TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Google Indonesia revealed that the online shopping market or e-commerce continues to grow in the country. The number of Indonesian citizens who shop through online market places has reached about 81 million people to date.

"The numbers are quite high. Of the 100 million Internet users, there are 81 million people who transact through e-commerce," said Google Indonesia's country industry head Hengky Prihatna, Tuesday, August 15.

This is a staggering number compared to Indonesia's population of some 250 million.

Read: Bank Indonesia Governor: Online Transactions Reach Rp75tn

Hengky said that Indonesia is a large market for online shopping transactions in the Southeast Asian region; an estimated market of 210 million people. According to Hengky, the number will continue to grow as more and more mobile devices are becoming an important part of the Indonesians way of transacting.

"Our research shows that in the future online shopping will be more prevalent in Indonesia," said Hengky.

Hengky said many people have abandoned the old-ways of shopping, turning to doing so online. Offline shopping requires extra time and energy, while more and more people are looking for more practical ways. "With online shopping, all they have to do is wait at home," he said.

He added that the important thing for businesses is to "know their market".

IMAM HAMDI