International logistics, the main obstacle for Valencian exporting companies in online sales

 

Exporting companies of the Valencia find in the international logistics its main barrier to expand its sales through the E-commerce. This is indicated by the XI Yearbook of the Observatory of Trademarks Abroad of the Valencian Community, prepared by the Mediterranean Marketing Club (CMM) in collaboration with Ivace+i International. According to the study data, 22% of companies respondents point to international logistics as their greatest difficulty, followed closely by lack of specialized personnel (19%) and complexity of marketplaces (16%).

 

Other barriers detected include the international collection management (14%) and regulations in destination countries (16%)To a lesser extent, conflicts with current clients (10%) and the costs of joining marketplaces (5%) also represent challenges for companies. This analysis seeks to provide a detailed overview of the landscape of Valencian exporting companies, assessing the overall impact on their operations and the strategies they are adopting to strengthen their presence in foreign trade, emphasizing key trends such as investment, marketing, and digitalization.

 

E-commerce, a channel with slow but steady growth

 

Despite the difficulties, the 34% of exporting companies in the Community have already incorporated e-commerce. as a sales channel in some form. Of these, 10% operate their own e-commerce, 12% use marketplaces, and 12% combine both options. Additionally, 16% of companies are considering implementing this channel. The report highlights that, over the last decade, adoption of the online sales channel has been slower compared to digital promotion.

 

Regarding the impact of online sales on exports, 50% of companies estimate that in 2025 it will have a high (18%) to medium (32%) impact, while the other half anticipate a low impact.

 

Digital transformation and international marketing

 

La digital transformation It is a fundamental pillar for exporting companies in the Valencian Community. The most valued aspects to drive this transformation are: formation of the current team (55%), greater investment in digital tools (49%) and incorporation of more specialized professionals (36%).

 

Regarding the digital marketing strategies with the greatest international impact, companies highlight the corporate website (23%), social networks (22%), the online advertising (14%) and the email marketing (14%) as the most effective. The distribution of marketing budgets reflects an even trend between online and offline activities, such as international trade fairs. Currently, 37% of exporting companies allocate their budget primarily to digital marketing, while 36% focus it on traditional marketing.

 

Bernardo April, director of the Observatory of Valencian Brands Abroad and member of the Board of Directors of the CMM, commented: "The results section of this study, which addresses global marketing strategies, presence, digitization, and e-commerce, offers a comprehensive perspective on the opportunities and challenges facing exporting companies in a competitive and constantly evolving environment. Combining traditional strategies with the adoption of emerging technologies will be key to their growth and consolidation in international markets."

 

El Mediterranean Marketing Club (CMM) It is a non-profit business association that brings together marketing professionals, brands, and providers from the Valencian Community. Its mission is to promote the growth of the sector through the exchange of trends, best practices, and success stories. It currently has more than 300 members.