YouTube and Shopee have announced the launch of an online shopping service in Indonesia, with plans to expand it across Southeast Asia. Through this, users on the former’s video streaming platform will be able to purchase products featured in videos via links that redirect them to the Sea Ltd-owned e-commerce platform.
YouTube’s Asia-Pacific director, Ajay Vidyasagar, stated that Indonesia’s rapid growth in online shopping prompted the launch of the service. The partnership will allow the platform and Shopee to compete directly with TikTok, which has been increasing its presence in the region, particularly after taking over the country’s leading e-commerce platform, Tokopedia.
The launch of this service marks a significant step in YouTube’s strategy to tap into the region’s online shopping market. Vidyasagar also mentioned that YouTube Shopping would eventually open up to other partners in a “phased, sequenced manner,” indicating that the service may expand beyond Shopee in the future.
The service, which is already operational in South Korea and the United States, is set to expand to Thailand and Vietnam in the coming weeks. It is not known if the platform plans to introduce YouTube Shopping to the Malaysian market at this time.
(Source: Reuters)
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