With over 21.3 million monthly visitors during Q1 2023, Amazon.ae is definitly shaping the e-commerce scene like never before!
In fact, Amazon stands as the undisputed #1 marketplace in the UAE, with Noon ranking #2. Meanwhile, in KSA, Noon scores #1 and Amazon holds a strong #2 position.
With e-commerce penetration rising fast and still low compared to Western markets, it’s a golden opportunity for brands to stake their claim on Amazon – a seat at the table that’s too valuable to overlook.
We observe a significant trend where brands, even if they prefer not to sell on Amazon, often find their products listed there by licensed distributors or unofficial resellers, which results in a lack of control over their brand image and reputation, posing potential harm.
Hence, it’s crucial for brands to have their official storefronts on marketplaces.
Beyond traffic and visibility, why should brands opt for Marketplaces?
Selling on Amazon or Noon guarantees that the entire supply chain, from storage, and shipping to post-purchase support, is expertly managed. In an era where consumers demand swift deliveries, their efficient logistics network ensures timely order fulfillment.
Amazon has expanded its storage capacity by a staggering 70 percent this year, opening a new warehouse in March. They now have 16 sites in KSA, 11 in Egypt, and 8 in the UAE.
This investment demonstrates their commitment to providing the best service to both sellers and customers in MENA.
Amazon vs. Noon: Choosing the Ideal Platform for Your Business
In the Middle East, Noon and Amazon are clear market leaders. Amazon particularly shines in areas like electronics, when Noon leads in food & pantry products. However, don’t overlook listing your products on Noon; having a presence on both marketplaces not only amplifies your visibility on search engines—taking up twice the real estate on results pages—but also strengthens your brand’s credibility and legitimacy.
Nonetheless, businesses should strategise differently for each platform, factoring in considerations like pricing and product choices for each marketplace’s audience
How should you proceed?
Embracing these e-commerce giants does come with challenges:
Noon for example requires manual and sophisticated handling and optimising your presence on Amazon requires time, tools, and knowledge that when done right has a dramatic impact on your results.
Acquisit offers deep knowledge of how to optimise a brand’s presence on both platforms:
- With a dedicated team acting as an extension of your team, we ensure seamless operations and growth.
- We use advanced tools that might be financially daunting for brands to get on their own and give you an unfair advantage on your competitors.
- We even developed proprietary tech solutions to strategically integrate your presence on Noon and Amazon (automated price synchronisation, “omnichannel” dashboards, etc.) to empower brands and maximise their revenues and ROI on these marketplaces.
In today’s business landscape, marketplaces are the beating heart of commerce. However, navigating these platforms requires more than just dipping your toes in; it demands professional guidance to harness its full potential.
And there’s no better time to dive in than now, as Q4 is teeming with events that can supercharge your conversion rates and sales
by Whitney Lupter Marketplace Lead at Acquisit
