Muhammad Saleem

By fully tapping the potential of the e-commerce sector, Pakistan can create more job opportunities for the youth, especially women. Nasir Khan, an e-commerce expert, told WealthPK that e-commerce has become the lifeblood of Pakistan's economy. “We must equip our women and youngsters with modern knowledge to transform the earning landscape.” He said that Pakistan needs to boost its tax collection and create more jobs to strengthen the economy and combat unemployment. “E-commerce could be a game-changer in this regard.” Khan said that e-commerce has truly transformed the business environment in Pakistan.

“Before the inception of e-commerce, it was a daunting task for many small and medium businesses to explore customers. However, now the situation is altogether different, and every type of business can reach customers beyond their local areas, expanding their reach effectively.” “The rise of online shopping platforms is enabling even small-scale sellers to earn handsome profits,” he said, adding that online stores are enabling enterprises to sell locally, nationwide and even internationally.

Khan termed e-commerce as a blessing for enterprises, creating a level playing field for all businesses, allowing smaller players to go toe-to-toe with larger corporations. “Success for small enterprises hinges on providing quality products at affordable rates. Small and medium enterprises need to learn as to how to stay ahead of the curve in a competitive market.” Zainab Murtaza, a small business owner, said: “Once I was just confined to walk-in customers before launching my online store.

Now, I am able to attract customers nationally by showcasing my products on my website and social media handles. Besides, I am also displaying my products on private e-commerce websites, opening up a whole new world of possibilities.” “E-commerce has been a significant turning point for my business. With the help of e-commerce, I found a hidden treasure, which is exploring new opportunities for me,” she said. Zainab said embracing the digital world requires new selling skills. To put her best foot forward, she has been investing time in customer care and marketing.

Sharing her advice for new entrepreneurs striving to enter the online business landscape, she said they should start small but think big. She asked entrepreneurs to introduce innovative marketing strategies and try their hand at experimenting with different platforms. “Instead of launching a marketing campaign on Google, they should go for marketing on social media.” “In your physical store you can listen to customers' issues face to face; however, in the digital landscape, you have to take the feedback online.

Try to respond to your online customers' queries positively as soon as possible,” she suggested. Zainab said customers’ feedback is invaluable as it helps you improve your business. “It is very much clear that establishing an online presence is a daunting task and will take time and effort to build a strong foundation and create trust among customers. You must keep in mind that it’s not an overnight success story; it's a long journey,” she underscored.

Credit: INP-WealthPk