More and more people in Japan want to start a business using cross-border EC, but they need a site and system to serve as the foundation for using this cross-border EC.

The system that serves as the foundation is called a platform. When using cross-border EC, the choice of platform is a very important item, and it is also an item that everyone worries about, such as “What kind of websites do people overseas usually use?

In this issue, we will introduce the types of cross-border EC platforms and the platforms that have become popular in various countries for those who are considering using cross-border EC.

Types of cross-border EC platforms

Cross-border EC platforms can be divided into two main categories: in-house produced EC sites and mall EC sites, which can be strictly divided into four types.

Self-produced e-commerce site

The first type of cross-border EC platform is the in-house produced EC site.

You literally open and build your own site, but the way you do it differs depending on whether you are opening a site in Japan or in your target country.

Established own website in Japan

This is a method of renting a server and building an EC site in Japan. Since the platform can be created from the beginning in the familiar Japanese language and under Japanese rules, it is relatively easy to create the platform as you like.

However, there are some drawbacks, such as the need to set the language of the target country and the need to structure the site in such a way as to entice people from that country to buy.

Opened own website overseas

This method involves renting a server in the target country and building an EC site. Since the site can be built directly in the target country, it has the advantage of being able to create an EC site for the local market rather than opening a site in Japan.

The difference from setting up a website in Japan is that it must be created in a foreign language and according to foreign Internet rules, which can be a very difficult task for those who do not speak foreign languages or have no knowledge of foreign Internet rules.

Mall e-commerce site

One type of cross-border EC platform is to open a store on a mall EC site.

Instead of creating your own site like a mall e-commerce site, you apply and open a store on the original mall-type platform, which is like an individual store in an actual shopping mall.

Open a store in a Japanese domestic e-commerce mall that supports overseas sales

The method of opening a store in a Japanese domestic e-commerce mall that supports overseas sales has the advantage that it is easy to use and the hurdles to opening a store are lower than those of other methods, since the e-commerce site is developed in Japan.

However, customers are not Japanese, but foreigners. The only reason why a foreign customer would bother to visit a Japanese e-commerce site would be if he or she really likes Japanese products or if the site is well advertised.

The advantage is that it is easy to open a store, but the disadvantage exists that it is difficult to attract customers.

Open a store in an overseas e-commerce mall

Opening a store in an overseas e-commerce mall is a highly recommended method that is expected to be the most effective in attracting customers among the methods introduced here. You can easily open a store by applying to a mall-type e-commerce site that already exists overseas, and you can acquire a certain number of customers without having to attract customers yourself.

Since Japanese products are very popular overseas, good results can be expected if you can get people to see your products. The disadvantages are that there are many competitors for the expected effect of attracting customers, and that applications and applications must be made according to the language and rules of the target country.

Popular platforms in China

Having introduced the different types of cross-border EC, we will now introduce some of the most popular platforms around the world.

First, we will introduce two popular platforms in China, which is currently the largest cross-border EC market in the world.

cat with magical powers

The first popular platform in China that we would like to introduce is “TianNeko”.

Tian Cat has become the world’s largest giant e-commerce mall, accounting for more than 50% of China’s cross-border e-commerce market.

It is said to have more than 65 million members and 70,000 stores, both of which are the largest in Japan.

Since the standards for opening a store are set more strictly than those of other companies, there is less risk of buying counterfeit products, and it is popular among Chinese customers to buy “high quality” products made in Japan.

Once you clear the two hurdles of the difficulty of opening a store in an overseas mall and the strict criteria for opening a store, you will be able to open a store on the most popular platform in China, the world’s largest market, and you are sure to attract a high level of customers.

If you are thinking of using cross-border EC in China, be sure to check out the platform TianNeko.

Jingdong Commercial City

In the Chinese cross-border e-commerce market, the second most popular platform after Tenco is Jingdong Shancheng.

Even though its market share is lower than that of Tenco, it is still very impressive to be in second place in China’s cross-border e-commerce market.

One of the characteristics of Gyeongdong Shoseong is that it focuses on home appliances.

Another attraction is the speed of transactions, as the company is affiliated with the Yamato Group of Japan, so if you shop for Japanese goods at Kyotohsho, your goods will be delivered to your home in as little as four days.

Popular platforms in the U.S.

Next, we will introduce two popular platforms in the United States.

Amazon

The first popular platform in the U.S. that we will introduce is “Amazon,” which you are all familiar with.

Amazon is very popular in Japan, but it has become even more popular in the U.S. It is even said that “one out of every two Americans uses Amazon.

The site is used by people of all ages, from the young to the elderly, as it contains many useful word-of-mouth articles and the site is simple and easy to read.

One of the reasons Amazon is so popular for cross-border EC is the ease of opening a store on Amazon in the U.S., which is almost the same as the method used to open a store on Amazon in Japan.

If you want to start cross-border EC in the U.S., you cannot miss this Amazon.

Walmart

Walmart is the second most popular American platform after Amazon.

Walmart is not as well known as Amazon and is not as well known in Japan, so it does not attract much attention, but it is a company that is steadily increasing its sales in the United States.

Walmart was originally the largest supermarket in the United States.

The Walmart-operated e-commerce site also offers a service that allows customers to order products on the e-commerce site and pick them up at the store, a service that is becoming popular in the United States.

Popular platforms in Asia

When it comes to cross-border EC, “China” and “the U.S.” lead the pack in terms of market size, but Japanese companies actually tend to increase the number of stores in other Asian countries as well.

So, finally, here are some of the most popular platforms in the Asian region.

Shopee

Shopee is the first popular platform in the Asian region.

Shopee is a cross-border e-commerce platform used in Singapore, and it is said to be one of the most promising and high-profile platforms in Asia today.

One of Shopee’s unique features is that there are no sales commissions.

The fact that there is no handling fee for sales lowers the hurdle for those opening a store and makes it easier for those from Japan to open a store.

If you are targeting the Southeast Asia area, check out Shopee.

G-market

One popular platform in Asia is the G-market e-commerce site.

G-market is an e-commerce site used in Korea, and there is also an e-commerce site called G-market Grobal for Korean domestic and cross-border e-commerce.

Although it has the No. 1 name recognition in Korea, it supports only Chinese and English in addition to Korean, and does not support Japanese, so it is a little difficult to open a store from Japan, but if you are thinking of using cross-border EC in Korea, please check it out.

summary

We introduced the types of cross-border EC platforms and the platforms that have become popular in various countries.

Knowing which platforms are popular in each country will give you an advantage in terms of attracting customers if you decide to open a store in an e-commerce mall.