Top 5 Thought-Provoking SaaS Tips to Change the Game in the SEA (South East Asia) Market

1. Localizing International Models

It is not possible for every business model that is successful in other regions to give the same result in SEA. It makes perfect sense, however, to adapt global models to emerging regional trends like remote work, distribution network digitization, and open banking to meet SaaS market demand. For instance, the remote work category has so far produced numerous US-based startups, including Deel, Remote, and Papaya Global. On the other hand, Southeast Asia and the larger APAC area as a base for remote talent highlights the potential for a domestic company like Multiplier with greater regional understanding and network.

2.  E-Commerce Facilitation

A sizable portion of Southeast Asia’s inhabitants are young and technologically literate, and the region’s online economic system was worth more than $170 billion iGMV in 2013 and is expected to grow to $360 billion by 2025.

Some companies concentrate on major brands and e-commerce SaaS businesses, which aids in directing profitable marketing expenditure to horizontal marketplaces. Others cover various roles in the e-commerce supply chain by concentrating on tiny e-commerce firms or social e-commerce. The e-commerce facilitation tackles various e-commerce value chain activities and wonderfully changes the business game in the SEA market. The e-commerce value chain activities include advertising and top-of-funnel discovery, logistics and fulfilment, and financial business transactions. 

3. Digitalization of Small and Medium-Sized Businesses (MSMEs)

The estimated 95 million MSMEs in SEA account for $1 to $1.5 trillion USD in yearly GDP (about 40% of the total for the area) and employ about 70% of the labour force. They used to get by with manual operations, but COVID-19 has made them move towards digital transformation. Retailers are now accepting e-wallet payments and digital money transactions instead of cash through POS systems like Moka, which also make order and inventory control simpler. So, going digital is a great SaaS tip to expand your business in the SEA region.

4. Give Google-Search Appearance Prime Importance

Search engines are trusted more by SEA consumers than social media, controlled media, or conventional media. Internet search serves as both a beginning stage and a source of confirmation for information and updates about businesses, according to the Edelman Trust barometer 2014 Report. Giving consideration to a company’s presence in Google searches is a terrific way to change how SEA business is played.

5. When Generating the Content, Take Into Account “Asian Values”

The SEA communities still strongly hold onto ideals like filial piety, collectivism (as opposed to individualism), interest in socio-economic well-being (rather than personal freedom and civil liberties), and love and devotion for parents and instructors. So, it is important to keep in mind these Asian values to create content to connect more with SEA region consumers.