Singapore’s Next Competition: Lazada vs Amazon

Do you love online shopping? It didn’t catch on in SE Asia as quickly as it did in the U.S. or China, but SE Asians love it more and more every day.

Online shopping certainly is convenient. You can do it anywhere – no fighting traffic, crowded public transportation, crowded stores, and no need to even change out of your pajamas!

SE Asian companies blazed the trail for online shopping in Singapore, but now it might be time for the big guy to take over. At least, that’s what Amazon thinks.

Yes, Amazon is planning to enter the Singapore market in 2017. Will Lazada, the current reigning e-commerce operator in Singapore and five other SE Asian countries, be able to hold its own against Amazon, the e-commerce titan that dominates the world?

Lazada Singapore CEO Alexis Lanternier commented that the SE Asian market was big enough for some competition. Marketing studies project that the e-commerce market in SE Asia is poised for momentous growth over the next several years.

In addition, Lazada’s strong ties with the Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba, which now owns a controlling interest in Lazada, give it additional advantages in the coming competition with Amazon.

Lazada has reported that they feel confident of their competitive advantage because of the system they already have in place with partners, merchants, and infrastructure.

So until now, Lazada is outwardly composed and not showing signs of fear. But who knows what’s going on in meetings behind closed doors. Perhaps Lazada’s top officers are secretly trembling over the coming battle with Amazon.