Supported by the Economic Development Board, Bahrain British Business Forum’s (BBBF) Special Interest Group for Information Communications & Technology (ICT), in collaboration with DEV TEAM and Magento, last night hosted a panel discussion on the future of eCommerce in the GCC. 40 members and their guests attended the event at the Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel in Manama.

The industry expert panel consisted of merchants that are making a success of eCommerce in the region. The discussion provided insights and a learning opportunity from industry leaders that are engaged in eCommerce and omni-channel retail.

Mark Gravener, Chair of BBBF’s SIGs, opened the meeting and Ollie Hunt, Managing Director of DEV TEAM moderated the discussion. The panellists were Stephanie Kershaw (Magento), Mohammed Sajjad (eXtra), Pavlos Babiolakis (Alosra Supermarket), Mark Warman (East Innovations) and Faezeh Faiz (Maison Du Maillot). The panellists shared their knowledge and experience in building and running successful eCommerce operations in the GCC.

Ollie Hunt commented: “eCommerce and omni-channel retail in the GCC come with their own unique challenges. With a host of eCommerce platforms available, payment gateways and delivery partners to manage, it can become challenging for business owners to make the right decisions for their business. We are pleased to share our know-how with individuals and companies looking to take their business digital, and those interested in getting involved with and managing their company’s eCommerce operations.”

Topics discussed included the current and future state of local, regional and international eCommerce, and how to build an eCommerce strategy, effective team and partnerships for digital success. How to determine the right platform for different types of businesses, as well as the barriers to online success and how to overcome them were also deliberated upon.