Media OutReach

AI Presents Growth Opportunities for Malaysian eCommerce Sellers, Despite Adoption Challenges, Lazada Report Reveals

Published

12 months ago

08/04/2025

On average, Malaysian online sellers have adopted AI in only 26% of their business operations, significantly lower than the SEA average of 37%.
Indonesia and Vietnam lead average AI adoption in eCommerce in Southeast Asia, followed by Singapore and Thailand.
Lazada’s new playbook provides sellers with best practices, actionable insights and resources to help integrate AI into their operations.

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 8 April 2025 – Lazada, a leading eCommerce platform in Southeast Asia, today published its research report, Bridging the AI Gap: Online Seller Perceptions and Adoption Trends in Southeast Asia (SEA). Developed in collaboration with Kantar, the report surveyed 1,214 eCommerce sellers across Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam to examine AI adoption trends, challenges, and opportunities—shedding light on sellers’ readiness to integrate AI into their operations.

Knowledge, perception and implementation gap evident among online sellers

The research reveals that 69% of Malaysian online sellers show strong familiarity of AI, in line with the average for the region at 68%, indicating that they are aware of AI. While SEA sellers believe they have integrated AI into 47% of their business operations, actual adoption stands only at 37%. In Malaysia, this gap is even wider with sellers estimating adoption at 30%, while real implementation is lower at just 26%, underscoring a disparity between perceived and actual AI use in the country.

Online sellers face a dilemma in terms of assessing AI efficacy and its cost implications. While 89% of SEA sellers acknowledge AI’s role in boosting productivity, this sentiment is slightly lower amongst Malaysian sellers at 77%. This contrasts with the perceived overall usefulness of AI, where only 1 in 2 Malaysian sellers are sceptical about its utility, compared with almost two-thirds (61%) of SEA sellers who feel the same. Furthermore, although 87% sellers in Malaysia agree that AI can drive long-term cost savings, nearly two-thirds (64%) cite costliness and time-consuming implementation as barriers to adoption.

The research also suggests an implementation gap, where sellers understand the importance of AI but struggle with effective deployment. Highlighting the challenge of transitioning from familiar, manual processes to AI-driven solutions, nearly all sellers in SEA (93%) agree that it is important to upskill the workforce to use AI so that they can be more productive, yet 3 out of 4 sellers (75%) also concede that their employees still prefer to use tools they are familiar with, rather than new AI solutions. In Malaysia, the importance of upskilling for AI is slightly lower at 89%, although a high majority of sellers (67%) still indicate that their employees prefer to use tried-and-tested ways of working.

Comparing AI-readiness levels in Malaysia vs. SEA

Across the region, Indonesia and Vietnam lead with 42% AI adoption across business functions, while Singapore and Thailand follow closely at 39% and finally the Philippines at 32% and Malaysia at 26%. Based on the level of AI adoption across five core aspects of operations of a seller’s business, namely operations and logistics, product management, marketing and advertising, customer service, and workforce management, the report identifies three distinct seller archetypes – AI Adepts, AI Aspirants, and AI Agnostics^{^[1]}, based on the average score they attained in each aspect of operations to represent their readiness level to embrace AI:

AI Adepts: Sellers who have integrated AI across at least 80% of their operations, placing them at the forefront of adoption. Only 15% of Malaysian sellers belong to this category, significantly lower than the SEA average of 24%.
AI Aspirants: Sellers who have partially integrated AI into their operations, but still face adoption gaps across key functions. This group comprises 43% of Malaysian sellers, aligning with half of the sellers in Southeast Asia (50%).
AI Agnostics: This group lags in AI adoption, with most business functions still handled manually. Malaysians have a notably higher number of sellers in this category (42%), nearly double the Southeast Asia average of 26%.

Findings indicate that Thailand has the highest share of AI Adepts, with 30% of sellers in this category. Singapore (29%), Indonesia (29%), and Vietnam (22%) also demonstrate strong AI implementation despite knowledge gaps, while Malaysia (15%) and the Philippines (19%) face challenges related to internal buy-in and infrastructure limitations. 85% of Malaysian sellers fall into the AI Aspirants and AI Agnostics categories, signalling a pressing need for enhanced seller support (48%) and AI-powered tools (47%) to drive implementation.

“The findings from our research reveal a fascinating gap in Southeast Asia’s eCommerce ecosystem. While most sellers understand AI’s transformative potential, many are still navigating the path from recognition to implementation,” said James Dong, Chief Executive Officer, Lazada Group. “As a leading eCommerce platform in Southeast Asia, we aim to bridge the knowledge and adoption gap by developing accessible AI solutions that address the unique challenges faced by sellers across different markets, ultimately making technology more accessible and driving sustainable business growth regardless of a seller’s size or technical expertise.”

Leveraging Lazada’s AI-driven solutions to transform business operations

To support sellers in their AI adoption journey, Lazada is launching the Online Sellers Artificial Intelligence Readiness Playbook, designed to provide strategic guidance based on sellers’ AI maturity levels. The research reveals that sellers are already leveraging key AI-driven solutions on Lazada’s platform to enhance their efficiency, validating Lazada’s continuous investments into cutting-edge AI innovations and advanced tools that streamline eCommerce operations and drive competitiveness.

With 67% of sellers expressing strong satisfaction in existing Lazada AI features^{^[2]}, Lazada is also releasing new Generative AI (GenAI) features that are designed to empower sellers and enhance their product listings, streamline operations, and boost customer conversions such as:

AI Smart Product Optimisation: Powered by GenAI, this tool helps sellers identify improvements they can make to their product titles, descriptions, or even photos. It enables automated virtual try-ons, background modifications, and model adjustments, allowing sellers to produce professional product imagery quickly within minutes.
AI-Powered Translations: This feature automatically translates product content into multiple local languages, enabling sellers to expand their reach across diverse markets efficiently and accurately.
Lazzie Seller: A dedicated AI assistant within the Alibaba Seller Centre (ASC), providing instant responses to frequently asked questions, quick navigation to key features, store risk assessments, and business advice to boost seller efficiency and growth.

To find out more, download the Online Sellers Artificial Intelligence Readiness Playbook to understand how these solutions can offer a structured framework for sellers to integrate AI into their workflows to drive growth, efficiency, and innovation in an ever-evolving eCommerce landscape.

^[1] AI Adepts are sellers in the top 25^th percentile for AI adoption in terms of their scores, AI Aspirants fall within the middle 25^th and 75^th percentile, and AI Agnostics are in the bottom 25^th percentile.

^[2] Refer to Annex for more details

About the Research

Developed in partnership with Kantar, Bridging the AI Gap: Online Seller Perceptions and Adoption Trends in Southeast Asia provides a comprehensive analysis of AI adoption trends, challenges, and opportunities, offering insights into how sellers can leverage AI to drive growth and efficiency in Southeast Asia’s evolving eCommerce landscape. The report surveyed 1,214 eCommerce sellers across Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam in February 2025.

This follows the Artificial Intelligence Adoption in eCommerce in Southeast Asia Whitepaper, another research conducted in partnership with Kantar, which surveyed more than 6,000 eCommerce users in the region in September 2024 to better understand AI awareness, trust and preferences, shopping behaviour, and consumer pain points in the region.

Annex
Lazada’s AI features for sellers:

Lazada Business Advisor: AI-powered analytics tool that provides real-time insights to optimise sales and business performance. Almost seven in 10 Lazada sellers report strong satisfaction and almost half (48%) actively use this tool to track trends and make data-driven decisions
Lazada Sponsored Solutions: A targeted advertising platform that boosts product visibility and maximises sales through AI-driven recommendations. Two in three (67%) sellers report strong satisfaction, and 46% actively use this tool, citing its positive impact on sales growth.
AI Smart Listing: Generative AI tool that automates product listing by generating and pre-filling compelling attributes based on images or keywords. 64% of sellers report strong satisfaction in leveraging this feature to reduce listing time and improve content quality.
Virtual Try-Ons: An AI-powered AR feature that allows shoppers to visualise products in real time, increasing purchase confidence and reducing returns. 62% of sellers express strong satisfaction with its effectiveness, with 42% of sellers using it actively.
AI Selling Points: A tool that analyses product data and customer behaviour to automatically highlight key product features to drive conversions. 68% of sellers express strong satisfaction with this feature and 42% actively use it to attract more customers to their storefront online.
Lazada IM Shop Assistant (LISA): An AI-powered tool that helps sellers enhance customer engagement by providing automated, AI-driven responses to inquiries, improving service efficiency and conversion rates. 65% of sellers express strong satisfaction with this feature and 38% actively use it.

Hashtag: #LazadaMY #Lazada

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The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About Lazada Group

Lazada Group is Southeast Asia’s pioneer eCommerce platform. For the last 13 years, Lazada has been accelerating progress in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam through commerce and technology. Today, a thriving local ecosystem links about 160 million active users to more than one million actively-selling sellers every month, who are transacting safely and securely via trusted payment channels and Lazada Wallet, receiving parcels through a homegrown logistics network that has become the largest in the region.

Media OutReach

China-Singapore Youth Dialogue wraps up with focus on AI, innovation

Published

2 days ago

29/03/2026

Media Outreach

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 29 March 2026 – The China-Singapore Youth Dialogue concluded in Singapore on March 25, bringing together young participants to exchange ideas on technology, culture and sustainability under the theme “Building Tomorrow: Youth Voices United.”

A total of 12 youth panelists from China and Singapore participate in three panel discussions at Asian Civilisations Museum in Singapore on March 25.(Photo: People’s Daily)

Co-organized by the People’s Daily and Lianhe Zaobao, the two-day event featured 12 young representatives who explored how their generation is shaping the future through innovation, cultural renewal and cross-border collaboration.

In the first panel, “Youth Driving Tech Innovation,” participants working in robotics, flying cars and data verification discussed both the opportunities and challenges of the AI era.

Tan Wei Hua, head of design at Singapore-based LionsBot International, addressed concerns over “AI anxiety” and its impact on jobs. “New jobs are going to be created. The next generation will be doing something entirely different,” he said, pointing to robotics as a growing field of opportunity.

Quah Zheng Wei, CEO and co-founder of Accredify, encouraged aspiring entrepreneurs to take the first step. With the tech industry evolving rapidly, he stressed that “nothing is holding you back.”

From an industry perspective, Michael Du, CFO and vice president of ARIDGE, said emerging technologies are expanding possibilities in everyday life. Meanwhile, Xu Huazhe, assistant professor at the Institute for Interdisciplinary Information Sciences at Tsinghua University, highlighted the strengths of younger generations: “With the correct taste, they will build the most meaningful things.”

The second panel, “Contemporary Renewal of Traditional Culture,” shifted focus from innovation to heritage. Artists and cultural practitioners in wood sculpture, paper art, jewelry design and journalism explored how tradition can be revitalized in modern contexts.

Wood sculpture artist Deng Kun emphasized the importance of cultivating an eye for beauty, while Lianhe Zaobao arts and culture journalist Zhang Heyang described traditional culture as “a place of spiritual haven for today’s youth.”

Designer Longhong Ziwei, founder and art director of the accessory brand Soft Mountains, said engaging with Yi heritage has inspired her work and resonated with international audiences.

Singaporean paper and mixed media artist Koh Pei Li, drawing inspiration from everyday urban life, highlighted the value of noticing overlooked details. Through her work, she hopes to reconnect people with the subtle beauty around them.

In the final panel, “Jointly Building a Sustainable Future,” speakers from architecture, fashion, and marine conservation offered interdisciplinary perspectives on sustainability.

Chen Kan, principal architect of TAB Architecture and Design, spoke about the philosophy of “being-with” as a guiding principle. “We need a deeper capacity to coexist with others,” he said.

Goy Zhenru, principal architect of Goy Architects in Singapore, emphasized designing in harmony with nature. She highlighted the importance of connecting living spaces with natural elements such as breeze and sunlight to create comfort and environmental awareness.

Sam Shu Qin, co-founder of Our Singapore Reefs and Our Blue Spaces, who describes herself as “a gardener underwater,” expressed hope that younger generations will recognize their ability to give back to the ocean.

For fashion designer Chen Peng, founder of brand CHENPENG, sustainability is both cultural and practical. “It should be culture-based and do no harm to the earth. It’s not a choice, but a natural extension of philosophy,” he said.

The dialogue marked a step forward in media cooperation and people-to-people exchanges between China and Singapore. By amplifying youth perspectives, it showcased the innovative energy and collaborative potential of both countries, while helping to build a long-term platform for bilateral engagement and shared progress.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Media OutReach

China-Singapore Youth Dialogue wraps up with focus on AI, innovation

Published

2 days ago

29/03/2026

Media Outreach

A total of 12 youth panelists from China and Singapore participate in three panel discussions at Asian Civilisations Museum in Singapore on March 25.(Photo: People’s Daily)

In the first panel, “Youth Driving Tech Innovation,” participants working in robotics, flying cars and data verification discussed both the opportunities and challenges of the AI era.

Quah Zheng Wei, CEO and co-founder of Accredify, encouraged aspiring entrepreneurs to take the first step. With the tech industry evolving rapidly, he stressed that “nothing is holding you back.”

Designer Longhong Ziwei, founder and art director of the accessory brand Soft Mountains, said engaging with Yi heritage has inspired her work and resonated with international audiences.

In the final panel, “Jointly Building a Sustainable Future,” speakers from architecture, fashion, and marine conservation offered interdisciplinary perspectives on sustainability.

Chen Kan, principal architect of TAB Architecture and Design, spoke about the philosophy of “being-with” as a guiding principle. “We need a deeper capacity to coexist with others,” he said.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Media OutReach

Citri Mobile Expands Singapore Repair Network as Jurong and Yishun Demand Grow

Published

2 days ago

29/03/2026

Media Outreach

Expansion strengthens access to fast, reliable device repair services across Jurong, Yishun, Tampines and Chinatown as demand for urgent technical support rises

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 29 March 2026 – Citri Mobile has expanded its Singapore repair network with stronger support in Jurong and Yishun, responding to rising demand for faster and more accessible device repair as device failures become increasingly disruptive to daily life.

A Citri Mobile technician performing internal diagnostics at a fully equipped repair station in Singapore.

What often begins as a minor inconvenience can quickly escalate. A phone may take longer to charge, a screen may flicker briefly before stabilising, or a laptop may run hotter than usual during routine use. These early signs are often ignored until the device stops functioning at a critical moment.

In recent months, technicians have observed a noticeable increase in cases involving sudden power loss, charging instability, motherboard-related faults and water damage. These issues often appear gradually before escalating into complete device failure, reflecting a broader shift in how modern devices behave under long-term usage.

Across Singapore, users are increasingly facing device failures at moments where immediate access is essential. A phone may stop responding during a payment, a transport app may fail to load before a journey, or a laptop may refuse to power on just before an important task. In such situations, the priority shifts quickly from convenience to restoring access in order to regain control of payments, communication and daily responsibilities.

Against this backdrop, Citri Mobile and its C3 Smart Repair by Citri Mobile outlets are strengthening support for customers dealing with urgent issues across smartphones, foldable devices, tablets, MacBooks and laptops.

In Jurong, these situations are often experienced during working hours and daily commutes. A phone that powers off unexpectedly mid-transaction or loses signal during navigation can create immediate disruption. In these moments, users searching for phone repair in Jurong often prioritise providers that are nearby, responsive and able to diagnose issues clearly without unnecessary delay.

In Yishun, the pattern frequently unfolds in residential settings. Devices that appear functional the night before may fail completely the next morning. A phone may not power on, a screen may remain black despite vibration, or a device may show signs of internal failure after minor exposure to moisture or accidental spills. When access to essential services is affected, the need for immediate local support becomes more urgent.

Water damage continues to be one of the more unpredictable causes of device failure. Even small amounts of moisture can lead to corrosion within internal components, affecting charging circuits, display connections or motherboard stability. In some cases, devices may continue to function temporarily before deteriorating rapidly over time.

At the same time, laptop and MacBook issues remain a significant concern, particularly for users who rely on their devices for work, study and communication. A MacBook that fails to power on, shuts down under load or shows inconsistent charging behaviour often indicates deeper issues such as logic board faults, battery degradation or power management instability.

For iPhone-related repairs, some users also look for providers that participate in Apple’s Independent Repair Provider programme, where applicable. Those seeking specialised support may explore iPhone repair in Singapore when reliability, diagnostics and parts compatibility are key considerations.

These issues are no longer isolated to one category of device. Similar underlying problems — including power IC faults, charging circuit instability and motherboard-level failures — can affect both smartphones and laptops. In many cases, users turn to providers offering broader device repair services in Singapore to address multiple concerns within a single visit.

In more complex cases, symptoms may appear inconsistent at first. A device may turn on intermittently, charge irregularly, or shut down without warning before failing entirely. These patterns often require careful diagnosis rather than immediate part replacement, particularly when internal board-level issues are involved.

Across Singapore, from Jurong and Yishun to Tampines and Chinatown, users increasingly choose repair providers that are close by, familiar and capable of handling both straightforward and complex faults with dependable turnaround. Customers in the northern region may also rely on nearby options such as mobile repair in Yishun for quicker access.

Citri Mobile said its recent expansion reflects a broader shift in customer expectations, where speed, clarity and reliability play a more significant role in decision-making.

“People usually start searching seriously when the problem stops them from doing something important,” a Citri Mobile spokesperson said. “Once payments, work access or communication are affected, the decision becomes immediate. They want a nearby solution they can trust.”

Citri Mobile operates across multiple Singapore locations under both Citri Mobile and C3 Smart Repair by Citri Mobile, supporting a wide range of repair needs from screen and battery replacements to charging issues, water damage recovery and motherboard-level repairs.

The company’s recent milestones include recognition as a Carousell Preferred Partner, receipt of the Carousell Best Service Award 2025, CaseTrust accreditation, and participation in Apple’s Independent Repair Provider programme for iPhone-related repair support.

With stronger coverage in Jurong and Yishun, alongside continued support in Chinatown and Tampines, Citri Mobile aims to improve access to timely and reliable device repair services for customers across the wider Singapore market.

Hashtag: #CitriMobile #SingaporeRepair #Jurong #Yishun

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The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

C3 Smart Repair By Citri Mobile

Citri Mobile is a Singapore-based device repair provider serving customers across multiple locations, including Jurong, Yishun, Chinatown and Tampines. The company operates outlets under both Citri Mobile and C3 Smart Repair by Citri Mobile, supporting smartphones, foldable devices, tablets, MacBooks and laptops.

Its services cover a wide range of issues, including screen and battery replacements, charging faults, water damage recovery and motherboard-related repairs, with a focus on accurate diagnostics and reliable turnaround.

Citri Mobile is a Carousell Preferred Partner, recipient of the Carousell Best Service Award 2025, CaseTrust-accredited, and part of Apple’s Independent Repair Provider programme for iPhone repairs.