‘Just get it online’ has become a common refrain in every modern household.

Online retail is constantly expanding, with the international turnover by the end of 2018 predicted at $2.2 tln, up 20 percent from 2017 and more than 1.5 bln online customers this half of 2018, with a further increase of 16 percent anticipated annually.

With this prodigious potential market, more and more small to medium sized companies look to enter online marketplaces and expand their growth to an international level. However, online retailers also have a responsibility to facilitate the introduction of these companies onto their platform.

Why? It’s beneficial to all parties. Online retailers have a huge consumer base, but the reason these consumers are attracted to them includes the wide variety of products available. Statistics confirm this, with 45% of brand-name items purchased in 2017 being done so via online retailers, and not through official online shops.

Despite the obvious benefits, there are still vendors who haven’t entered these online marketplaces. In the following interviews, we’ll share the real obstacles faced by companies who wish to go global.