiative to propel the industry with its National E-commerce Strategic Roadmap (NESR), which was approved in April 2021. The country’s plan for digital transformation, supported by its good ICT infrastructure, also means high accessibility to broadband internet among the Malaysian population. This ensures that consumers in Malaysia would not have a problem shopping from their favorite online marketplaces or websites, given that these were the most frequently used channels for Malaysian e-commerce.Consumer behaviors have also shifted in the past few years, mainly caused by the government's Movement Control Order (MCO) during the COVID-19 pandemic. The majority of Malaysians said they had made more purchases online since the pandemic began. The frequency with which Malaysian consumers shopped online has remained high, even after the MCO was lifted. Electronics and fashion products are the two most popular products that Malaysians purchase through e-commerce marketplaces.
