PayPal PassPort helps merchants spread their global wings

During the third edition of Lengow Ecommerce Day Paris (which also ranked third in regards to Twitter trending topics in Paris), PayPal Continental Europe Middle East Africa (CEMEA) Cross Border Trade Director Sophie Ancely shared some of her company’s interesting research on international online shoppers with a large group of e-merchants.

With the development of cross-border ecommerce, PayPal simplifies the act of buying online by offering a secure platform on which buyers can make their purchases online around the worldwide safely.

Available in over 200 countries, the leader of online payments now accounts for no less than 165 million active accounts worldwide. These accounts are used for online purchases, receiving payments, as well as sending and receiving money. PayPal, an online payments pioneer, is now preferred over other payment methods by 64 percent of international e-shoppers.

PayPal also offers buyers and sellers maximum protection for purchases as well as reimbursements of return costs. This expansive global growth began after PayPal was launched by Elon Musk and other tech entrepreneurs in California.

.@PayPal started in Cali with @elonmusk's team.Now it's rewriting payments history. http://t.co/xxoeQm0jBC #LengowDay pic.twitter.com/XxZjRLM9Yw

— Lengow (@lengow) May 27, 2015

Ancely explained that the company’s recently unveiled Passport, one of the most discussed topics at Lengow Day, was a natural progression for her global-minded team.

“PayPal has always aimed to support its merchant partners in their development on a local and international level. By utilizing best practices, putting in place the right marketing tactics and being familiar with the major rules in countries, merchants have a good opportunity to venture into global e-commerce,” said Ancely.

“Additionally, it is with this vision that we have shared our advice for better understanding all these markets and eventually developed a tool like PayPal Passport.”

Behavior of international e-shoppers

As electronic commerce continues to develop, more and more e-shoppers are overstepping the barriers of international borders (the topic of a recent infographic created by Lengow’s team) in order to purchase items from foreign online stores.

Thus, 56 perfect of online shoppers in the world say they have purchased abroad.

#LengowDay stat from @PayPal #Crossborder Director Sophie Ancely: global shoppers spend 2 times more than local ones. pic.twitter.com/GdeAQ4oQud

— Lengow (@lengow) June 2, 2015

In France, PayPal payments on ecommerce sites jumped thirty percent in the first trimester of 2015.

In regards to the most successful sectors on an international scale, the leaders are fashion (39%), electronics (26%), toys/leisure (20%) and travel (20%).

When it comes to reasons that internet users have been encouraged to buy their products from abroad, the most popular are the delivery and return policy (78%), payment and transaction security (70%), the offer and price (65%) and lastly localization (60%).

.@PayPal #Crossborder Director Sophie Ancely @ #LengowDay: 2 reasons people shop abroad:product price & availability. pic.twitter.com/98hcJI1LaB

— Lengow (@lengow) June 2, 2015

These statistics are motivation for online merchants to improve the User Experience on their sites in order to increase customer satisfaction and conversion rates.

PayPal PassPort

PayPal’s new site PassPort offers the possibility for merchants wishing to develop their sales abroad more easily through a number of features and information related to different countries, such as their customs and holidays. This site facilitates the search for international customers by offering information that can provide a better understanding of them.

Offered in 22 countries (such as Germany, Brazil, USA) so far, this service allows you to have knowledge of the mentality of international shoppers and also understand how logistics and customs fees work in the country where you want to grow your online activity.