Exploring Trends and Prospects in E-commerce
Qatar’s e-Commerce Forum 2015 brings together businesses, policymakers, and e-commerce service providers to address the trends and developments in global e-commerce and the state of e-commerce in Qatar.
The Forum will discuss the following e-commerce topics
- How does Qatar achieve a regulatory environment conducive to e-commerce growth?
- What business models will succeed in the region and how to fund them?
- What disruptive payments and logistics technologies will lead the way to improved delivery of service?
In addition, attendees will learn more about Qatar’s National e-Commerce Roadmap, a blueprint for ensuring that Qatar can capitalize on its strengths as well as overcome the current challenges to growing its e-commerce market.
Program
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9:00 am |
Registration and Networking |
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9:30 am |
Welcome |
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9:40 am |
Setting the Agenda for e-Commerce in Qatar Dr. Hessa Al-Jaber, Minister of Information and Communications Technology, Qatar
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9:55 am |
H.E. Yahya bin Saeed Al Nuaimi, Assistant Undersecretary for Commercial Affairs, Ministry of Economy and Commerce
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10:05 am |
Unlocking the Potential of e-Commerce in MENA Charbel Sarkis, Sector Lead, Retail, e-Commerce, Technology, MENA, Google
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10:20 am |
Business Model and Funding: The Changing Landscape of e-Commerce Just as social media has converted web users from receivers of information to interactive engagers e-commerce is revolutionizing the relationship between product and customer. The Internet has transformed companies into virtual retailers with the potential of selling larger volumes of goods to expanded markets. Success of an e-commerce business depends on producing a larger volume of merchandise, correct pricing, determining the right online offers, start-up costs, more sophisticated web presence, and a new way of interacting with customers, among many others. This panel looks at the drivers behind innovation, the new business models and the different ways to fund it. Moderator: Dr. Eyad Al Kassar, Managing Director – MENA, Rocket Internet Panel members include:
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11:15 am |
Joint announcement by QNB and Ooredoo
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11:25 am |
Coffee Break
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11:35am |
Qatar’s Delivery EcoSystem Faleh Mohammed Al Naemi, Chairman and Managing Director, Q-Post
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11:45 am |
Payments and Logistics: The New Age of Personalization Rigid and cumbersome payment methods created to ensure security can result in poor customer experience and slow e-commerce uptake. Striking a balance between secure and convenient payment methods is crucial for e-commerce growth. At the same time, slow, costly, and unreliable parcel delivery is one of the biggest barriers to e-commerce adoption, as consumers expect on-demand delivery which fits the immediacy of placing an order online. In addition, consumers are different and thus the transformation of delivery must embrace the demand for personalization of service. This panel will explore the solutions to today’s payment and delivery issues, and how technology can drive disruption in these areas, whilst also addressing how processes such as public key cryptology can help meet the challenges faced in creating secure, appropriate and timely B2B transactions. Moderator: Omar Soudodi, Managing Director, PayFort Panel members include:
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12:30 pm |
Qatar-Based e-Commerce Startups: Prospects and Challenges Qatar has witnessed an increase in the number of local companies offering e-commerce services. Local incubation centers such ictQATAR's Digital Incubation Center and Qatar’s Business Incubation Center are providing different levels of support for e-commerce startups and SMEs. However, most of these enterprises continue to face challenges to scaling up and growing locally or regionally. In this panel, e-commerce start-ups will share their experiences, successes, challenges, and potential. Moderator: Dr. Maher Hakim, Associate Professor, Innovation Entrepreneurship, Carnegie Mellon University Panel members include:
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1:15 pm |
Lunch
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2:15 pm |
e-Commerce within Smart Cities Context Sol Salinas, Managing Director, Global Lead, Accenture Smart Cities
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2:35 pm |
Shared Economy – People, Policy and Technology Technology is constantly evolving to provide solutions that provide enhanced services to consumers. As these solutions become increasingly interconnected, the need to protect consumers and their information will become critical. At the same time, in order to accelerate growth, a nation must create a policy framework that encourages and fosters innovation. This panel will discuss the potential impact of emerging technologies on current e-commerce practice and address the challenges policy makers face in encouraging a robust e-commerce ecosystem while also protecting consumers. The panel will also explore planned initiatives by ictQATAR, which aim to empower merchants, consumers, startups and e-commerce service providers in Qatar, by providing guidance and instruction. Moderator: Diane Mullenex, Head of the Global Telecom practice, Pinsent Masons Panel members include:
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3:30 pm |
Closing Remarks
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