The driving force behind the development of mobile cross-border e-commerce and its impact on the B2C market

At present, mobile e-commerce has developed rapidly around the world. The number of mobile devices has increased to 2.6 billion, making mobile shopping the preferred shopping method for consumers. 75% of mobile Internet users around the world have purchased goods or services on mobile devices, and 1/3 of consumer spending is on mobile devices. In addition, mobile shopping has become a habit, with nearly 1/4 of consumers making purchases on mobile devices every week.

Facilitation of cross-border information flow

In the era of cross-border B2C e-commerce, the facilitation and low-cost of cross-border transactions have made it possible for individuals to consume directly across borders. Cross-border online shopping platforms allow consumers to obtain product information more conveniently and efficiently, while social media promotes information sharing among consumers and enhances consumers’ voice. Product/service providers can better understand their demand characteristics and preferences by interacting directly with consumers. At the same time, the development of technologies such as machine translation has helped both parties to overcome language barriers.

Payment model innovation and logistics service intensification

The development of third-party payment platforms has reduced the cost of individual cross-border payments, simplified the process, and improved timeliness. The intensification and innovation of cross-border logistics services have improved consumer experience and reduced costs. Matchmaking and prediction based on big data analysis make cross-border transportation and warehousing more intensive; the overseas warehouse model shortens delivery time.

Distributed commerce and APP optimization

Retailers have begun to interact with consumers through mass and distributed channels, such as social media, messaging, browsers and online mobile cross-border e-commerce platforms. Mobile devices not only serve as an engagement medium for shoppers, but also help shoppers complete transactions with brands. Improvements in smartphone performance and technological advancements enable retailers to meet the diverse needs of consumers through apps and mobile browsers.

Structural factors and market size

The local industrial structure in some countries, especially the underdevelopment of the consumer goods industry, has led to the unavailability of products, thereby enhancing the demand for overseas consumer goods. In areas where offline retail channels are less mature, B2C e-commerce has greater room for development, and cross-border B2C e-commerce is developing more rapidly. If the local market is small, niche “long-tail” product providers usually only set up independent distribution channels in larger economies due to scale effects. Consumers in economies with smaller populations therefore need to obtain supplies from foreign sources through cross-border consumption patterns.

Economic integration and mobile Internet penetration

In areas with a high degree of economic integration, cross-border transactions are extremely convenient, cross-border goods and capital flow are smoother, and costs are lower, which is more conducive to the development of cross-border B2C e-commerce. The convenience of cross-border electronic payment logistics and other infrastructure will also promote the growth of the cross-border B2C e-commerce market. The higher the penetration rate of mobile Internet, the more developed the cross-border B2C e-commerce market will be.