Daraz Archives

December 4, 2023

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Roar AdX is pleased to announce its partnership with Daraz Sri Lanka, a renowned e-commerce platform in South Asia. As the exclusive reseller for Daraz Marketing Solutions (DMS), Roar AdX will help Sri Lankan merchants leverage the advertising tools offered on the Daraz platform.

As part of this partnership, Roar AdX will provide its expertise to onboard, train, and upskill businesses looking to advertise on Daraz. Roar AdX will offer dedicated customer support, exclusive webinars, and learning resources in all three languages to empower businesses to create and run effective advertising campaigns.

“Daraz offers an unparalleled opportunity for businesses to showcase their products to highly engaged audiences, and this partnership will ensure businesses receive the right visibility and access to the audience they need to grow online. Together with Roar, we aim to guide businesses in executing campaigns that will be instrumental in revolutionizing e-commerce advertising in the region,” says Bart van Dijk, Managing Director, Daraz Sri Lanka.

With a presence in five markets and over 25 million users, Daraz offers seamless and effective ad solutions. This strategic collaboration will allow businesses to leverage the power of Daraz’s robust platform, which allows them to run ads directly from their seller centre to reach a high-intent audience, and Roar AdX’s industry knowledge to drive successful advertising campaigns.

Since 2020, Roar AdX has served as a leading media reseller for digital advertising platforms. It is the Meta Authorized Sales Partner (ASP) in Sri Lanka and works with LinkedIn in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, supporting over 1,000 businesses in leveraging the advertising tools offered by these platforms. To date, the company has completed over 4,000 support hours and conducted more than 50 events, including workshops and exclusive in-person training.

“Advertising on Daraz empowers its merchants to strategically shape success through targeted visibility. A well-executed campaign will help position their products for prominence, resulting in capturing the attention of high-intent audiences and better conversions,” says Prash Balakrishnan, Regional Director of Media Sales at Roar Global.

Roar AdX is a subsidiary of Roar Global, a go-to-market specialist for global advertising platforms aiming to enter and grow their presence in emerging markets in the APAC region. With offices in Singapore, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Laos, and Brunei and a team of over 80 media and marketing experts, Roar Global is well-positioned to support this new partnership with Daraz.

Daraz, founded in 2015, is the leading e-commerce platform in South Asia, serving Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Myanmar. With advanced marketplace technology, it enables over 200,000 active sellers to reach the fast-growing consumer class in a region of 500 million people. Daraz operates efficient logistics and payment infrastructure through Daraz Express and Daraz Pay, with a vision to serve 50 million consumers and businesses by 2030.

This partnership provides an exciting opportunity for Roar AdX and Daraz to drive e-commerce advertising in the region and help businesses achieve exponential growth. For more information, please visit www.roaradx.com or follow Roar AdX on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn

October 16, 2023

INSEE Ecocycle has partnered with e-commerce giant Daraz to provide sustainable waste management solutions as part of their shared commitment to strengthen Sri Lanka’s circular economy.

Under the groundbreaking partnership, INSEE Ecocycle is providing innovative, sustainable resource recovery solutions tailored to Daraz’s specific needs. The focus is on managing the waste generated at Daraz’s warehouse, predominantly comprising expired or damaged Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG).

“This is a very proud moment for all of us at INSEE Ecocycle. It is our first partnership with Daraz and the first time we are collaborating with an e-commerce company,” says Sujith Gunawardhana. “Our cutting-edge Resource Recovery Centre is the central hub for this project, where we will segregate and pre-process waste. In projects like this, we pay special attention to brand security and compliance with regulations and standards.”

The Resource Recovery Centre helps companies embrace sustainable practices that prioritize waste prevention, reduction, and resource recovery.

“”By championing eco-conscious practices and integrating innovative recycling initiatives into our operations, we’re not only advancing our sustainability goals and operational excellence but also actively contributing to a greener future for all. This partnership, in particular, stands as a testament to our commitment, propelling us forward in our mission to create a more environmentally responsible and socially conscious online marketplace,” says Bart van Dijk, Managing Director, Daraz Sri Lanka.

INSEE Ecocycle is the waste management arm of INSEE Cement, also known as Siam City Cement (Lanka) Limited, the leading and only fully integrated cement manufacturer in Sri Lanka. INSEE’s sustainable waste management solutions offered by INSEE Ecocycle play a significant role in strengthening Sri Lanka’s circular economy landscape, which stands as a powerful conduit towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

By embracing circular practices, Sri Lanka can effectively address multiple SDGs simultaneously – from promoting responsible consumption and production to fostering innovation and industry growth. Moreover, circular initiatives can directly impact goals such as climate action and clean water & sanitation by reducing pollution and conserving resources.

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October 10, 2023

For the third consecutive year, Mastercard has been chosen as the ‘Most Valuable Payment Partner’ by Daraz, Sri Lanka’s largest online shopping platform. This recognition highlights Mastercard’s commitment to providing a secure and seamless payment solution to its cardholders, enhancing their online shopping experience on Daraz.

In the past, Mastercard and Daraz have curated several exclusive offers and deals for consumers, making their online shopping experience rewarding. Mastercard has been continuously innovating to provide robust payment solutions that drive convenience and trust for Daraz shoppers

October 6, 2023

The Commercial Bank of Ceylon has won two top awards at the 2023 Payment Partner Performance Awards of Daraz, South Asia’s largest ecommerce platform.

Sri Lanka’s largest private sector bank has been adjudged the ‘The Best Engaging Overall Cards Base’ for the fourth consecutive year and has also been recognised as the Best Debit Card Base at these awards, presented recently at the Shangri-La Hotel Colombo. Commercial Bank was the only bank to win two awards.

The award for Most Engaged Overall Card Base is presented to the card base that has generated the highest number of shoppers engaged on the Daraz platform. Commercial Bank is the only Sri Lankan bank to win this award for four years consecutively, demonstrating its strong customer engagement and popularity among Daraz shoppers. Meanwhile the award for Best Debit Card Base goes to the card base that has generated the highest payment volume and transactions by a debit card base. This award is a testament to the growing popularity of ComBank debit cards for online shopping, and the convenience and security that they offer to customers, the Bank said.

Commenting on the two awards won by the Bank, the Head of Commercial Bank’s Card Centre Mr Nishantha de Silva said: “We are delighted to win two of the top awards this year for generating the highest number of transactions and payment volumes for Daraz. It is encouraging to see that in addition to being the fastest growing card base in the country, the Commercial Bank card base is extremely active, which represents a win-win for our cardholders as well as partner vendor platforms.”

The Commercial Bank of Ceylon has been an Internet Payment (IPG) service provider to Daraz since 2018. The two organisations have been working together to offer diversified and unique offers to customers with a view of offering them attractive value additions. Commercial Bank cardholders can enjoy periodic discounts at Daraz with the offers structured by the Bank, and the convenience of Easy Payment Plans of up to 24 months.

Launched in 2012, the Daraz ecommerce site has an active presence in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Nepal. The marketplace has over 30,000 sellers and 500 brands and serves 5 million consumers across the region offering over millions of products in diverse categories such as consumer electronics, household goods, beauty, fashion, sports equipment, and groceries. It was acquired by the Alibaba Group in 2018.

Commercial Bank cards are the market leader in Sri Lanka. The Bank offers global credit card brands in the Silver, Gold and Platinum tiers and a variety of cards in the premium segment. The cards are equipped with ‘Tap ’n Go’ NFC technology and are backed by a strong NFC Point-of-Sale (POS) network. ComBank Cards offers an exciting array of promotions and offers across all categories and also offers the Max Loyalty Rewards scheme for selected card categories covering both credit and debit cards.

Sri Lanka’s first 100% carbon-neutral bank and the first Sri Lankan bank to be listed among the Top 1000 Banks of the World, Commercial Bank operates a network of 271 branches and 957 automated machines in Sri Lanka. Commercial Bank is the largest lender to Sri Lanka’s SME sector and is a leader in digital innovation in the country’s Banking sector. The Bank’s overseas operations encompass Bangladesh, where the Bank operates 20 outlets; Myanmar, where it has a Microfinance company in Nay Pyi Taw; and the Maldives, where the Bank has a fully-fledged Tier I Bank with a majority stake.

September 4, 2023

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With a vision of uplifting communities through the power of commerce, Daraz Bangladesh, the forefront of online marketplaces in the nation, celebrated its 9th anniversary on Thursday 31 August. This milestone was observed through the declaration of a special campaign “Daraz 9th Anniversary (Noy er Ullash).” This festivity guarantees a journey packed with joy, exploration, and exceptional savings.

On a momentous occasion to celebrate this journey, a Press Conference was held at InterContinental Dhaka where top officials of Daraz declared the campaign. With the resonating slogan “Eita, Oita, Jeita Lage, Shobee Kinun Daraz-e”, the campaign commemorates an adventurous nine-year journey. The delights are set to unfold from 12 to 24 September 2023.

Daraz’s extensive selection of categories, encompassing Fashion, Beauty, Mart, Mall, Home & Living, Lifestyle, Everyday Essentials, and more, promises an unmatched shopping experience precisely tailored to each facet of shoppers’ lives all within easy reach. The campaign captures the spirit of embracing convenience, quality, and variety, offering a seamless world of shopping possibilities.

From Daraz, Syed Mostahidal Hoq, Managing Director; Lu Yao, Group Chief Commercial Officer; Khondoker Tasfin Alam, Chief Operating Officer; A H M Hasinul Quddus Rusho, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, and other high officials were present at this ceremony. Adding to the grandeur of the occasion, celebrities, popular influencers and affiliates ornamented the event as special guests.

During this significant moment, Syed Mostahidal Hoq, Managing Director of Daraz Bangladesh, said, “As we unlock the attractive offers on our Anniversary, I reminisce about the nine years journey from the inception to transformation of Daraz into the leading e-commerce marketplace of Bangladesh. Over the timeline, Daraz has evolved itself and took leverage of the technological, logistical and leadership expertise from Alibaba to emerge as an app that is highly user-friendly to provide customers with an extraordinary shopping experience. Moreover, we are committed to uplifting the community by building a strong seller base while assuring the top most quality.”

Lu Yao, Group Chief Commercial Office of Daraz Bangladesh, expressed, “As we mark our 9th Anniversary, we are committed to nurturing our seller base and pioneering innovative buyer propositions. Together, we’re dedicated to uplifting communities through the transformative power of commerce, shaping a bright and digitised landscape in Bangladesh. On this note, I am excited to introduce an extraordinary array of offerings that encompass Up to 70% Off (on Hero SKUs), Hot Deals, Free Delivery on specific deals, Flash Sale, Numerous New Launches, Everyday Low Price, Early Bird Vouchers, Mystery Box, Add to Cart, and much more. These exciting opportunities are tailored to redefine your shopping experience and celebrate this remarkable journey with us.”

Khondoker Tasfin Alam, Chief Operating Officer of Daraz said, “Daraz always wants to work with society. In line with doing our own business, we should also look for ways to enrich the government’s resources. The Post Office is our national wealth, we work to ensure its proper use and to improve it. We are happy to announce that around 50 collection points will be launched in this anniversary campaign, each of which is a post office. With our expertise and technological excellence, we are able to provide the best delivery service to the customers along with the post office.”

Renowned brands such as Unilever, Reckitt, Nestle, Nivea, Bata, Lotto, Furnicom, Infinix BD, ORAIMO, and Sports House join as co-sponsors, to amplify the excitement of the campaign. The campaign’s seamless transactions are facilitated by payment partners including bKash, Nagad, Eastern Bank Limited, EBL ZIP, HSBC, Southeast Bank Ltd., Prime Bank Limited, NCC Bank, City Bank and BRAC Bank.

June 1, 2023

Free shipping, up to 40% off on brand deals and up to 20% off on card discounts
1st Day Sale will happen on the first day of every month so shoppers can enjoy savings on all their everyday lifestyle needs

Sri Lanka’s leading e-commerce platform Daraz announced the Daraz 1st Day Sale, a monthly event that happens on the first day of every month, featuring an array of products, from the latest in fashion, to top-tier lifestyle, beauty, and electronics products, with great deals and free shipping discounts.

Commenting on Daraz 1st Day Sale, Head of Traffic Operations at Daraz, Mr Firaz Markar, said, “We have curated a day of shopping and have collaborated with leading Sri Lankan and Global brands to offer a wide variety of products at great value. Furthermore, free shipping, selected bank card discounts, and flash sales will run throughout the day to offer more savings on the widest variety of products to our customers. Sellers will also reap the benefits, as the 1st Day Sale is a great opportunity to achieve more revenue and introduce customers to new products at competitive prices.”

Daraz 1st Day Sale offers shoppers more savings for products in Fashion, Beauty, Home and Living, Groceries, and Electronics by making these lifestyle choices more accessible and affordable. Additionally, shoppers can buy confidently with Daraz’s easy 7 day return policy on items they deem unsatisfactory.

Daraz’s shoppers can maximise their savings by selecting a debit or credit card payment option or take advantage of Buy Now Pay Later with Koko to split the payment into three easy interest-free payments.

Daraz 1st Day Sale will happen from the 1st to the 6th June and will be repeated on the first day of each month. Customers can visit https://click.daraz.lk/e/_CVGws1 for more information.

May 25, 2023

Rakhil Fernando, Managing Director of Daraz Sri Lanka, has been appointed as Chief Corporate Affairs Officer of the Daraz Group, headquartered in Singapore, with effect from 1 June 2023.

This announcement follows the successful completion of Rakhil’s tenure as the Managing Director of Daraz Sri Lanka. Throughout his leadership, the organisation saw tremendous expansion, and the brand successfully established itself as a well-known entity among Sri Lankans.

During his tenure as the Managing Director, Rakhil spearheaded numerous initiatives that strengthened and revolutionised the brand’s presence and operations in the country. These included the incubation and launch of Sri Lanka’s first buy-now-pay-later mobile application, KOKO Pay, the remarkable growth of Daraz Express, the company’s logistics arm, and the country’s first in-depth study on the e-commerce landscape with SLASSCOM.

Under his dynamic leadership, Daraz Sri Lanka experienced unprecedented growth, achieving record-breaking sales figures, expanding its customer base significantly and growing from a team of just 400 members to an organisation with a young and dynamic workforce of approximately 2000 staff. Daraz’s Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) increased fivefold since 2019, seller registrations grew by 150% and customers grew by over 250% since 2019. As part of his strategic vision to offer better choices and greater value to online shoppers, Rakhil also oversaw the growth of Daraz’s product assortment which currently includes more than 5 million products and is a significant increase from 150,000 four years ago.

Rakhil’s strategic vision and creative approaches saw Daraz Sri Lanka grow from a start-up to a household name throughout the island. He led the charge with innovative branding and marketing campaigns, such as Sri Lanka’s first drone show in 2022, the annual 11.11 mega sale, as well as successful partnerships with high-profile conglomerates including Reckitt, Nestlé, and Dialog Axiata, which further bolstered the performance and positioning of the online marketplace.

Rakhil’s extensive experience in the e-commerce industry, coupled with his profound understanding of market dynamics, makes him an invaluable asset to Daraz Group. In his new role, Rakhil will report to the Daraz Group headquarters in Singapore, overseeing the strategic management of corporate affairs, and will lead efforts to further strengthen the organisation’s regional and global presence. His appointment also highlights Daraz’s commitment to elevating in-country talent and offering Sri Lanka an opportunity to champion the e-commerce industry globally.

May 22, 2023

HE Ranil Wickremesinghe, President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka officially declares open the new Daraz Sri Lanka Headquarters

The Daraz head office in Sri Lanka was officially declared open by His Excellency Ranil Wickremesinghe, President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, in the presence of the Hon. Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, the State Minister of Technology, Hon. Kanaka Herath and the Chairperson of SLASSCOM, Mr. Ashique Ali.

Daraz’s new headquarters is located at No 100/1, Elvitigala Mawatha in Colombo. The move provides employees with a unique working environment in their own spacious business premises and marks a milestone in the company’s growth in Sri Lanka.

Commenting on the move, Managing Director of Daraz Sri Lanka, Mr. Rakhil Fernando said, “The aim was to create a workplace that pushed the boundaries of what an office could be for both our employees and the local tech industry as a whole. We believe that the new Daraz Headquarters is a long-term investment in our employees, and we look forward to it being a space that adapts to the ever-changing needs of our energetic workforce.”

At the new Daraz headquarters, the focus on people and the type of work they do is reflected in carefully curated building elements, such as ergonomic furniture, vibrant colour palettes, natural light and ventilation, thermal comfort, and acoustics. Spanning eight floors and a rooftop, the headquarters also offers stunning views of Colombo city and breezy outdoor spaces, along with exciting amenities like a coffee shop, games room, vending machines, cafeteria, and gymnasium.

Daraz’s innovative office design promotes a balanced and productive work environment. With a diverse array of workstations for independent tasks and collaborative spaces for team projects, employees can seamlessly transition between different work modes. Quiet zones are strategically placed to foster concentration, while meeting rooms of various capacities equipped with presentation tools facilitate effective collaboration. This thoughtfully designed space caters to diverse work needs and encourages both individual focus and dynamic teamwork.

“A lot of thought was put into the design of the new office space. The design process started with a deep dive into what drives the Daraz workforce and we prioritised developing a work experience that would motivate and excite employees.” Mr. Darshika Attanayake, Chief Operating Officer of Daraz Sri Lanka further opined.

May 18, 2023

Daraz, Sri Lanka’s largest online marketplace recently announced the launch of ‘DarazMart Sundays’, an initiative that aims to provide customers convenient and affordable access to groceries.

The onset of the pandemic caused an upsurge in e-commerce in Sri Lanka, especially for the purchase of groceries and other necessities. A recent study by Daraz and SLASSCOM revealed that groceries and household items were the second most popular items bought online.

As consumer preferences continue to shift towards online shopping, DarazMart Sundays offer additional value to those who choose to buy their everyday items online. With this proposition, customers can take advantage of discounted prices on a wide range of products including Groceries, Health and Beauty products, and Mother and Baby items every Sunday, making the platform the perfect choice for all their weekly household shopping needs. Customers who use debit or credit cards will benefit from further discounts when paying for their purchases in advance.

Commenting on the proposition, the Chief Commercial Officer of Daraz Sri Lanka Mr. Oshan Ranatunga said, “We hope that with DarazMart Sundays, customers are able to find a wide range of products for their weekly shopping occasion, as well as benefit from the best savings possible. Our express and same-day delivery services will also ensure that shoppers have an exceptional shopping experience from discovery to delivery. We are committed to providing our users with the best experiences, and we believe that Daraz Mart Sundays is a step in the right direction to provide customers with the choices, affordability, and reliability they expect, while also enhancing visibility and stimulating business growth for our DarazMart business partners”

DarazMart Sundays are designed to give customers an immersive shopping experience, with discounts of up to 50% on leading brands like Unilever, Hemas, Reckitts, and Munchee, as well as bundled offers, freebies, and exclusive discounts of 20% on orders above Rs.2500 when using Mastercard. Moreover, customers can expect to make better-informed purchase decisions with the aid of the exciting content on the Daraz Livestreaming feature and also avail of the Buy Now Pay Later application Koko to make payments in three equal interest-free instalments, for an even more affordable and accessible shopping experience.

The exciting Sunday shopping fun will be available every Sunday from 7^th May 2023. Log in to Daraz app to explore the all-inclusive shopping experience of Daraz!

About the Daraz Group

Founded in 2015, Daraz is South Asia’s leading e-commerce platform in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Myanmar. It empowers more than 200,000 active sellers with world-class marketplace technology to reach the fast-growing consumer class in a region of 500 million people. Through Daraz Express and Daraz Pay, it operates the most efficient and digitalised logistics and payments infrastructure in its markets. Daraz’s vision is to be a champion of South Asia serving 50 million consumers and businesses by 2030.

For more information, please visit www.daraz.com.

May 2, 2023

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The report titled “E-commerce: A Driver of Inclusive Growth in Sri Lanka?” was presented to His Excellency President Ranil Wickramasinghe on 26 April 2023. The Managing Director of Daraz Sri Lanka Mr. Rakhil Fernando, the co-authors of the report, Dr. Ganeshan Wignaraja and Ms. Anishka De Zylva and the Director of International Affairs at the Presidential Secretariat Mr. Dinouk Colombage attended the meeting. This first in-depth study on the adoption and use of e-commerce in Sri Lanka during difficult economic times was launched at an event earlier in 2023 with Hon. Kanaka Herath, State Minister, Ministry of Technology, by Daraz Sri Lanka and Sri Lanka Association for Software Services Companies (SLASSCOM).

The presentation to the President highlighted several key findings from the study. First, that the spread of e-commerce is an island wide phenomenon with over 50% of the respondents in all provinces saying that they use e-commerce to purchase goods and services. Second, that the pandemic increased the use of e-commerce and this trend is set to deepen. Third, that online sellers are mostly young and start-up businesses. Fourth, that various obstacles hinder the use of e-commerce in the country such as non-users lacking the requisite skills to use e-commerce, the under-development of digital payment systems, the high cost of new smartphones and gaps in trade facilitation. Finally, that as the Sri Lankan economy stabilises, the digital economy and e-commerce can support new jobs and boost incomes particularly among the country’s youth. The discussion also highlighted progress made by neighbouring economies, particularly India and Vietnam, and recommendations were made on how Sri Lanka might strive to emulate their success.

Dr. Ganeshan Wignaraja, The Professorial Fellow in Economics and Trade at Gateway House, Mumbai and a Senior Research Associate at ODI Global, London, designed and co-authored the report together with Ms Anishka De Zylva, Head of Public Policy and Corporate Affairs at Daraz Sri Lanka. The survey was conducted by NielsenIQ Sri Lanka, under the supervision of Ms. Therica Miyanadeniya, Country Director of NielsenIQ Sri Lanka.

The report is based on the meticulous collection of primary data through an islandwide survey of a sample population of more than 4,500 participants undertaken between March 2022 and July 2022. The survey collected information in areas that are relevant to making business strategies and public policies covering the: (i) the use of e-commerce across provinces and districts; (ii) the types of goods and services purchased; (iii) purchasing behaviour during the pandemic; (iv) user behaviour by characteristics; (v) the types of devices and payment methods used for e-commerce purchases; (vi) factors discouraging online purchasing; (vii) the use of e-commerce for selling goods and services; and (vii) the influence of government policy on e-commerce transactions from both a seller and consumer perspective.

The report is made available as a downloadable pdf file via the Daraz and SLASSCOM corporate websites to anyone interested in understanding the industry at a deeper level. Link: https://bit.ly/44hbrc5

Older Posts

Roar Adx to Empower Advertisers as an Exclusive Representative of Daraz Marketing Solutions in Sri Lanka

INSEE Ecocycle partners with Sri Lanka’s E-commerce giant Daraz to provide sustainable waste solutions for expired or damaged goods

Daraz Chooses Mastercard as its ‘Most Valuable Payment Partner’ for the Third Consecutive Year

ComBank wins two top awards at Daraz Payment Partner Awards 2023

Daraz Bangladesh Celebrates its 9th Anniversary

Daraz 1st Day Sale offers more savings to maximise Sri Lanka shoppers’ paycheck

Rakhil Fernando Appointed as Daraz Group Chief Corporate Affairs Officer

Daraz revolutionises the workplace experience with an employee-centric head office in Sri Lanka

DarazMart Sundays Provide Unparalleled Value and Convenience to Shoppers

Daraz-SLASSCOM report on E-commerce adoption highlights pathways for the growth of digital commerce in Sri Lanka