Nearly 45% of consumers shop online for cheaper options

This was driven by uncertainties in the current economic condition.

A total of 44% of consumers in Southeast Asia prefer to shop online over traditional shopping to cut costs, a survey found. 

“Economic pressures are driving the broad adoption of shopping rewards programmes, which are ‘crossing the chasm’ from deal hunters and early adopters to mainstream consumers seeking to cut costs any way they can,” the report read in part. 

“Even when it comes to shopping for goods locally, Southeast Asians are unanimous in their preference to do so through an online medium.”

Read more: Around 7 in 10 Southeast Asian consumers see online shopping as “integral” part of life

For its Inflation & Shopping in the Digital Age, Blackbox-ADNA surveyed more than 9,000 adults across Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines. 

Of these, 32% locally shopped online, whilst 17% preferred to buy at major shopping malls. 

Others shopped at a major central shopping street or precinct (14%), overseas through online platforms (12%), at a mall or precinct close to the workplace (11%), at a mall close to home (8%), or when travelling abroad (5%).