While nearly 20.000 e-shops are active in the Netherlands, Belgium has to make do with 5.000 webshops. It is high time that Belgian SMEs make time and dedicate their free time to an e-commerce strategy. As a result, SMEs are missing out on many opportunities, and the gap with the Netherlands remains wide. Google has held discussions with UNIZO regarding this matter and believes that a neutral platform, in which the government and a number of private organizations join forces, can set them on the right path.
The larger the company, the more intensely an e-commerce strategy is considered. For small SMEs, the threshold for this is often still too high. Julien Blanchez, Country Marketing at Google Benelux, believes that this threshold is merely used as an excuse. “Today, there is not a single valid argument for not considering e-commerce as a full-fledged part of doing business in general,” says Julien Blanchez.
He also believes that the online choice in Belgium is too limited, given that Belgian internet users search online more than the European average. An increase in online stores is therefore necessary.
There are several reasons why Belgian SMEs are not yet willing to venture into e-commerce. Belgium has the structure of a densely woven retail landscape, meaning shops are never far away. Many shop online, but no less than 85% of all those purchases are collected at the physical stores themselves. Moreover, there is credit card fraud and the right of withdrawal, which makes small SMEs in particular hesitant. Additionally, the cultural differences in Belgium are a problem. The fact that many online webshops use English as the primary language has not benefited online sales in the French-speaking part of Belgium.
SMEs should focus more on online sales. Companies must incorporate e-commerce into their business model, because there are many opportunities and possibilities in online sales.
(Source: I-tel.be)