Federal Express Corporation (FedEx) said, based on the insights from its latest survey on this year's festive shopping season, there is "strong optimism" for a holiday surge among businesses and consumers in the Asia Pacific region.

Conducted in October 2024, the survey gathered responses from 200 small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) and 300 consumers across 12 APAC markets, exploring their expectations, purchasing motivations, and concerns for the festive season while identifying key trends shaping customer behaviour during this time.

FedEx said, according to the findings, 70% of SMEs expect year-on-year sales growth this festive season, with nearly 80% forecasting this growth in sales from within Asia—especially from Southeast Asia.

This optimism aligns with broader market trends, as Southeast Asia's e-commerce market grew in double digits in 2024, driven by increased digital adoption and cross-border trade.

Additionally, intra-Asia trade continues its robust expansion, with projections indicating it will surpass US$13.5 trillion by 2030.

FedEx said the survey found that over half (57%) of consumers prefer shopping on e-commerce platforms, with 70% motivated by substantial festive discounts and promotions.

Meanwhile, free delivery continues to play a crucial role in shaping the shopping experience and driving purchases among consumers. Equally, consumers expect their orders to arrive within two to three business days, with convenient delivery options.

Consumers also want to see businesses develop more sustainable online shopping practices and are willing to pay a premium for sustainable packaging when purchasing gifts.

"In the Asia Pacific region, the gifting season continues in the months leading up to Christmas through to Lunar New Year," said Kawal Preet, president, Asia Pacific, FedEx.

"As cross-border e-commerce continues to surge, e-tailers—particularly small and medium-sized businesses— are gearing up to maximize sales this festive season," she added, noting that FedEx's extensive network and intuitive digital solutions empower these businesses to deliver customer requirements during the holiday season.

Growth in e-commerce usage

FedEx said to drive sales, SMEs must tap into e-commerce platforms, with e-commerce continuing to capture an increasing share of retail spending.

 The survey reveals that over four-fifths (87%) of SMEs are leveraging third-party e-commerce platforms to broaden customer reach and enhance sales opportunities. Significant online shopping events like Double Eleven, Black Friday, Cyber Monday play a key role in driving consumer engagement during the holiday season.

Notably, over half (57%) of consumers prefer shopping on e-commerce platforms, with 70% motivated by substantial discounts and promotions. This highlights the importance of these events for both e-tailers and consumers.

FedEx said its comprehensive e-commerce solutions are supporting e-tailers in streamlining order fulfilment. The company said it is integrating its Ship Manager platform with leading e-commerce marketplaces such as Shopify and BigCommerce, allowing APAC e-tailers to create shipments and manage paperwork directly from their online orders.