E-COMMERCE  /  SME

By FedEx | First published: July 7, 2020    Updated: October 23, 2025

Asia’s digital economy is growing faster than ever, creating new opportunities for SMEs to expand through social commerce and seamless delivery. Here’s how small businesses can build stronger online experiences and thrive in today’s connected marketplace.

• Asia Pacific’s digital economy is on track to exceed USD 900 billion by 2025.
• Social commerce and omnichannel experiences are transforming how retailers engage with customers, merging marketing, sales, and delivery into a seamless journey.
• Reliable delivery solutions help small businesses to compete globally by providing fast, cost-effective cross-border shipping.

The digital economy continues to redefine how businesses buy, sell, and connect with customers, creating a fundamental shift in consumer mindset and behavior. In Asia Pacific (APAC), the digital economy is set to exceed USD 900 billion by 2025, driven by e-commerce, digital payments, and social media integration.

For small businesses, this shift offers significant opportunities, from reaching customers across borders to building stronger brand loyalty online. In fact, e-commerce has become one of the key drivers of APAC’s growth, giving SMEs access to international markets that were once limited to large enterprises.

Social commerce is the new frontier for SMEs

If e-commerce launched the digital age of shopping, social commerce made it more personal.

Today’s consumers don’t just shop online – they buy directly from social posts, live streams, and messages on their favorite platforms. This shift blurs the line between marketing and sales by turning content into a direct path to purchase. By using social media to interact and transact directly with consumers, businesses also build a sense of community that fosters loyalty and drives repeat purchases.

Social commerce trends show that APAC shoppers are highly influenced by what they see on apps like TikTok, Instagram, and Shopee Live, where authentic engagement often leads to immediate purchases. According to Totem Media, 84% of APAC consumers have watched or made a purchase via live stream.

A beauty brand in Indonesia or a fashion label in Thailand can now reach global audiences simply by hosting engaging product demos on these social commerce platforms. Add flash sales and the ability to chat directly with the shopping host about the products, and you’ve got a winning formula.

Fueled by the growing integration of social media and e-commerce, APAC’s social commerce market grew to USD 625.93 billion in 2025. This trend will likely continue, intensifying competition among platforms as they vie for user engagement and sales.

The social commerce trend is most sophisticated – and lucrative – in Korea and China, generating huge revenue for sellers and streaming platforms. The momentum of live stream shopping in China – powered by platforms like Xiaohongshu, Taobao, and Douyin – reveals a thriving influencer-driven marketing scene, with influencers like Tera Feng demonstrating the potential of live streaming to drive sales.

While it’s tempting to jump on this trend right away, first research the preferences and behaviors of your target audience in the markets where you sell. The popularity of live commerce differs across markets, so you’re more likely to succeed by selling on the platforms your audience prefers – whether that’s Facebook, Instagram, LINE, or TikTok.

Building an integrated omnichannel experience

Mobile commerce – the practice of shopping online using smartphones or tablets – is on the rise in APAC, with 62% of consumers saying it’s their preferred method for shopping online. A customer might first discover your product on social media, then read reviews on your website, before ultimately completing their purchase using a mobile app.

While consumers prefer mobile shopping, their experience still leaves much to be desired. Seven in 10 APAC consumers believe brands and retailers should work harder to improve their mobile shopping experiences. Speed matters most, with 70% of APAC shoppers wanting to move from inspiration through search to purchase as quickly as possible.

As consumers switch seamlessly between online and mobile touchpoints, brands that stay consistent across every channel will stand out. This integrated approach drives success in the digital economy by delivering truly seamless omnichannel experiences.

Simply put, this means integrating your inventory, marketing, and fulfillment systems to ensure smooth transitions between platforms. Digital tools like automated order tracking, mobile payment systems, and customer analytics can help to make this process more efficient.

Beyond their website and social media channels, small businesses can sell on third-party marketplaces too. Joining such platforms is relatively easy and comes with lower upfront costs and financial risks. In fact, over 79% of APAC consumers’ e-commerce spending already happens through marketplaces.

Integrated platform tech gives marketplace shoppers a simple and streamlined checkout experience. E-commerce platforms such as Shopify and BigCommerce offer more convenience and localization by automatically displaying checkout pages in the customer’s preferred language, accepting local payment methods, and displaying prices in local currencies.

Harnessing the power of seamless delivery

In today’s digital economy, the customer journey doesn’t end at checkout. Fast, reliable, and transparent delivery is key to winning repeat business. In e-commerce, post-purchase satisfaction depends heavily on smooth delivery, which also helps strengthen your brand’s credibility.

To connect with customers efficiently, businesses need the right logistics provider to complete the customer journey. At FedEx, we support businesses across APAC with e-commerce shipping solutions designed for agility and scale.

Services such as FedEx International Connect Plus (FICP) enable you to ship worldwide within two to three business days under one simple rate structure – making fast and day-definite delivery affordable for small businesses. With solutions like this, you can transform logistics from a back-end function into an integral part of your customer experience strategy.

Thrive in the digital economy with FedEx

As APAC’s digital economy continues to evolve, small businesses that adapt will stay ahead. By exploring social commerce, building seamless omnichannel operations, and partnering with trusted logistics providers, you can reach more customers and grow your business.

FedEx supports businesses like yours with logistics solutions built to keep pace with shifting consumer expectations. Explore our e-commerce shipping solutions to see how our digital tools and cross-border delivery options can drive your growth.