- Layoffs by e-commerce firms Lazada and Shopee in the last two years have led some to question whether the heyday of online shopping could be over
- Lazada had laid staff off to pre-empt future challenges such as a higher dependence on tech, and more complex marketing strategies
- Experts say, however, that the job cuts also signal an increased focus on making profits, rather than pursuing a ‘growth at all cost’ mindset
- They add that given the fast-changing nature of the industry and competition among the firms, a big player may eventually bow out
- Should that happen, then attractive discounts, low shipping costs that consumers enjoy now may be a thing of the past as competition dwindles
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