Photo for representation only.
With the Eid holidays already started, shoppers in the country are making the most of the lucrative discounts and offers activated by various retailers for the Eid Al Adha season.
From groceries to clothing and accessories, supermarkets, electronic stores, and fashion outlets have slashed prices, with discounts of up to 50% off. To attract more customers, some retailers have even introduced exclusive online deals, further incentivising the shift towards e-commerce.
Statista, a German online platform specialised in data gathering and visualisation, projects that the revenue in the e-commerce market in the country will reach a staggering $3.44bn in 2023.
Moreover, the industry is expected to grow at an annual rate of 9.91% from 2023 to 2027, resulting in a projected market volume of $5.03bn by 2027. In terms of user numbers, it is estimated that there will be approximately 2.49 million e-commerce users in the country by 2027.
The majority of revenue in the e-commerce sector comes from beauty, health, personal and household care products, followed by beverages, electronics, fashion, food, furniture, media, and toys, Statista added.
The Peninsula spoke to several e-shoppers, including Sara from the Philippines, who expressed her preference for online shopping to save time. Sara said visiting physical stores can be time-consuming, whereas online platforms often offer free delivery, particularly for purchases above QR100.
Ramon from Spain echoed similar sentiments, highlighting the convenience of online shopping. He stressed how easy it is to click and check out, and then eagerly await the delivery of purchased items from the comfort of one’s home.
“We are in an era where everything is online, so why not make the most of it? Especially this Eid, I wanted to gift my friends and relatives with something different, and the electronic shop where I usually buy has tons of discounts. It’s a good deal,” Ramon said.
Industry experts also weighed in on the evolving landscape of e-commerce, Clinical, Aviation and Workplace Psychologist Tina Balachandran, the Founder and Clinical Director of Flourishing Minds Clinic, a mental health specialty clinic in Qatar, highlighted the various factors that impact online consumer behaviour.
According to her, several factors influence the intention to engage in online shopping.
These include the shoppers' attitude and belief that it would enhance their shopping experience, the opinions of friends, colleagues, and other influencers regarding online shopping, the consumers' perception of the availability of necessary resources and opportunities for online shopping, the usefulness it provides, and the level of trust in the retail website or online shopping platform.
Balachandran also emphasised that consumers are driven to shop online due to the convenience it offers. Online shopping provides convenience, allows for easy price comparison, saves time, enables reading product reviews before making a purchase, and allows individuals to avoid crowded places, she explained.
In a 2021 report by Qatar Chamber on E-commerce in Qatar, the COVID-19 pandemic led to a significant boost in e-commerce. The study showed a 50% increase in mobile phone usage and a 40% increase in online data usage, allowing companies in Qatar to thrive during the crisis and gain a larger share of the local market. E-commerce prevalence in the country is estimated at 14%.
