Shopee continues to deliver impact to communities, forges ahead towards a vibrant and inclusive digital economy

1 in 6 orders were made by first-time users, while the number of Shopee sellers outside major cities grew by 70% in 2021

Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, celebrates the growth of the region’s digital economy and shares the impact that e-commerce and digital financial services had on local communities in 2021.

Southeast Asia continued to see accelerated technology adoption, with 40 million new digital users added in 2021. As adoption continues to grow, Shopee is powering digital inclusion by empowering more people and businesses to capture new opportunities online.

In 2021, more were able to access and benefit from technology through Shopee. Across the region, 1 in 6 Shopee orders were made by first-time users, while the number of sellers outside of big cities grew 70% from 2020. Shopee also delivered more fun and convenience for shoppers, and groomed talents to thrive in the growing digital economy.

Terence Pang, Chief Operating Officer at Shopee said, “In 2021, Shopee stayed true to our mission to benefit our local communities through technology, especially the underserved. With more people and businesses coming online, we continued to innovate and serve their needs better, adapting to the new ways people live, work, and shop. As we become more connected, we can make a bigger impact on one another and more importantly, uplift others so that no one is left behind. This is how we forge new opportunities and create value for our communities. Let’s work towards a more vibrant and inclusive digital economy together.”

Fostering inclusion and growth

In 2021, more local communities and businesses were able to access and benefit from the digital economy with Shopee.

?Widening access: Shopee continued to make buying and selling online easier for all. Across the year, it introduced localised campaigns tailored to meet shoppers’ evolving needs, and expanded its delivery network so users can shop and receive purchases reliably, even in more rural areas. It also stepped up its outreach to help more MSMEs digitise, especially local producers and farmers at the heart of local economies. Highlights include:

?70% year on year growth in the number of Shopee sellers outside big cities

?1 in 6 orders in 2021 were made by users new to Shopee, while the number of Shopee users outside big cities grew by 40%

?The number of ShopeePay users outside of big cities surged 2.5 times, as more people enjoyed the convenience of digital payments, while ShopeePay connected online and offline merchants to new customers.

?Uplifting livelihoods: Through Shopee, local businesses translated their digital presence into tangible growth in incomes and livelihoods. In 2021, Shopee created new tools and features to increase local sellers’ exposure on its platform. One example was its “Shopee Celebrates Local” initiative at its 12.12 Birthday Sale, spotlighting sellers and helping them to reach more shoppers and grow their customer base. Highlights include:

?Over 1,000 local sellers exceeded US$100,000 in sales in 3 days of Shopee’s year-end festivals – 9 September, 11 November, and 12 December

?First time online sellers also saw a big boost at the year-end, with sales for new-to-Shopee sellers surging by up to 18 times on 11 November

?ShopeePay Near Me, a new feature that helps users discover deals for offline merchants around them, created 5 million in-store transactions for partners

?Unlocking growth for brands: Shopee Mall continued to power the way forward for its brand partners, pioneering innovative solutions and tools to support sustained growth. Brand partners saw strong growth momentum and reached new milestones, as 42 million users made their first buy on Shopee Mall in 2021, while 5 partners achieved US$100 million in GMV.

Delighting shoppers

Shopee continued to innovate and serve its users better in 2021. As people relied more on e-commerce, Shopee worked more closely with sellers and partners to delight shoppers and deliver better experiences for everyone.

?Creating billions of smiles: Shopee continued to widen its product assortment with its growing community of sellers and brands, allowing users to meet their needs more reliably and conveniently. Supported by an integrated ecosystem, users left 3 billion 5-star product reviews on Shopee in 2021, 60% more than 2020 as users enjoyed more seamless, enjoyable, and reliable experiences.

?In Thailand, Shopee continued to encourage Thai shoppers to come together and overcome challenges brought about by the pandemic. Across the year, its #ShopeeFromHome campaign, launched under its #ShopeeTogether initiative brought shoppers easy access to personal and household essentials safely and comfortably from home.

?Delivering fun and joy: Shopee’s in-app features continued to entertain users and bring people together. 400 million hours were spent on Shopee Live, while its in-app games were played over 40 billion times.

Uplifting communities

In 2021, Shopee continued to equip local talents, entrepreneurs, and the community with new skills to succeed in the digital economy of today and tomorrow.

?Developing tech talent: Shopee increased its efforts to engage and upskill local tech talents and enthusiasts. More than 20,000 participants took part in Shopee’s tech training initiatives, including its “Tech@Shopee” webinars and the Shopee Code League competition. At Shopee, 8 in 10 employees learned new skills at Shopee Academy, with over 27,000 training hours in total.

?Levelling up local businesses: Shopee continued to step up its learning resources to help all kinds of businesses upskill for an online world. Its digital Shopee University curriculum allows more sellers to conveniently access vital e-commerce courses and skills no matter where they are, while its online Seller Education Hub offers a wide range of courses catered for all levels, from experienced business owners to aspiring entrepreneurs. As of 2021, 1.3 million sellers have enrolled in Shopee University courses.

?Mr. Rhonnakhorn Chaleowboon, who runs the popular @Byhome.TH store on Shopee, said that the secret to running a successful online business is to not stop learning. He said, “The key is to understand your customers and always learn how to better meet their needs no matter where they are. I am happy to have learned more skills from Shopee University over the years, which have helped me to attract new customers, introduce new products, and accelerate my growth in the digital world.”

Giving back to communities in need

In Thailand, Shopee used its platform and resources to accelerate pandemic recovery, and support local communities in most need.

?Contributing to pandemic recovery: Across 2021, Shopee and Sea continued to benefit more lives in Thailand through the #ShopeeTogether project. Together, they delivered a mobile testing vehicle and 2,000 oxygen tanks to hospitals across the country to support healthcare professionals during the Covid-19 pandemic.

?Supporting communities in need: Shopee Thailand also introduced the “Shopee Chuay Pay” program to drive Thailand’s economy by helping shoppers tackle the rising cost of living, and stimulating online retail. As a result, around 450K people have benefited from the shopping credits via ShopeePay offered by this program.