RIYADH — The Ministry of Commerce has announced the launch of 10 initiatives in order to develop electronic stores in Saudi Arabia.

The ministry stated that the 10 initiatives have been set as a result of people's suggestions to develop this sector.

The first of the 10 initiatives were: Obligating the e-stores to add all the information related to the warranty and to communicate with the product agent at the purchase invoice.

E-stores must expand the geographical coverage of delivery gradually, in order to include the delivery to all the regions in Saudi Arabia and not to limit it to the main cities.

The ministry asked the e-stores to diversify the shipping and delivery options to ensure that there is no delay in the delivery of shipments. As well as they must abide by providing different payment solutions such as: Mada, credit cards, etc.

Among the initiatives, the ministry demanded e-stores to offer technical systems to manage and follow up on refunds. In addition, they must facilitate consumers on the procedures of canceling orders, and ensure that there is no confusion in the consumer’s mind on the procedures.

E-stores are obligated to submit periodic reports to the Ministry of Commerce that contains performance measurement indicators, in addition to the necessity of launching awareness campaigns to raise consumers' knowledge.

The ministry stated that the electronic store should make videos for products that help in clarifying its features and the ways to use them. As well as, it has asked the e-stores to employ technology in developing replacement and retrieval systems.

It has also revealed the most notable challenges that face the consumers in the e-stores sector, the first of which is: the lack of clarity of warranty and maintenance policies.

Among the challenges are also the delay in handling and fixing the complaint, the lack of a delivery service for some regions of the Kingdom, in addition to the delay in returning the money to consumers.

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