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Back when both Grab and Uber were still around in Southeast Asia, they did everything they could to boost their market share. The two firms started off with a bang by offering discounts galore, and it was rather easy to find a ride.
In Vietnam, this type of showdown could soon happen between Temu and Shopee, some of the biggest names in ecommerce. In seeking to gain a foothold in the country, Temu might consider adopting a marketplace model, putting it directly at odds with Shopee.
Let the battle begin.
Today we look at:
- How Temu might wade in on Shopee’s Vietnam turf
- A Thai ecommerce service provider getting acquired
- Other newsy highlights such as Taiwan’s latest chips initiative and Kakao Mobility getting fined
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Temu gearing up
Image credit: Timmy Loen
Temu getting suspended in Vietnam probably wasn’t part of its plans. But assuming that it does eventually get the green light to resume operations, here’s a look at how it could take on the goliath known as Shopee.
- Bringing in the locals: Temu currently uses a cross-border model in Vietnam, but it may need to operate as a local marketplace, just like how it does in other markets. That means onboarding local merchants to sell on the platform.
- The Chinese factor: Vietnam shouldn’t be that tough of a market, since many Chinese products are already popular in the country. The challenge would be the quality of shopping experiences and after-sales service that Temu can offer.
- Eyes on the prize: According to The Business Times, Temu has been in talks to acquire the warehousing and logistics unit for a major Vietnamese ecommerce player, mimicking the moves of other Chinese tech giants like Alibaba and ByteDance.
Read more: Temu’s Vietnam pivot could trigger direct showdown with Shopee
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