Page 54 - SAMENA Trends - June-August 2021

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

77% of Oman Customers Become Digital Converts Since Pandemic

77 per cent of customers in Oman IT decision-makers said their customers majority, 77 per cent, ranked an online
have become digital converts since will navigate away from a site and choose app or website that works well on mobile
the pandemic and want to keep buying an alternative if they can’t find what they devices as among their top three choices.
everything online, according to Sitecore, need in just a few clicks. Furthermore, Also scoring highly in the top three
the global leader in digital experience 90 per cent of Oman respondents agreed choices were brands keeping up to date
management software. The research, that their customers have less patience on the latest trends and fresh inspiration
conducted by YouGov Mena, surveyed with slow or poorly functioning websites. (55 per cent), remembering customers’
more than 650 IT decision-makers across “With 77 per cent of Oman customers shopping history and preferences (33 per
12 countries in the Gulf Cooperation being digital converts to e-commerce, the cent), giving preferential treatment in the
Council, the Levant, and Egypt. Boosted by country is seeing a rapid transition from form of exclusive offers and invitations
the stay-at-home economy of COVID-19, bricks and mortar stores to hybrid and (33 per cent), the ability to order by voice
the Middle East’s e-commerce market e-commerce models,” said Mohammed command, smartwatch, or smart speaker
reached $12.1 billion in 2020, representing Alkhotani, Area Vice President – Middle (22 per cent), and knowing the name
53.8 per cent year-over-year growth, East and Africa, Sitecore. “Millennials during login or customer service (22 per
according to a recent report by MarketLine. and Generation Z customers have cent). “Brand loyalty has evaporated and
Electronics and retail accounted for quickly shifted their significant spending there is no margin for error from browsing
$5.2 billion or 42.5 per cent of the total power online. Pressure will continue to through to delivery,” added Mohammed
market. As e-commerce continues to mount on retailers until they can deliver Alkhotani. “Brands in Oman are already
grow, customers are placing greater an experience that delights.” Brands in ahead of the curve in prioritizing mobile
emphasis on the customer experience. Oman are taking a variety of actions to apps and websites to personalize online
Since the pandemic, 78 per cent of Oman’s improve the shopping experience. The experiences.”

CITRA Updates Its Application to Enable E-Government

CITRA launched a new update to its application
for electronic services on Wednesday, which is in
line with the future vision of the State of Kuwait
towards enabling E-Government. In a statement
to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), CITRA stated that
the application provides electronic services in an
interactive way in order to facilitate the procedures
of the authority's clients as well as enable customers
to view its latest developments and decisions. CITRA
indicated that the application updates included
applying for individual services and following up
on the status of the requests for the authorization
of radio services for radio amateurs, the import of
communications equipment, the radio service (Citizen
Band) and the marine. Moreover, the application would
also allow the submission of a request for the release
of communications devices with the availability of
online payment in addition to sending a complaint
or suggestion to the authority and submitting the
registration of (.kw) domain. Furthermore, CITRA
stated that the application will provide features such as
testing the internet speed and requesting the blocking
of websites, in addition to the most important updates
that are made to the content of the official website,
such as the authority’s news, the cybersecurity and
emergency response page, the communications and
information technology sector data for the State of
Kuwait and the page on the emerging corona virus.

54 JUN-AUG 2021