Indonesia Sees Increasing Online Transaction, Google Says

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Google's recent survey revealed that the number of online transaction in Indonesia continues to increase. Henky Prihatna, country industry head of Google Indonesia, said the survey result shows how Indonesian consumers are turning to the Internet to meet their needs, especially in the purchase of goods.

According to Henky, online transaction even continues to increase amidst the current economic instability. The rupiah's plummeting rate against the US dollar, said Henky, has not affected the uptrend of online shopping, especially through mobile gadgets.

"In addition to the availability of better gadgets, the security of online transactions is also getting better. Thus, consumers' trust is increasing as well," Henky said in his office, yesterday.

Google's Consumer Barometer survey conducted jointly with online store Elevenia shows that 78 percent of respondents shop online via mobile gadgets. As many as 52 percent said the products the most frequently purchase online are clothes and jewelry.

Consumers mostly shop via online retailers (20 percent), apparel and shoe stores (11 percent), auction sites like eBay (10 percent) and travel agents (5 percent).

The survey was conducted by interviewing 2,500 respondents aged 18-46 years in Greater Jakarta, Bandung, Semarang and Surabaya. The research was conducted from November 2014 until February 2015.

MAYA AYU | AVIT HIDAYAT (SURABAYA)