Back in the early days of e-commerce in Turkey, the landscape was very different. Few companies had ventured online, and even fewer understood what it took to succeed. I was lucky to be part of the e-commerce boom, working at one of the first major players in the country.
Turkey’s e-commerce evolution has been remarkable, and there are a few key reasons why it took off the way it did.
Understanding the Local Market
One of the biggest challenges we faced in those early days was understanding local consumer behavior. Turkish consumers were initially hesitant to shop online, and building trust was critical. Through clear communication, strong customer support, and a focus on secure payments, we slowly but surely gained that trust.
Logistics and Infrastructure
Another factor that contributed to our success was building out logistics networks. In a country where infrastructure was still catching up with demand, we had to get creative. We developed partnerships with local couriers and built systems that ensured timely delivery, which was a major competitive advantage.
Going Mobile
Turkey has a young, tech-savvy population, and one of the biggest shifts we saw was the transition from desktop to mobile commerce. By optimizing our mobile platforms early, we were able to capture a growing market of mobile shoppers and position ourselves as a leader in the space.
E-commerce in Turkey has come a long way, and I’m proud to have been part of its early growth. The lessons we learned about trust, logistics, and mobile are still relevant for e-commerce businesses today.