MAJOR GROWTH CHALLENGES FACED BY BANGLADESHI E-commerce STARTUPS

Abstract

E-commerce in Bangladesh has become a disruptive force in the new normal.
However, compared to developed countries, the sector is still in infancy.
Many companies are struggling to grow and several big ones have shut down
recently. Although the e-commerce sector has attracted attention from different
stakeholders, there has been little research that explored the challenges while
trying to grow in Bangladesh. This qualitative study investigates the major
growth challenges e-commerce companies in Bangladesh are facing and
probable solutions. In-depth interviews with six e-commerce entrepreneurs and
industry experts in this study revealed that the major challenges that affect the
growth of e-commerce are funding, finding the right talent and supply chain.
The findings add value in the existing literature in South East Asian countries
having similar environment factors and ecosystems. This study is expected to
help founders and other stakeholders to prioritize solutions to tackle the growth
challenges in e-commerce.