Gen Zs Trust User and Expert Insights on Shopee

Shopee’s ‘Engaging Generation Z Shoppers in the Digital Era’ survey findings revealed that 60% of respondents prioritise platforms with easy search, comparison functionalities, and helpful reviews followed closely by comprehensive product information and trustworthiness. This emphasises the importance of building a user-friendly platform brimming with product variety, professional recommendations, and insightful user reviews to capture Gen Z's attention.

Underscoring their research-heavy habits, 30% of Gen Z strategise their purchase, holding over 70% of items in their cart for more than a day to conduct in-depth research before committing to a purchase. This highlights the importance of building a research-friendly environment, which includes offering a rich variety of research products, incorporating professional recommendations, and fostering insightful user reviews.

While research is paramount, a smooth checkout process is equally important. When asked “What will increase your likelihood of checking out your items immediately?”, 6 in 10  Gen Z shoppers focus on user experience features like product restock reminders, flash deals, and voucher applications. Additionally, easy order cancellation and price comparison tools are highly sought after. The remaining 40% look for efficient platform delivery services to finalise their purchases.

Gen Z put importance on value maximisation in their purchasing decisions. Free shipping, competitive pricing, attractive promotions, discounts and vouchers are critical motivators for 83% of respondents, demonstrating their focus on getting the most for their money. Interestingly, product quality appears to be a secondary factor when choosing a purchase channel.

Shopee’s ‘The Future of Shopping’ Study Reveals Gen Z Purchase Habits

Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, officially unveils the ‘The Future of Shopping: Engaging Generation Z Shoppers in the Digital Era’ study. The study discovered that 7 in 10 Generation Z (Gen Zs) consumers aged 18 to 24 leverage e-commerce platforms as the primary touchpoint in their shopping journey. This highlights a critical shift, with Gen Z actively utilising these platforms to gather information and conduct in-depth research before committing to a purchase.

Findings revealed a continued preference for e-commerce platforms despite exploring alternative channels for product research and discovery. A significant 68% of Gen Z respondents demonstrate a higher purchase completion rate on e-commerce platforms. 18% of Gen Zs prefer to explore products on social commerce platforms, while the remaining 14% opted to finalise transactions through other channels.

Enhancing Service Quality for Gen Zs

Interestingly, when asked, “What information do you search for when shopping for a product?”, a significant 67% actively seek out positive recommendations, emphasising the importance of high customer reviews and influencer endorsements. This focus on external validation aligns with their value for user trust. They view clear communication of product benefits and effectiveness as justification, prioritising products that deliver strong value for money over affordability (16%) and quality (17%).