Italian SMEs: The Role of Digitalization in Cross-Border E-Commerce Performance

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In this paper, the authors aimed to understand the impact of digital technologies on cross-border e-commerce for Italian SMEs.

Overall, they observed that Italy is lagging behind its European counterparts in terms of digitalization and IT capabilities, although several national policies are addressing this topic and the initial data seem to show that they are succeeding.

This paper deals with three main categories of digital technologies: 

1. e-business
2. e-marketing
3.  e-commerce

They show that e-business has a mixed impact on cross-border e-commerce (CBEC) performance, and the relationships need to be further analyzed, while e-marketing tools have a significant positive impact on the online export performance. 

International Tax Laws On E-Commerce May Change Global Trade

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International tax laws on e-commerce may change the industry and global trade — perhaps not for the better, resulting in higher consumer prices.

E-commerce has enjoyed such a meteoric rise over the past decade that ordering pretty much anything online and receiving it within a few days is now routine for consumers all over the world.

Retail e-commerce sales rose to $6.3 trillion in 2023, from $1.8 trillion in 2016, and are expected to grow to $8.1 trillion by 2026, with 4.5 billion users worldwide — or roughly half the population of the planet, according to data tracking site Statista. What’s more, by 2026, e-commerce is expected to make up 24% of all retail sales, up from 18.8% in 2021.

The economics of global e-commerce may soon be changing, however, possibly making goods more expensive and forcing small business owners to pay much closer attention to international trade laws.

Today in Global Small Business: How AI Shook the World in 2023

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What's affecting me, my clients, my colleagues and other global small business owners:

• AI is being used for all things wonderful but it comes with a worry.
• Language translation:  what companies should know.
• Winning formulas for e-commerce growth.
• Quote of the week: "The real question is, when will we draft an artificial intelligence bill of rights? What will that consist of? And who will get to decide that?” – Gray Scott
• E-commerce worldwide, stats and figures.
• 17 goals for people and planet.

Navigating E-Commerce on a Global Scale

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In this interview with Boris Rütten, head of global ecommerce at CPG giant Henkel, he discusses the ever-changing landscape of global ecommerce, emphasizing the need for continuous adaptation and staying attuned to market trends in order to achieve sustainable growth.

Three (3) key takeaways:

1. Establishing successful partnerships in business requires a collaborative approach.
2. Staying vigilant and adaptable to market trends is essential for sustained growth.
3. Customizing strategies according to market-specific needs is key to thriving globally.

High-Ticket E-Commerce Items Continue to Grow

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E-commerce growth continues, with diamonds, and even homes among its offerings, which has reached 6.3 trillion by the first quarter of 2023.

Technology has made it easy to shop for anything, anywhere – recall the days when selling 20-lb. bags of pet food online seemed far-fetched, not to mention diamonds and other expensive items including big brands like Gucci and Prada that are easy to ship but expensive to buy.  Same goes with art.

High-ticket e-commerce items continue to grow. 

Today in Global Small Business: ChatGPT Has Thrown a Wrench Into SEO

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What's affecting me, my clients, my colleagues and other global small business owners:

• When search was king, companies could turn to SEO—and paid ads—to land atop search results. ChatGPT has thrown a wrench into that arrangement.
• Why e-commerce has plenty of room to run, especially global.
• For retailers, will your e-commerce tools survive federal data privacy regulations?
• Quote of the week: “In a few years artificial intelligence virtual assistants will be as common as the smart phone.” – Dave Waters
• Five (5) charts showing what's driving e-commerce growth.
• On Memorial Day 2023, honor the men and women who have served our country, USA, with bravery.

Watch What Is Next for TikTok

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TikTok has been intensifying competition with Meta and other rivals, luring younger users as well as popular influencers.  Now it appears to be deepening its foray into e-commerce with plans to operate its own warehouses in the United States — the kind of packing and shipping facilities more associated with Amazon or Walmart than the social media platform best known for addictive short videos.

Check out how job listings offer a clue on what moves TikTok will be making next on US e-commerce.

Today in Global Small Business: Where's My Order?

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What's affecting me, my clients, my colleagues and other global small business owners:

• With e-commerce booming, consumers increasingly want to know, “Where’s my order?” Three-year-old package tracking firm Route aims to answer that question in real time with its AI-driven software.  Route cofounder and CEO Evan Walker tells Forbes that the startup is now worth $1.25 billion, following a $200 million fundraise.
• How to attract customers when they are ready to buy.
• What I wish I knew before starting my e-commerce business.
• Quote of the week: "And it's interesting, when you look at the predictions made during the peak of the boom in the 1990s, about e-commerce, or internet traffic, or broadband adoption, or internet advertising, they were all right - they were just wrong in time." – Chris Anderson
• E-commerce competition heats up in China – Shopify and JD.com pair up. 
• E-commerce predictions for 2022 from 26 e-commerce experts.

Today in Global Small Business: The Family Experience Store Called Camp

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What's affecting me, my clients, my colleagues and other global small business owners:

• E-commerce site Camp calls itself a “family experience store” that uses AI to answer the question, “What should we do today?”
• Three tactics to build on the momentum of Global Entrepreneurship Week.
• Global small businesses are getting hammered from the global supply chain problems.
• Quote of the week: "When e-commerce companies build scale, cost comes down. Companies that can handle scale and reduce costs over time will win. Margins will come from reducing costs over time and not by increasing prices. Technology is the answer at large scale." – Sachin Bansal
• Hive helps teams move faster.
• Create builds companies from scratch.  

Make It Easy for Your Global Customers to Buy Online

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Think about all the areas that an e-commerce channel needs to collaborate with, including billing, production, engineering, customer service, sales, design, and marketing. Make sure that you are providing the relevant information to each area.

And here are more ways to step up your e-commerce strategy.

Online Marketplaces Adapt During the Global Pandemic

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E-commerce has never been more important than now.  As many brick and mortar stores close their doors, some permanently, e-commerce offers an opportunity to not just sustain a business but thrive in 2020.

The ecommerce opportunity is ripe, 45 per cent of online shoppers globally say they plan to spend more time shopping online after the pandemic is over. Online marketplace searches in particular, have increased by 46 percent year on year, with search data showing that 84 per cent more Australians are Googling marketplaces from January to July 2020.

Read more about how online marketplace have enjoyed success through their ability to adapt. 

Small Businesses Must Expand Their Global Footprint to E-Commerce

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If small businesses expand their footprint from their physical location into the digital space, then they can reach a level playing field with big-box retailers and meet today’s consumers’ needs.

Learn more about why it's time for global small businesses to utilize e-commerce.

The Wayfair Decision and What It Means for Small Businesses

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The rise of e-commerce platforms and online marketplaces has radically changed the expectations that buyers have when it comes to shopping, leading to a steady decline in traditional retail shopping, and an uptick in online commerce. As a result of these shifts, we all now live and operate in an increasingly digital economy.

Now, bring in the Wayfair decision that has changed the landscape of state sales tax and made compliance much more difficult for all sizes of businesses.  Not familiar with the June 21, 2018 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in South Dakota v. Wayfair?  Get background info here.
 
Learn how the case compelled businesses to adopt digital solutions to address not only their sales tax needs but other tax reporting obligations as well.

From Our Safe Home to Yours: wegginar® 4/8/20 with AnaOno Founder Dana Donofree

"Forget about work-life balance—focus on doing work you love.  Get out there and hustle [now more online!]. Listen to others, then trust your gut. If I’d listened to people who questioned why women needed comfortable, beautiful bras after surgery, I never would have launched AnaOno," says AnaOno founder Dana Donofree.

Diagnosed with breast cancer at 27, Dana Donofree founded AnaOno out of her own desire for sexy, beautiful lingerie. After a bilateral mastectomy with implant reconstruction, her bras no longer fit and she was certain there must be more than just sports bras and camisoles, as nothing in the traditional lingerie market fit her surgically-altered body anymore. 

Hence AnaOno was born.

Join us on Wednesday, April 8th at 11AM CT when Dana talks straight with us about what it takes to start, launch and grow a successful global e-commerce business.

To learn more and to register (program is free of charge thanks to wegg's generous sponsors:  refer to sponsor listings on graphic), visit:
https://womenentrepreneursgrowglobal.org/2020/03/12/bras-without-bordersdana-donofree-founder-anaonoapril-8-2020/

How to Save China's Luxury Business

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Luxury brands are pinning their hopes on e-commerce to recoup some of the losses caused by China’s dismal retail environment. But will consumers switch to online in sufficient numbers to make up for the massive coronavirus shortfall?

Read more (requires a quick sign-up to access).

A Relaunch on Global E-Commerce by Forever 21

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In a statement, Forever 21 [privately held fast-fashion retailer] President Alex Ok said that the retailer has seen ongoing demand from customers in regions where it has plans to exit. "Ecommerce forms a large chunk of the profitable core of our operations and as part of our new global strategy, Forever 21 will leverage Global-e's technology to offer international customers an outstanding online experience," he said.

Hence, Forever 21 is relaunching its international online store to target consumers in Canada, Asia, the Asia-Pacific region and Latin America, in partnership with cross-border e-commerce platform Global-e.

Background –

The U.S.-based, privately held fast-fashion retailer [Forever 21] filed for bankruptcy in September [2019], saying at the time that it would close as many as 178 U.S. stores along with most of its international stores in Europe and Asia, in order to refocus on its U.S. and Latin American businesses.

Learn more about how Forever 21 is relaunching its international e-commerce.

Today in Global Small Business: Drivers and Constraints in the Global Cat Food Market

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What's affecting me, my clients, my colleagues and other global small business owners:

• Wendy’s will finally break back into the European market within the next 12 to 18 months after a 40-year absence.
• Two primary obstacles are preventing U.S. retailers from conducting international online sales.
• Quote of the week: “The fastest way to change yourself is to hang out with people who are already the way you want to be." – Reid Hoffman
• Make your e-commerce business stand out.
• The global cat food market – drivers and constraints for the key players.
• How to innovate in the face of disruption.

Today in Global Small Business: 5 Takeaways on Building a Global Business

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What's affecting me, my clients, my colleagues and other global small business owners:

• From sports analogies to going global, here are takeaways on building a business. 
• Widely discussed but often overlooked topics on international expansion.
• Quote of the week: “It is not the strongest or the most intelligent who will survive, but those who can best manage change." – Leon C. Megginson
• Wendy's is using breakfast to launch internationally.
• Insights on how the e-commerce market in the US is changing and what is coming in the year ahead (interview).
• The floodgates opened on Facebook Inc.’s Libra Association as no fewer than five more companies exited the group overseeing the social network’s proposed cryptocurrency: Mastercard Inc., Visa Inc., eBay Inc., Stripe Inc. and Mercado Pago.

Global E-Commerce is Booming

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According to a newly released eMarketer report, China’s $1.94 trillion e-commerce is the largest in the world, and more than three times that of the number two U.S. market.

The report described a booming global e-commerce market, is expected to grow 20.7% this year to $3.5 trillion in sales. China’s $1.94 trillion in sales will have contributed 54.7% of that figure, according to eMarketer.

Based on the report, discover the areas in e-commerce where China is leading.

The Belles of the Ball: E-Commerce SMEs

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U.S.-based small to midsize enterprises (SMEs), especially those in the business-to-business (B2B) realm, have been left behind in the rush to meet growing e-commerce demands of consumers. Digital marketplaces catering to small businesses in the B2B world have been mostly non-existent, despite global B2B e-commerce estimated to be a $24 trillion industry.  Alibaba and UPS are not the only ones clamoring to get in front of 30 million American sellers for SME action.

FedEx Corp. has made SME penetration a top priority, and has already announced seven-day-a-week service, extended pick-up times and expanded access points targeted at that market. Amazon.com, Inc. considers SMEs the lifeblood of its business, with its “Fulfillment by Amazon” service, in which smaller merchants use the company as its marketing, fulfillment and delivery partner, representing more than half of its total sales.

Learn how long e-commerce wallflowers, small and midsize enterprises have become the belles of the ball.