What should female businesses do to increase revenue through e-commerce?

E-commerce is developing, expanding the market through online platforms is becoming an inevitable trend, especially for small and medium enterprises.

On March 18 and 19, 2025, the Department of Trade Promotion - Ministry of Industry and Trade coordinated with the SheTrades Program of the International Trade Center (ITC SheTrades) to organize an online training course "Promoting online exports to the EU market through e-commerce platforms for women businesses in Vietnam".

The training course not only helps businesses access new e-commerce trends but also provides practical knowledge on how to expand the market, especially into the EU - one of Vietnam's largest trading partners.

Wide open doors to foreign markets

As one of Vietnam's largest trading partners, the EU imports a wide range of products from textiles, agricultural products, processed foods to machinery and electronic components. According to statistics, Vietnam's total export turnover to the EU in 2024 will reach nearly 800 billion USD, of which the textile and footwear industry will help Vietnam become one of the five largest exporters to the region.

In the agricultural sector alone, the EU is currently a major consumer market for products such as coffee (accounting for 16% of the market share), cashew nuts, rice and tropical fruits. Seafood, especially frozen pangasius and shrimp, is also in high demand in countries such as Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium.

The development of e-commerce has helped Vietnamese businesses access the EU market more easily, shortening geographical distances and reducing distribution costs. Platforms such as Amazon, Alibaba, eBay, Etsy or Shopify have become important bridges for Vietnamese goods to reach European consumers without the need for traditional distribution systems.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Duong - Deputy Director in charge of the Center for Information Technology Application and Digital Transformation in Trade Promotion, Department of Trade Promotion, Ministry of Industry and Trade said that the Department of Trade Promotion always has programs and policies to support Vietnamese enterprises in general and Vietnamese female enterprises in particular, creating a foundation for enterprises to increase connections and import and export to the EU market.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Duong - Deputy Director in charge of the Center for Information Technology Application and Digital Transformation in Trade Promotion, Department of Trade Promotion, Ministry of Industry and Trade

“The Trade Promotion Agency is offering a free support package to 32 female-owned businesses to join the Alibaba platform (one of the world’s largest e-commerce platforms) for one year. Currently, the review and completion process with SheTrades is underway, and the list of selected businesses is expected to be announced by the end of April,” said Mr. Nguyen Thanh Duong.

Also related to this issue, the representative of the business household of Bird's Nest and Palm Honey Chan Phuong expressed the hope that businesses processing and developing local specialties, especially in border areas, will receive priority in choosing to own the support package of the Department of Trade Promotion.

Ms. Nguyen Xuan Hai Yen - Deputy Director of Proline Vietnam Company said that small enterprises only account for about 22% of total foreign direct investment (FDI) in nearly 800 billion USD of Vietnam's import and export to the EU in 2024. "This shows that there is still a lot of room for small and medium enterprises, especially women-owned enterprises, to develop more strongly in the international market," Ms. Nguyen Xuan Hai Yen commented.

What do female businesses need to prepare to succeed in e-commerce?

Before entering the international market, businesses need to carefully research customer needs, quality standards and import regulations of each region. For the EU market, organic products, handicrafts and sustainable fashion are increasingly popular.

E-commerce plays an important role in helping Vietnamese businesses reach out to international markets. Photo: Luu Ha.

Choosing the right e-commerce platform is also an important factor. Businesses can join B2B platforms such as Alibaba, Amazon Business, Global Sources to connect with importers or choose B2C platforms such as Amazon, eBay, Etsy, Shopify to sell directly to customers. Handmade products and gifts can target specialized platforms such as Faire, Tundra to reach the right target audience.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Phuong Uyen - Head of Customer Service Department, Northern E-commerce Center, OSB Group, believes that businesses need to invest thoroughly in brand image, from packaging design, product images to the way of displaying booths on e-commerce platforms. SEO optimization helps products appear easily on e-commerce search engines, increasing the ability to reach customers.

“In addition, applying technology to sales management helps optimize operational processes. Order management software and chatbots that automate customer care processes will help businesses improve shopping experiences and increase order conversion rates,” Ms. Uyen shared.

The Trade Promotion Agency coordinated with other units to organize a training course on "Promoting online exports to the EU market through e-commerce platforms for female businesses in Vietnam" on March 18 and 19. Screenshot.

Exporting via e-commerce requires businesses to have a suitable logistics strategy. Models such as dropshipping, fulfillment or cooperation with reputable shipping units such as DHL, UPS, FedEx help ensure fast delivery, reduce inventory costs and limit returns.

In addition, mastering the legal regulations and quality standards in the target market is an indispensable factor. For example, the EU requires certifications such as CE (product safety certification), organic certification, and sustainability certification, helping goods easily overcome barriers.

For Vietnamese female businesses, legal issues and policies supporting exports to the EU market from e-commerce platforms are of great concern.

The training course attracted the attention of many female-owned businesses. Screenshot.

“Which e-commerce platform should small businesses like us choose to export to the EU? Amazon, Alibaba or another platform?”, said Ms. Nguyen Huyen Trang - Representative of a female startup in the organic food sector.

Regarding legal issues, the representative of the business household of Bird's Nest and Palm Honey Chan Phuong expressed interest in the procedure for registering a food facility management code when exporting to the EU. "To go to the US, register with the FDA to get an FDA code. To go to Europe, which organization do you register with?", the business household representative asked.

Cross-border e-commerce is not only a trend but also a gateway for Vietnamese women businesses to expand their markets and improve their competitiveness in the international market. However, to be successful, businesses need to be well prepared from market research, platform selection, operations to compliance with legal regulations and marketing strategies.

With support from government and international organizations, and the initiative of businesses, Vietnamese female enterprises can fully take advantage of this opportunity to reach further in the international market, affirming their position in the global digital economy.

The contents of the training course "Promoting online exports to the EU market through e-commerce platforms for women enterprises in Vietnam" are instructed by a team of lecturers who are senior experts from ministries, sectors and projects related to the field of export promotion.

Through the program, businesses will be equipped with practical knowledge and skills to help improve competitiveness and take advantage of opportunities from digital platforms for sustainable development.

This activity follows the success of the Launching Ceremony of the Project “Promoting exports to the European market through an e-commerce platform for women-owned businesses in Vietnam”, affirming the commitment to supporting women businesses to integrate and expand international markets.

Source: https://congthuong.vn/doanh-nghiep-nu-can-lam-gi-de-tang-doanh-thu-nho-kinh-doanh-tren-thuong-mai-dien-tu-379032.html