One year after its implementation, leading brand Ecommerce enabler aCommerce today announced anupdate on its “aCommerce 2.0” strategic plan, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on its business, and key personnel appointments. Highlights include:

• Group profitability achieved ahead of schedule through efficient cost management and realizing operating leverage off strong revenue growth;
• Achieved an increase of over 120% in average revenue per client since Q1 2019 by remaining focused on portfolio of core clients, including Samsung, Unilever, Nestlé, L'Oréal, Philips, Adidas and Mars;
• Supported enormous demand for online distribution through direct-to-customer channels as the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the migration of consumer spending to online platforms; and
• Deepened its senior management team with the addition of proven executives who will help lead “aCommerce 2.0” into itsnext phase of growth.

Update on “aCommerce 2.0” and path to profitability

The Company’s successful execution of its “aCommerce 2.0” plan over the past 12 months cemented its position as an industry leader that will continue to help develop Southeast Asia’s Ecommerce ecosystem for decades to come. As part of the plan, aCommerce has strategically invested in its core brand Ecommerce technology &services, driven protocols, enhanced its end-to-end Ecommerce platform, outsourced non-core operations, and scaled back less economical contracts and business areas. As a result, the Company has far exceeded all internal targets of its “aCommerce 2.0” strategy, including achieving group profitability ahead of schedule. 

Key elements of the plan include ensuring the Company:

• Prioritizes and enhances end-to-end Ecommerce solutions for enterprise brand clients to build and strengthens long-term relationships;
• Focuses on aCommerce’s existing core markets;
• Transitions away from providing piecemeal or single service solutions to clients that are commoditized and where other service provider partners are already in place; and 
• Achieves group profitability in 2020 by growing profitable core brand Ecommerce end-to-end business and streamlining operations.

“Our ‘aCommerce 2.0’ plan enabled us to hone our focus toapproximately 160 of our most valuable clients, significantly increasing our profitability and enabling us to grow our average revenue per client by over 120% since the first quarter of 2019. We are especially pleased to deliver strong like-for-like organic revenue growth of over 40% year-on-year from our existing long-termclients. We achieved this by both increasing volumes and average order values.  Our average order value is growing at a rate of 15% year-on-year and currently stands at almost US$38. This, combined with our disciplined cost and working capital management, has enabled the Company to get close to cash flow positive. We are starting to look at long term shareholder options for the future,” said Piers Bennett, Co-Founder and Group CFO.

Impact of COVID-19 

The outbreak of the pandemic in early 2020 presented unprecedented challenges for businesses across the globe, fundamentally changingcorporate operations and consumer behavior. The pandemic is accelerating the migration of consumer spending to online platformsand is encouraging a more rapid digital transformation withincompanies themselves. Brands are fully embracing and prioritizingomni-channel Ecommerce over traditional offline distribution channels. 

This is a transformative time for the provision of all services digitally and Ecommerce in particular. As an Ecommerce enabler, aCommerce, with its integrated technology capabilities and ability to provide end-to-end data to brand partners, has managed to successfully navigate this new landscape and accelerate its “aCommerce 2.0” strategic plan.

“We have seen a very rapid and material change to our business resulting from COVID-19. Certain segments, such as consumer staples and healthcare, are seeing year-on-year growth rates well into the triple digits, however non-discretionary luxury & fashion and consumer electronics segments are also seeing year-on-year growth of up to 40% as brands look to rapidly prioritize online distribution in the face of declining traditional offline. We have also seen an increased share of sales volumes from direct-to-customer channels like social platforms, B2B, as well as company branded web-stores,or “brand.com”, which we operate - currently as much as 50% of sales, from around 20% to 30% a year ago. The decisive actions we took last year have yielded higher levels of operating leverage from our incremental revenues, which has rapidly brought forward our group profitability target,” said Paul Srivorakul, Co-Founder and Group CEO. 

Key personnel appointments

The Company also announced several additions to the leadership team as it positions aCommerce for its next phase of growth: 

• Mr. Luca Altomare has been appointed Group Chief Operating Officer (“COO”). In this role, Luca will be responsible for managing aCommerce country heads and driving operational excellence. He will play an integral role in driving economically sustainable growth and long-term margin growth. He previously served as SVP of distribution for Southeast Asia at Li & Fung Group and worked at specialist consulting firm Value Partners. Luca will report to Paul Srivorakul.
• Mr. Peter Kopitz, who is a Co-Founder and former COO, has been appointed Group Chief Commercial Officer (“CCO”). In this new role, Peter will leverage his extensive network and relationships across the region with brands and key channel partners.   
• Ms. Phensiri Sathianvongnusar has been appointed Chief Business Officer (“CBO”). Phensiri has been instrumental in growing aCommerce’s Thailand business and driving operational and commercial initiatives across the region. She will be retaining her role as CEO of Thailand in addition to her new responsibilities and work with Luca to drive best practices across the Group. 
• Mr. Graeme Kingshott has been appointed Group Finance Director. Graeme has served as a CFO and Finance Director for companies around the world. Reporting to Co-Founder and CFO Mr. Piers Bennett, Graeme will assist in maintaining aCommerce’s global best-in-class working capital management and will ensure compliance with the most robust standards of protocols and reporting. 

“We are delighted to welcome a seasoned senior business executive like Luca and I look forward to working with him to achieve our goal of becoming the leading high growth and cash flow generative brand Ecommerce enabler in the region. The new appointments of Peter, Phensiri and Graeme are indicative of our ability to recruit, retain and develop a strong leadership team. We have assembled a top-flight management team to continue the strong execution of ‘aCommerce 2.0’ and take us to the next level, creating lasting value for our partners, clients and employees,” concluded Mr. Srivorakul.