The South East Asia (SEA) smartphone market declined in the first half of 2020 due toCOVID-19lockdowns. But as the restrictions started to ease, OEMs were quick enough to focus ononline channelsto meet the pent-up demand. Online channels inIndonesia reached their highest pointin Q4 2020, with brands likeXiaomiandrealmeleading online sales.Thailand’s smartphone marketalso saw online channels registering strong growth, leading to only a marginal overall annual decline.
With the pandemic, the market dynamics completely changed with Lazada leading the pack in the region and Shopee being the fastest-growing e-commerce platform. Smaller platforms like Bukalapak, Blibli, Akulaku and JD.ID also saw increased presence in the online space. But what were the key factors contributing to the growth? How are smartphone makers and e-commerce platforms working closely to meet consumer demand?
In the latest episode of ‘The Counterpoint Podcast’, hostMaurice Klaehneis joined by Senior Research AnalystGlen Cardozato talk about the dynamics of SEA smartphone market and growth of online channels. With COVID-19 causing disruptions in the supply chain, smartphone makers have been recalibrating and diversifying production to reduce overreliance on China. But what makesVietnam an attractive optionfor smartphone makers to invest in? Glen shares some valuable insights on this topic and more.