Souq.com enhances Saudi e-commerce

The all-new website allows more than 250,000 users to show their products for trading over the Internet. More than 1000 items are being traded on a daily basis and set to grow 12% monthly.

More than 113,000 commodities were traded in 2008, a motive that encouraged the launch new version of the all-new, this modern website which meets the challenges of e-commerce, and demands of users with a majority of young people with estimated number of visitors reach more than 650,000 every month.

The launched of new version comes in response to the boom of e-commerce in Saudi Arabia. This reflects the Saudi users' awareness about the new business styles. With more than 14 million web pages, the website is one of the most effective and informative access points for all information relevant to various commodities including cars, electronics, jewelry, clothing, furniture, and many more. More than 150,000 commodities are delivered to traders spread all over the Kingdom.

Mr. Haitham Al Masoud, Regional Manager, Saudi Souq.com, said:

"Offering multiple options for ease of navigation, the web pages have been customized for ease of browsing. Users' feedback and suggestions have been taken into consideration during the development process. E-commerce has become a very interesting experience more than any time before and we promise our users with more campaigns & additions that would attract the various sections of Saudi society. Our users keep provide competitive prices and we make sure to have a transparent auctions."

He added:" The newly launched version of the website facilitates faster processing of enquiries and more streamlined interaction between sellers and buyers and site management team to provide modern e-commerce styles and privacy for traders. The overwhelming response of users shows that they are delighted with the new style of electronic trading which opens new trade channels within a secure business environment."

Souq.com is further leveraging on the technological strengths to enforce Saudi e-commerce by enabling people to make profits without going out to traditional markets, and at the comfort of their own homes. traders will find it easy to specify the characteristics of the commodities such as price and type through the "smart search" feature.

Success stories have inspired the website management team to implement the latest technologies in order to provide secure, direct access to the world of e-commerce. Mr. Jaber Al Otaibi, 23, one of the active users said:" I have achieved SR 98,000 in sales using souq.com due to the electronic, secure structure of the website which facilitates documentation, trading & registering of the commodities such as cell phones, digital cameras, etc."

Also Um Khalid, a housewife and sellers on Souq.com , said:" Saudi society awareness of e-commerce has changed dramatically. I've concluded a lot of successful deals using souq.com in the privacy that suits the Saudi traditions and women in particular."

Souq.com is the first e-commerce Saudi website and it is the faster growing e-commerce platform in the region. A specialized management team, based in Riyadh, supervises and runs the website and by this Saudi traders will be able to run their business through the use of the Internet in a secure, supervised environment provided by souq.com.