Amazon’s launch in Australia may provide a spur for small to medium enterprises (SMEs) that have been slow to develop an online business, according to NAB’s Executive General Manager of Digital & Innovation, Jonathan Davey.
“If you’re a traditional retailer without an e-commerce presence, it’s time to start thinking about how to develop that capability and what you need to do that,” Davey says.
Amazon e-commerce in other jurisdictions has been linked with a surge in online activity, a development that can present an opportunity for local retailers that position themselves to appeal to online shoppers, as well as in-the-flesh customers.
“Consumer behaviour is evolving and small businesses need to get in front of that,” Davey says.
“Based on the experience in other countries, Amazon will change the shape of the retail industry in Australia and we want to encourage our customers to take advantage of this and leverage the opportunity.
“We’re focused on helping them to prepare and build the ecommerce capabilities they’re going to need to maintain and expand their operations in the digital sphere.”
For some businesses, that may mean undertaking branding and marketing activities, building a new website, or creating a catalogue to showcase their wares online. Small businesses looking for expert help to do so can connect with local professionals via proquo, a digital marketplace established jointly by NAB and Telstra in 2016.
“These are things that require focus and need to be prioritised but they’re relatively easy to do and if you get them right, you may be able to reach a larger audience,” Davey says.
“It’s an attractive proposition for small businesses.”