how to do cross-border e-commerce business? you must know the “dry stuff” at the 2024 chongqing cross-border e-commerce industry development conference
2024-09-29
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in the wave of globalization and digitization, cross-border e-commerce has become a new engine of international trade. as global e-commerce retail penetration continues to grow, it is expected that the scale of global e-commerce will exceed us$8 trillion by 2027.
this trend not only brings huge market potential to cross-border e-commerce, but also provides unprecedented opportunities for chinese brands and merchants to “go overseas”.
in this context, the 2024 chongqing cross-border e-commerce industry development conference, "ten years of cross-border discussing the future", was officially held. well-known companies from the global cross-border industry, industry experts and scholars, and business elites focused on "industry changes" and "opportunities of the times" hot topics such as “bringing industry to the sea” explore the opportunities that cross-border e-commerce will bring to chongqing.
▲on may 21, 2024, at the chongqing highway logistics base in banan district, cross-border highway shuttle buses for the new western land-sea corridor are being sent out in an endless stream from here. photo by correspondent li pan
chongqing’s cross-border e-commerce faces problems such as decentralized industrial chains
ran binzuo, president of jiafa cross-border bao, said at the scene that chongqing began to engage in cross-border e-commerce in 2014, but as an inland city, it was full of expectations but had no way to start.
"jiafa cross-border became the first group of companies to bravely enter the market and started a ten-year journey." ran binzuo said that in the past ten years, jiafa cross-border has experienced precise business lines, broadened channels, integrated resources, and accurately adjustments such as positioning users, gradually found its own opportunities and directions, and developed independent digital trade lines and service trade lines to provide one-stop services for individuals or companies who want to enter cross-border e-commerce, repositioning the company as "cross-border e-commerce industry service partner".
"the key to facing the future is to follow the trend and proceed based on the facts." ran binzuo believes that the development of enterprises should follow the tide of the times. currently, chongqing's cross-border e-commerce faces problems such as fragmented industrial chains, single services, and misalignment of supply and demand. in response to these problems, jiafa cross-border bao will continue to expand its service boundaries and create a characteristic industrial park, extending from traditional commodity trading to brand incubation, marketing promotion, after-sales service and other links. by introducing professional teams and technical means, we provide merchants with customized branding solutions to help them improve their market competitiveness.
▲on december 29, 2023, at the tuanjie village central station in chongqing, the new land-sea corridor cross-border railway train loaded with 64 teus of chemicals slowly drove out. photo by reporter zhang jinhui/visual chongqing
chongqing enterprises must also “adapt measures to local conditions” when going overseas
facing the increasingly fierce international competitive environment, how chongqing's manufacturing and brands can better "go global" has become an important issue facing enterprises.
dai siwei, head of strategic expansion and regional market for amazon's global western region store, introduced the preliminary preparations and sub-categories that chinese sellers should make when going overseas from four aspects: product selection, cost budget, cross-border logistics, and manpower and materials.
"overseas markets cannot be generalized. there are significant differences in consumer needs and preferences in different countries and regions." dai siwei said that when companies go overseas, they should have a deep understanding of the target market's culture, laws, consumption habits, etc., and promote in a way that is closer to the local market. and sell products. for example, in november 1987, when kfc opened its first restaurant in china in beijing, it used the traditional chinese folk dance "yangko" as a promotional form, which was close to the local folk customs and made it easier for local consumers to accept it.
he said that amazon's global store platform, with its extensive global coverage and strong resources, can provide chongqing enterprises with comprehensive overseas support.
▲on january 18, 2024, in jiangjin comprehensive bonded zone, cainiao tmall international bonded southwest self-operated warehouse was officially opened and the first product was successfully shipped. photo by reporter zheng yu and intern chen yuru/visual chongqing
logistics must also make good use of “digital” technology
in the complex and challenging process of enterprises going overseas, logistics and supply chain play an irreplaceable and key role, providing a solid and powerful guarantee for enterprises to go overseas.
ren wei, general manager of the cross-border center of the public affairs department of cainiao group, believes that for cross-border e-commerce, overseas exports are still a blue ocean. in 2023, my country's cross-border e-commerce imports will be 548.3 billion yuan, an increase of 3.9%; exports will be 1.83 trillion yuan, an increase of 19.6%. despite facing adverse effects such as increased uncertainty in the global trade situation, cross-border e-commerce exports still contribute a stable proportion to foreign trade growth.
"overseas chinese enterprises urgently need to further strengthen cooperation and form synergy. exchanges and cooperation between overseas chinese enterprises under the coordination of overseas business institutions can effectively avoid the duplication or idleness of public infrastructure and services such as logistics parks and trunk line transport capacity, and enhance the efficiency of chinese enterprises. efficiency in going overseas." ren wei said that an efficient logistics system is like the lifeline of a company in overseas markets.
"our vision is to accelerate the transformation of the logistics industry and provide a smooth e-commerce experience around the world; to achieve 24 hours nationwide and 72 hours globally." ren wei introduced the cainiao group's business in general and how to improve logistics speed. an in-depth explanation was given. he deeply analyzed the key role of digitalization in the logistics industry and shared how cainiao group promotes comprehensive improvements in logistics efficiency and service quality through digital means.
▲on january 17, 2024, at the rural revitalization industrial demonstration park in hong'an town, xiushan county, workers were sorting navel oranges in front of an automatic sorting machine for export to vietnam and bangladesh through the high sea transport of the new western land-sea corridor. photo by correspondent hu cheng
brands going overseas and cross-border e-commerce can look forward to the “next five years”
lu honghai, founder of yien.com, predicts that in the next five years, the overseas market will usher in explosive growth, gmv may triple, and overseas companies will usher in a period of golden opportunities.
he pointed out that while the monthly activity of mainstream e-commerce platforms such as amazon and alibaba has reached the first place in the world, the growth rate of downloads of independent websites such as temu and shein cannot be underestimated. for example, international e-commerce platforms such as amazon and alibaba provide a stable and broad market stage for overseas companies with their huge user base, mature trading system and rich marketing resources.
however, it is worth noting that the rapid rise of independent station models such as temu and shein has injected new vitality into cross-border e-commerce exports. these platforms have demonstrated strong market appeal and growth potential through precise market positioning, innovative business models and efficient supply chain integration capabilities.
lu honghai believes that overseas channels may become a new option to relieve pressure. enterprises can use cross-border e-commerce, overseas investment and other overseas routes to explore international blue ocean markets, alleviate domestic competition pressure, and promote the transformation and upgrading of local industrial belts.
leveraging cross-border e-commerce to promote globalization
"contemporary entrepreneurs must have two abilities: international vision and being good at relying on the power of science and technology." zhong zeyu, vice president and secretary-general of the china association for trade in services, shared that globalization is crucial to human development. it breaks the geographical restrictions enable cross-border e-commerce to trade goods and services on a global scale, providing a broader market space for companies from various countries.
in the context of globalization, cross-border e-commerce companies are no longer isolated market entities, but part of an industrial chain and ecological chain that are closely connected with suppliers, logistics providers, payment institutions, after-sales services and other links. by integrating industrial chain and ecological chain resources, enterprises can achieve the goals of resource sharing, complementary advantages, risk sharing and benefit sharing, and enhance the competitiveness and sustainable development capabilities of the entire industry.
secondly, being good at relying on the power of technology is the key for cross-border e-commerce companies to stand out in fierce competition. he keenly pointed out the key role played by ict services as an important growth pole in the field of digital services trade. "with the rapid development of information technology, ict services will become a powerful driving force for the rapid growth of digital services trade." zhong zeyu it is believed that in this context, emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (ai) are like catalysts, injecting unprecedented growth potential into digital trade. from intelligent customer service and personalized recommendations to supply chain optimization and risk management, artificial intelligence application scenarios can be found in all aspects of digital trade, and can bring significant competitive advantages and economic benefits to enterprises.
▲on july 28, 2024, at the north cargo yard of the yuzui railway freight station in liangjiang new district, "made in liangjiang" cars entered the train cargo box one after another. photo by correspondent wang jiaxi
chongqing’s cross-border e-commerce has huge potential
regarding practical suggestions for the transformation of chongqing's industrial belt into overseas markets, tan yundan, assistant to the general manager of the new land-sea corridor operation co., ltd., pointed out that in the face of fierce competition in coastal areas, chongqing's cross-border e-commerce companies should actively seek breakthroughs, improve efficiency and services, and use container transportation and overseas warehouse construction to reduce costs, and explore the options and strategies of cross-border e-commerce platforms.
yu changjiang, general manager of zongshen group import and export co., ltd., focused on the importance of the integration of traditional industries and cross-border e-commerce and its impact on the overseas strategies of modern foreign trade companies. taking chongqing as an example, he made an in-depth analysis of how to use cross-border e-commerce platforms to promote local industrial upgrading and expand international markets, and shared the localization problems of batteries, seat cushions and other components that companies face when exporting motorcycles, generators and other means of transportation. . in addition, he also shared the confusion he encountered when conducting cross-border e-commerce business in different countries and regions, and emphasized the urgency of solving these common problems.
when answering the question "challenges and opportunities faced by the transformation of chongqing's industrial belt", huang jianzhi, executive vice president of the dazu hardware chamber of commerce, told the origin and development history of dazu hardware. he pointed out that the current problem chongqing is facing is cross-border e-commerce exports there are fewer merchants in the country, and the size of the enterprises is generally small. in addition, export freight in inland cities is relatively high, and they have encountered greater challenges in transportation costs. huang jianzhi said that in the future, dazu hardware chamber of commerce will deploy overseas warehouses to localize cross-border e-commerce export services and solve the cost problem of chongqing's commodity exports.
the relevant person in charge of amazon cloud technology introduced the current development stage of chongqing's cross-border e-commerce and emphasized the importance of supply chain layout and brand layout for the cross-border e-commerce industry and industrial upgrading. she pointed out that in the face of fierce competition in coastal areas, chongqing cross-border e-commerce companies should actively seek breakthroughs and improve efficiency and services. she spoke highly of chongqing's overseas potential in specialty industries such as automobiles and hardware, and encouraged the use of independent websites and self-built brand websites for product sales.
song xu, vice president of kuaijingbao, said that in recent years, chongqing's automobile industry and manufacturing industry have developed with high quality, a large number of favorable policies have been introduced, and the foundation for going overseas is very good. taking advantage of chongqing's good industrial chain foundation and seizing the opportunities of globalization are issues that local companies in chongqing need to think about when going overseas. song xu called on local enterprises in chongqing to bravely take the first step to explore overseas for the first time, give full play to their respective advantages, and jointly develop chongqing's blue ocean market.
