"The growth forecast for 2024 can be supported by merchats by optimizing aspects such as offering an omnichannel experience through their own mobile applications, but also by integrating technologies such as RPA and AI both to ensure a personalized experience for consumers and to make good and fast business decisions. Moreover, these solutions will help them achieve operational efficiency, i.e. scalable processes with built-in automated solutions for fast delivery, customer support, etc.", stated Elena Gheorghe, PayU GPO Romania Country Manager.

According to PayU forecasts, in 2024 the payment process will continue to represent one of the important pillars in terms of revenue growth for online merchants. Although card payment - and especially payments with a saved card (Google Pay, Apple Pay and other digital wallets) - will maintain its steady growth of 15%-20%, this year we will definitely see in e-Commerce industry the use of Account-to-Account payment methods, such as Open Banking or Instant Payments. At the same time, payment in installment such as BNPL and Slice will have an increasing degree of online penetration due to the concept of online installments, directly to the debit card, with subsequent installments being held, as they are perceived by consumers as simple and easy both as payment methods and as financial resource management process.

"We recommend merchants to have a simple check-out process, clear terms and conditions regarding delivery, return, refund and the payment methods listed on the front page. Obviously, they should offer payment methods that help them increase their conversion rate, such as pre-saved card payment and installment payment, as the latter can generate up to 30% more revenue and has an average value 3 times higher than instant payment", emphasized the PayU GPO Romania Country Manager.

2023 retrospective in local e-Commerce

Last year, the local e-Commerce market was valued at 9.8 billion euros according to McKinsey, of which 65% represented products/goods and 35% services.

In the area of ​​goods, the most searched in online were IT&home (65% of the total), clothing (23%), food products (6%), but the verticals with the biggest increases in transactions were fashion and beauty, food&delivery and groceries. In the services area, most online purchases were made in transportation, including delivery services (80%) and travel packages (14%), but the biggest increases were registered in the entertainment and travel packages verticals.

In 2023, Romania ranked third in e-Commerce in Central and Eastern Europe, after Poland (with a market estimated at $27.8 billion in 2023) and the Czech Republic ($13 billion in 2023), but well ahead Hungary and Bulgaria, which totaled $6 billion. The local e-commerce market represents 11% of total retail, while in Poland it is 7%, in the Czech Republic 14%, in Hungary 10% and in Bulgaria 7%. Thus, considering the economic growth pace of Romania, it has the chance to become the second operator in the region in the e-Commerce industry, in a very near future.