That's why more and more Swedes are choosing e-commerce - benefits and risks

Last year, e-commerce increased by 20 percent, a sign that more and more Swedes are choosing to buy their products and services online. Consequently, many are asking: Will the increase be able to continue at the same rate? And what are the reasons why e-commerce is going so strong?

The advantages of e-commerce are several. It opens up possibilities that make everyday life easier in everything from food trading to ordering subscriptions and streaming services. At the same time, the relatively new buying behavior poses certain risks for consumers, especially when it is possible to postpone payments and shop on credit.

Why is e-commerce going strong?

E-commerce has undeniably been on the rise for several years, not least as a natural consequence of digitization. Several different factors lie behind the success of the e-commerce segment. One factor is that consumers can often take advantage of more offers online than in physical stores, in everything from casinos games with quick withdrawals like at site freespinsbonusar.net, shopping for home electronics and clothes or ordering services such as flower delivery and grocery bags.

Digitization has meant that instead of paper slips with barcodes in your wallet, you can enter a code directly at checkout on the website, or simply follow a link to take advantage of discounts. So-called affiliate sites collect products or services from different suppliers, and receive a commission when a customer completes a purchase after clicking on the supplier's website via an affiliate link. Today, many e-shops also offer member discounts if you use their newsletter, for example.

Greater choice

The wide range of goods and services online is another of the biggest factors in the success of e-commerce. The net gathers everything in one place and it is possible to compare the prices of a variety of e-retailers to save money. Comparing different products is also easy, as many sites make it easy for customers to put two products side by side and see which one is the best, and others have dedicated reviews where several similar products are compared and rated.

However, the number of products available can sometimes seem overwhelming. The lack of a physical, expert person to ask, which you often get access to in a store, is seen as a minus by some. However, consumers can use free comparison services to find the right one in the jungle. Some e-tailers offer customer service with manual chats or chat bots on their website to simulate the help you would otherwise receive in stores.

Shipping and payment crucial

The online payment methods have become more and more, and so have the shipping options. These are two heavy selling points that e-shops need to use to get customers in the tough online competition. A company that offers delivery to your door the very next day, or to a locker in the store you live next door to, is perceived as more attractive than having to wait a long time for a package that arrives at a post office several kilometers away.

Flexible payment is another important aspect that makes people choose e-commerce. The possibility of paying by direct bank transfer is perceived by many as safe and convenient.

Services such as Swish and Klarna are also popular, the Swedes and the Internet survey shows. Alongside the newer, modern payment services, more classic online payment methods are also still going strong. Not least card payment. Invoice purchases are also offered by most e-commerce stores. There, digital invoices have made it easy for customers to manage their purchases with a few clicks instead of paying invoices manually.

Risks of e-commerce

In contrast to the advantages, e-commerce also involves certain risks. Around half of everyone who shops online experiences some kind of insecurity, according to the same survey mentioned above. A common reason for concern is giving out card details on a website, but also that the company is supposed to be unserious and that you should not get your promised products delivered. In addition, many people worry about their passwords and other personal information falling into the wrong hands.

Partial payments online also involve a risk of being caught in the aforementioned debt trap . Consumers who shop on credit or postpone their payment need to ensure that they can afford to pay later, otherwise the risk is that you will receive payment notices and that the price will be significantly more expensive in the end. If the debts are not paid off, it can lead to one ending up with the Bailiff and being refused, for example, a loan to buy a home.

The future of e-commerce

With the significant increase that shopping and other online transactions have had in recent years, the question is whether e-commerce will continue to grow at the same rate. In that case, what will happen to physical stores? It is clear at this point that e-commerce is here to stay, but so far the segment has gone hand in hand with physical stores.

While more and more people make online purchases, retail sales in stores also continue to be strong, especially for shopping centers and grocery stores. The experience of choosing your own goods and trying on clothes before buying them continues to attract a large proportion of consumers. How the development will be in the future remains to be seen, but the rise of e-commerce does not look like it will turn downward in the near future.