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<p>The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant disruption to global sourcing patterns. According to a new survey commissioned by Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) Research, the vast majority of international buyers (93%) have used online sourcing platforms since the pandemic began, with more than 85% attending virtual fairs to meet their sourcing needs. However, most buyers surveyed said they would prefer to source via physical fairs (63%) or hybrid fairs (59%) once travel restrictions are lifted.</p><p> </p><p><strong>HKTDC’s Irina Fan – hybrid and physical fairs are complementary</strong></p><p>Commenting on the findings of the survey, HKTDC Director of Research Irina Fan said: “The survey reflects that more buyers have been choosing to purchase online due to the pandemic. However, this makes it difficult to perform tasks such as product examination and evaluation as well as supplier authentication. We believe that physical fairs and hybrid fairs are the future, with the two complementing each other.”</p><p> </p><p>The HKTDC commissioned independent research institution Ipsos to conduct the study, titled “B2B Online Sourcing: A Buyer Behaviour Study Towards Recovery<em>”, </em>between May and October 2021, interviewing about 600 international buyers from Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries, Australia, Europe, Mainland China and the United States to gauge their views on international sourcing patterns following the onset of the pandemic.</p><p> </p><p>According to the survey, 93% of respondents said they had used online sourcing platforms during the past 12 months where they conducted more than 60% of their sourcing on average; 43% said they had engaged more suppliers than they did prior to the pandemic using online sourcing platforms; 46% said they had sourced a wider variety of products; 42% said they had sourced more frequently; and 44% said the average value per order had increased.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Top three reasons to use online sourcing platforms</strong></p><p>Ms Fan said that there are three top reasons for buyers to use online sourcing platforms, namely, to search for new suppliers and make enquiries (70%), to compare products and prices (66%), and to identify the latest product trends (57%). “In the wake of the pandemic, many industries are committed to organising virtual fairs to strengthen the connection between international buyers and suppliers. These events have been well received by the industry, with the survey showing that more than 85% of buyers surveyed had participated in virtual fairs in 2021.”</p><p> </p><p>In addition, buyers rated the overall effectiveness of online sourcing through web platforms, websites, mobile apps and virtual meetings at an average of 7.4 out of 10, seeing them as fairly effective overall. When asked about the main pain points associated with using online sourcing platforms, 61% of respondents said it was the inability to examine products physically, while other major barriers were the risk of fraud (56%), insufficient product details and images (54%), unresponsive suppliers (49%) and uncertified products (49%).</p><p> </p><p><strong>Can virtual fairs supersede physical fairs?</strong></p><p>Regarding future sourcing preferences, 63% of buyers responding in the survey said they would prefer to source via physical fairs while 59% of buyers would prefer hybrid fairs once travel restrictions are lifted. Among the buyers surveyed, those from Mainland China and ASEAN countries expressed most enthusiasm for hybrid fairs, followed by buyers from Europe, the United States and Australia.</p><p> </p><p>Ms Fan pointed out that while international buyers have accepted virtual fairs out of necessity, and reduced travel costs and other expenses associated with attending physical fairs, the general consensus remains that virtual fairs will not supersede physical fairs. Physical and virtual fairs both have their own merits, and hybrid fairs that combine the two formats will continue to be another choice for international buyers.</p><p> </p><p>The survey also showed that buyers who prefer hybrid fairs were more likely to register a higher average spend per order (in the range of US$50,000-$100,000+) compared with counterparts who prefer physical or virtual fairs. This suggests that hybrid fairs could be well positioned to facilitate more lucrative business opportunities.</p><p> </p><p>Ms Fan added that the key digital features buyers would like to see at hybrid fairs include the ability to easily search and acquire exhibitor information, scheduling meetings with exhibitors before, during and after the physical tradeshow, and having access to useful communication tools such as instant messaging, file sharing and business card sharing. Other services such as seminar livestreaming and recordings, virtual meetings, and artificial intelligence-enabled exhibitor as well as product recommendations were also sought-after features of great benefit to buyers and exhibitors alike.</p>

HKTDC’s latest survey reveals hybrid fairs as the future

Main survey findings

<table style="border: 1px solid #d3d3d3; height: 72px; width: 100%;" width="100%"><tbody><tr style="border-bottom: solid 1px #d3d3d3;"><td style="padding: 10px 40px; border-right: 1px solid #d3d3d3; height: 18px;" colspan="2" align="center"><b>Buyers who used online sourcing platforms in the past 12 months</b></td></tr><tr style="background-color: #f2f2f2;"><td style="padding: 10px 40px; border-right: 1px solid #d3d3d3; height: 18px;" align="center" width="33%">Yes </td><td style="padding: 10px 40px; border-right: 1px solid #d3d3d3; height: 18px;" align="center" width="33%">93% </td></tr><tr style="height: 18px;"><td style="padding: 10px 40px; border-right: 1px solid #d3d3d3; height: 18px;" align="center" width="33%">No</td><td style="padding: 10px 40px; border-right: 1px solid #d3d3d3; height: 18px;" align="center" width="33%">7%</td></tr></tbody></table>

<table style="border: 1px solid #d3d3d3; height: 72px; width: 100%;" width="100%"><tbody><tr style="border-bottom: solid 1px #d3d3d3;"><td style="padding: 10px 40px; border-right: 1px solid #d3d3d3; height: 18px;" colspan="2" align="center"><strong>Buyers who joined virtual fairs in the past 12 months</strong></td></tr><tr style="background-color: #f2f2f2;"><td style="padding: 10px 40px; border-right: 1px solid #d3d3d3; height: 18px;" align="center" width="33%">Yes </td><td style="padding: 10px 40px; border-right: 1px solid #d3d3d3; height: 18px;" align="center" width="33%">85.5% </td></tr><tr style="height: 18px;"><td style="padding: 10px 40px; border-right: 1px solid #d3d3d3; height: 18px;" align="center" width="33%">No</td><td style="padding: 10px 40px; border-right: 1px solid #d3d3d3; height: 18px;" align="center" width="33%">14.5%</td></tr></tbody></table>

<table style="border: 1px solid #d3d3d3; height: 72px; width: 100%;" width="100%"><tbody><tr style="border-bottom: solid 1px #d3d3d3;"><td style="padding: 10px 40px; border-right: 1px solid #d3d3d3; height: 18px; font-weight: bold;" colspan="2" align="center">Buyers’ sourcing preferences in post-COVID-19 era</td></tr><tr style="background-color: #f2f2f2;"><td style="padding: 10px 40px; border-right: 1px solid #d3d3d3; height: 18px;" align="center" width="33%">Physical fairs</td><td style="padding: 10px 40px; border-right: 1px solid #d3d3d3; height: 18px;" align="center" width="33%">63%</td></tr><tr style="height: 18px;"><td style="padding: 10px 40px; border-right: 1px solid #d3d3d3; height: 18px;" align="center" width="33%">Hybrid fairs</td><td style="padding: 10px 40px; border-right: 1px solid #d3d3d3; height: 18px;" align="center" width="33%">59%</td></tr><tr style="background-color: #f2f2f2;"><td style="padding: 10px 40px; border-right: 1px solid #d3d3d3; height: 18px;" align="center" width="33%">Virtual fairs</td><td style="padding: 10px 40px; border-right: 1px solid #d3d3d3; height: 18px;" align="center" width="33%">37%</td></tr><tr style="height: 18px;"><td style="padding: 10px 40px; border-right: 1px solid #d3d3d3; height: 18px;" align="center" width="33%">Online sourcing platforms</td><td style="padding: 10px 40px; border-right: 1px solid #d3d3d3; height: 18px;" align="center" width="33%">21%</td></tr></tbody></table>


<div style="overflow: auto;"><br />
    <table style="border: 1px solid #d3d3d3; height: 72px; width: 100%;" width="100%">
        <tbody>
            <tr style="border-bottom: solid 1px #d3d3d3;">
                <td style="padding: 10px 20px; border-right: 1px solid #d3d3d3; height: 18px;" colspan="5"
                    align="center"><strong>Change in sourcing behaviours due to COVID-19*</strong></td>
            </tr>
            <tr style="background-color: #f2f2f2;">
                <td style="min-width: 120px; padding: 10px 20px; border-right: 1px solid #d3d3d3; height: 18px;" align="center"
                    width="20%"> </td>
                <td style="min-width: 160px; padding: 10px 20px; border-right: 1px solid #d3d3d3; height: 18px;" align="center"
                    width="20%">Variety of products sourced</td>
                <td style="min-width: 160px; padding: 10px 20px; border-right: 1px solid #d3d3d3; height: 18px;" align="center"
                    width="20%">Number of suppliers engaged</td>
                <td style="min-width: 160px; padding: 10px 20px; border-right: 1px solid #d3d3d3; height: 18px;" align="center"
                    width="20%">Sourcing frequency</td>
                <td style="min-width: 160px; padding: 10px 20px; border-right: 1px solid #d3d3d3; height: 18px;" align="center"
                    width="20%">Average value per order</td>
            </tr>
            <tr style="height: 18px;">
                <td style="padding: 10px 20px; border-right: 1px solid #d3d3d3; height: 18px;" align="center"
                    width="20%">Increased</td>
                <td style="padding: 10px 20px; border-right: 1px solid #d3d3d3; height: 18px;" align="center"
                    width="20%">46%</td>
                <td style="padding: 10px 20px; border-right: 1px solid #d3d3d3; height: 18px;" align="center"
                    width="20%">43%</td>
                <td style="padding: 10px 20px; border-right: 1px solid #d3d3d3; height: 18px;" align="center"
                    width="20%">42%</td>
                <td style="padding: 10px 20px; border-right: 1px solid #d3d3d3; height: 18px;" align="center"
                    width="20%">44%</td>
            </tr>
            <tr style="background-color: #f2f2f2;">
                <td style="padding: 10px 20px; border-right: 1px solid #d3d3d3; height: 18px;" align="center"
                    width="20%">Remained unchanged</td>
                <td style="padding: 10px 20px; border-right: 1px solid #d3d3d3; height: 18px;" align="center"
                    width="20%">38%</td>
                <td style="padding: 10px 20px; border-right: 1px solid #d3d3d3; height: 18px;" align="center"
                    width="20%">31%</td>
                <td style="padding: 10px 20px; border-right: 1px solid #d3d3d3; height: 18px;" align="center"
                    width="20%">30%</td>
                <td style="padding: 10px 20px; border-right: 1px solid #d3d3d3; height: 18px;" align="center"
                    width="20%">33%</td>
            </tr>
            <tr style="height: 18px;">
                <td style="padding: 10px 20px; border-right: 1px solid #d3d3d3; height: 18px;" align="center"
                    width="20%">Decreased</td>
                <td style="padding: 10px 20px; border-right: 1px solid #d3d3d3; height: 18px;" align="center"
                    width="20%">15%</td>
                <td style="padding: 10px 20px; border-right: 1px solid #d3d3d3; height: 18px;" align="center"
                    width="20%">26%</td>
                <td style="padding: 10px 20px; border-right: 1px solid #d3d3d3; height: 18px;" align="center"
                    width="20%">27%</td>
                <td style="padding: 10px 20px; border-right: 1px solid #d3d3d3; height: 18px;" align="center"
                    width="20%">24%</td>
            </tr>
        </tbody>
    </table>
</div>

<div style="overflow: auto;">
    <table style="border: 1px solid #d3d3d3; height: 72px; width: 100%;" width="100%">
        <tbody>
            <tr style="border-bottom: solid 1px #d3d3d3;">
                <td style="padding: 10px 20px; border-right: 1px solid #d3d3d3; height: 18px;" colspan="2"
                    align="center"><strong>Top 3 reasons to use online sourcing platforms</strong></td>
            </tr>
            <tr style="background-color: #f2f2f2;">
                <td style="padding: 10px 20px; border-right: 1px solid #d3d3d3; height: 18px;" align="center"
                    width="33%">Search for new suppliers and make enquiries</td>
                <td style="padding: 10px 20px; border-right: 1px solid #d3d3d3; height: 18px;" align="center"
                    width="33%">70%</td>
            </tr>
            <tr style="height: 18px;">
                <td style="padding: 10px 20px; border-right: 1px solid #d3d3d3; height: 18px;" align="center"
                    width="33%">Compare products and prices</td>
                <td style="padding: 10px 20px; border-right: 1px solid #d3d3d3; height: 18px;" align="center"
                    width="33%">66%</td>
            </tr>
            <tr style="background-color: #f2f2f2;">
                <td style="padding: 10px 20px; border-right: 1px solid #d3d3d3; height: 18px;" align="center"
                    width="33%">Identify the latest product trends</td>
                <td style="padding: 10px 20px; border-right: 1px solid #d3d3d3; height: 18px;" align="center"
                    width="33%">57%</td>
            </tr>
        </tbody>
    </table>
</div>

<table style="border: 1px solid #d3d3d3; height: 72px; width: 100%;" width="100%">
    <tbody>
        <tr style="border-bottom: solid 1px #d3d3d3;">
            <td style="padding: 10px 20px; border-right: 1px solid #d3d3d3; height: 18px;" colspan="2" align="center">
                <strong>Pain points associated with using online sourcing platforms</strong></td>
        </tr>
        <tr style="background-color: #f2f2f2;">
            <td style="padding: 10px 20px; border-right: 1px solid #d3d3d3; height: 18px;" align="center" width="33%">
                Unable to examine the products physically</td>
            <td style="padding: 10px 20px; border-right: 1px solid #d3d3d3; height: 18px;" align="center" width="33%">
                61%</td>
        </tr>
        <tr style="height: 18px;">
            <td style="padding: 10px 20px; border-right: 1px solid #d3d3d3; height: 18px;" align="center" width="33%">
                Risk of fraud</td>
            <td style="padding: 10px 20px; border-right: 1px solid #d3d3d3; height: 18px;" align="center" width="33%">
                56%</td>
        </tr>
        <tr style="background-color: #f2f2f2;">
            <td style="padding: 10px 20px; border-right: 1px solid #d3d3d3; height: 18px;" align="center" width="33%">
                Insufficient product details and photos</td>
            <td style="padding: 10px 20px; border-right: 1px solid #d3d3d3; height: 18px;" align="center" width="33%">
                54%</td>
        </tr>
        <tr style="height: 18px;">
            <td style="padding: 10px 20px; border-right: 1px solid #d3d3d3; height: 18px;" align="center" width="33%">
                Unresponsive suppliers</td>
            <td style="padding: 10px 20px; border-right: 1px solid #d3d3d3; height: 18px;" align="center" width="33%">
                49%</td>
        </tr>
        <tr style="background-color: #f2f2f2;">
            <td style="padding: 10px 20px; border-right: 1px solid #d3d3d3; height: 18px;" align="center" width="33%">
                Uncertified products</td>
            <td style="padding: 10px 20px; border-right: 1px solid #d3d3d3; height: 18px;" align="center" width="33%">
                49%</td>
        </tr>
    </tbody>
</table>

* Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding.

HKTDC Research website

International Sourcing for 2022 and Beyond: Insights Into How Buyers and Suppliers Are Optimising Online Sourcing Moving Forward

References

HKTDC Director of Research Irina Fan said physical fairs and hybrid fairs are the future as the two formats can complement each other

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<p><strong>About HKTDC</strong></p><p>The <a href="https://www.hktdc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC)</a> is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's trade. With 50 <a href="https://aboutus.hktdc.com/en/#global-network" target="_blank" rel="noopener">offices</a> globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises<a href="https://event.hktdc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> international exhibitions</a>, <a href="https://event.hktdc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">conferences </a>and<a href="https://event.hktdc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> business missions</a> to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via <a href="http://research.hktdc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">research reports</a> and <a href="http://mediaroom.hktdc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">digital news channels</a>. For more information, please visit: <a href="http://www.hktdc.com/aboutus" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.hktdc.com/aboutus</a><a href="https://event.hktdc.com/?eventFormat=Exhibition&amp;location=all" target="_blank" rel="noopener">. </a></p><div class="frMainCol"><div class="prToolkit addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style addthis_20x20_style"><div class="fb-like fb_iframe_widget" data-layout="button_count" data-show_faces="false" data-share="false" data-action="like" data-width="90" data-height="25" data-font="arial" data-href="http://mediaroom.hktdc.com/en/pressrelease/detail/20351/93%25%20of%20international%20buyers%20used%20online%20sourcing%20%20platforms%20during%20pandemic" data-send="false"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/HKTDC.Exhibition" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignnone" src="https://vep-tradeshow.hktdc.com/event/hkfoodexpo/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2022/02/icons__fb.png" alt="Facebook" width="25" height="25" /></a>   <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300&amp;winname=addthis&amp;pub=xa-522369cc6948a417&amp;source=men-300&amp;lng=en&amp;s=twitter&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fmediaroom.hktdc.com%2Fen%2Fpressrelease%2Fdetail%2F20351%2F93%2525%2520of%2520international%2520buyers%2520used%2520online%2520sourcing%2520%2520platforms%2520during%2520pandemic&amp;title=93%25%20of%20international%20buyers%20used%20online%20sourcing%20%20platforms%20during%20pandemic&amp;ate=AT-xa-522369cc6948a417/-/-/629ef2520191769f/4&amp;frommenu=1&amp;ips=1&amp;uid=629eb90a897595fd&amp;description=20%20April%202022%20%E2%80%93%20The%20COVID-19%20pandemic%20has%20caused%20significant%20disruption%20to%20global%20sourcing%20patterns.%20According%20to%20a%20new%20survey%20commissioned%20by%20Hong%20Kong%20Trade%20Development%20Council%20(HKTDC)%20Research%2C%20the%20vast%20majority%20of%20international...&amp;ufbl=1&amp;ct=1&amp;pre=https%3A%2F%2Fmediaroom.hktdc.com%2Ftc%2Fpressrelease%2Fdetail%2F20351%2F93%2525%2520of%2520international%2520buyers%2520used%2520online%2520sourcing%2520%2520platforms%2520during%2520pandemic&amp;tt=0&amp;captcha_provider=recaptcha2&amp;pro=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignnone" src="https://vep-tradeshow.hktdc.com/event/electronicasia/wp-content/uploads/sites/25/2022/03/icons__twitter.png" alt="Twitter" width="25" height="25" /></a>   <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/uas/login?session_redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2FshareArticle%3Fmini%3Dtrue%26url%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fmediaroom.hktdc.com%252Fen%252Fpressrelease%252Fdetail%252F20351%252F93%252525%252520of%252520international%252520buyers%252520used%252520online%252520sourcing%252520%252520platforms%252520during%252520pandemic%2523.Yp7RaD3QZ9U.linkedin%26title%3D93%2525%2Bof%2Binternational%2Bbuyers%2Bused%2Bonline%2Bsourcing%2B%2Bplatforms%2Bduring%2Bpandemic%26ro%3Dfalse%26summary%3D20%2BApril%2B2022%2B%25E2%2580%2593%2BThe%2BCOVID-19%2Bpandemic%2Bhas%2Bcaused%2Bsignificant%2Bdisruption%2Bto%2Bglobal%2Bsourcing%2Bpatterns.%2BAccording%2Bto%2Ba%2Bnew%2Bsurvey%2Bcommissioned%2Bby%2BHong%2BKong%2BTrade%2BDevelopment%2BCouncil%2B%2528HKTDC%2529%2BResearch%252C%2Bthe%2Bvast%2Bmajority%2Bof%2Binternational...%26source%3D" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignnone" src="https://vep-tradeshow.hktdc.com/event/hkelectronicsfairae/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2022/03/icons__linkedin.png" alt="Linkedin" width="25" height="25" /></a></div></div></div>

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant disruption to global sourcing patterns. According to a new survey commissioned by Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) Research, the vast majority of international buyers (93%) have used online sourcing platforms since the pandemic began, with more than 85% attending virtual fairs to meet their sourcing needs. However, most buyers surveyed said they would prefer to source via physical fairs (63%) or hybrid fairs (59%) once travel restrictions are lifted.