The eCommerce sector has experienced remarkable growth in the past couple of quarters. In a major incentive for eCommerce translation and localization, Digital Commerce 360 reports that global cross-border online sales increased 21% between January 1st and June 14th, compared to 2019 data for the same quarters. In addition, Consumer research by PYMNT shows that 60% of consumers plan to continue shopping online, and a report by Bain and Company and Facebook on Southeast Asian consumer preferences reveals that 1 in 3 consumers also plan to continue to shop online after the global COVID-19 pandemic. As a result of such growth, eCommerce companies in North America, Latin America, East Asia, and other regions are reporting record revenues and introducing new online platforms to meet rapidly growing demand.
Beyond the retail sector, the recent growth of eCommerce also has immediate implications for the logistics sector. German logistics company DHL reported that the international and domestic eCommerce activity caused its Q2 2020 profits to increase 16% compared to Q2 2019. From a global perspective, a recent survey by DHL found that eCommerce will have a significant impact on logistics in the Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa, and Latin American markets. As eCommerce becomes a force to be reckoned with, logistics companies need to shift to single warehouse locations that are better suited to local needs.
Simply put, eCommerce is emerging as a major trend, reshaping multiple sectors. However, as eCommerce continues to grow in popularity, both retailers and logistics companies need to adapt websites, apps, and training materials to different linguistic and cultural environments. Such adaption is especially critical for retail companies considering a transition to eCommerce. Currently, the fastest growing eCommerce regions are no longer located in North America, but are moving towards the Asia-Pacific and Central America. Failing to appropriately localize with specialized eCommerce translation services means losing out on revenue when approximately 60% of consumers worldwide will not buy a product that is not marketed in their native language.
In addition to investing in website localization and translation, eCommerce retailers must ensure that their content is designed for novel consumer engagement channels such as mobile devices. Currently, 80% of all digital content is consumed via mobile channels, and mobile devices are fast becoming one of the primary engagement channels in markets. Therefore, offering translated and localized mobile apps and mobile websites is crucial to success.
Beyond the retail sector, for logistic companies seeking to expand internationally and to meet the growing volume demand from eCommerce, offering employee training materials, terms of service and supporting documentation, and mobile apps that are appropriately translated and localized is essential.
In the midst of the global COVID-19 pandemic, eCommerce has experienced strong growth, and will continue to be the dominant trend in retail in the foreseeable future. For retailers looking to roll out an eCommerce website and logistics companies looking to capitalize on the growing volume from eCommerce, well-translated and localized websites, mobile apps, and training materials are vital. With a global network of expert eCommerce translation specialists and subject matter experts in 250+ languages, and experience with website and app localization and translation and eLearning, CSOFT International has the expertise to help retailers and logistics reach a broad audience of potential consumers in target markets.
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