Business
Daraz launches first-ever Free Delivery Festival to set new e-commerce benchmarks in 2024
Daraz, South Asia’s leading online e-commerce platform, starts off the new year with the first-ever Daraz Free Delivery Festival. Taking place from 27th January 2024, shoppers can enjoy free delivery islandwide on millions of items across fashion, beauty, home and decor, and more. This initiative further reinforces Daraz’s commitment to communities across South Asia, showcasing the development and optimisation of infrastructure and advanced technology to ensure seamless nationwide delivery and easy access to goods.
The focus of the upcoming Daraz Free Delivery Festival is to offer accessibility opportunities for individuals, irrespective of their location, and to help communities obtain their everyday requirements more affordably. With the aim of reducing the impact of increased transportation costs caused by fuel price increases and value added tax changes, this festival aims to maximise savings for shoppers. It enables customers to conveniently purchase their essentials from home by eliminating the added burden of escalated delivery expenses. Through this initiative, Daraz also seeks to engage consumers who may have been deterred from engaging in e-commerce due to delivery charges and motivate their active participation in online shopping experiences, with the aim of growing the digital economy in Sri Lanka.
Statistics also suggest that many shoppers find free delivery initiatives in e-commerce extremely useful and beneficial. For example, in December 2023 alone, over 65% of Daraz shoppers already enjoyed free delivery, representing a 700% increase compared to January 2023.
Additionally, the Daraz Free Delivery Festival also serves as an instrumental tool for sellers to explore previously untapped regions, unlocking more growth opportunities. It provides small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with the opportunity to expand their businesses into unexplored territories and broaden their footprints, witnessing a substantial increase in their reach and revenue. For example, 65% of orders on Daraz last year were delivered to shoppers outside of the seller’s home city. In line with this trend, Daraz continues to see more sellers embracing free delivery as a tool to grow their business, with over 30% growth in sellers participating in free delivery in the last quarter of 2023 alone.
“Doorstep delivery to all parts and corners of Sri Lanka is absolutely essential to driving adoption and repeated use of e-commerce in Sri Lanka. A vast logistics and operations network is imperative and Daraz has developed Sri Lanka’s most extensive fleet of vehicles and delivery partners that connect sellers and buyers through speedy delivery, and this network is being offered completely free of charge during our Free Delivery Festival. This unique nationwide logistics infrastructure is complemented by state-of-the-art technology, enabling real-time tracking and route optimisation, serving Daraz’s goal of delivering packages faster and at affordable rates regardless of one’s geographical location,” stated Sajid Suhile, Director of Operations at Daraz Sri Lanka.
Be a part of the Daraz Free Delivery Festival by logging onto the Daraz App or visiting Daraz online at www.daraz.lk.
The Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Sri Lanka (AHK Sri Lanka) proudly facilitated the first-ever Sri Lankan delegation’s participation at Drupa 2024, the world’s largest trade fair for the printing industry and technology. Held after an eight-year hiatus, Drupa 2024 was a landmark event, marking significant advancements and opportunities in the global printing industry.
AHK Sri Lanka played a pivotal role in organising and supporting the delegation, which comprised 17 members from the Sri Lanka Association for Printers (SLAP), representing eight companies from the commercial, newspaper, stationery printing, and packaging industries. This pioneering effort by AHK Sri Lanka not only showcased the diverse capabilities of Sri Lanka’s printing sector but also facilitated vital bilateral discussions with key stakeholders from the German printing industry.
Business
Unveiling Ayugiri: Browns Hotels & Resorts sets the stage for a new era in luxury Ayurveda Wellness
In a captivating reimagining of luxury wellness tourism, Browns Hotels & Resorts proudly unveiled the exquisite Ayugiri Ayurveda Wellness Resort Sigiriya. This momentous occasion, celebrated amidst a vibrant and serene grand opening on the 6th of June, heralds a new chapter in the Ayurveda wellness tourism landscape in Sri Lanka. Nestled amidst 54 acres of unspoiled natural splendour, Ayugiri features 22 exclusive suites and stands out as the only luxury Ayurveda wellness resort in the country offering plunge pools in every room, rendering it truly one-of-a-kind.
The grand opening of Ayugiri Ayurveda Wellness Resort was an enchanting event, where guests were captivated by the melodies of flutists and violinists resonating through Sigiriya’s lush landscapes. As traditional drummers and dancers infused the air with vibrant energy, Browns Hotels & Resorts’ CEO, Eksath Wijeratne, Kotaro Katsuki, Acting Ambassador for the Embassy of Japan and General Manager, Buwaneka Bandara, unveiled the resort’s new logo, marking a significant moment witnessed by distinguished guests from the French Embassy, Ayurveda and wellness enthusiasts along with officials from the Sigiriya area, LOLC Holdings and Browns Group.
“Our strategic expansion into wellness tourism with Ayugiri Ayurveda Wellness Resort Sigiriya symbolises a significant milestone for Browns Hotels & Resorts. Wellness tourism has consistently outperformed the overall tourism industry for over a decade, reflecting a growing global interest in travel that goes beyond leisure to offer rejuvenation and holistic well-being. By integrating the timeless wisdom of Ayurveda with modern luxury, we aim to set a new standard in luxury wellness tourism in Sri Lanka. Whether your goal is prevention, healing, or a deeper connection to inner harmony, Ayugiri offers a sanctuary for holistic well-being” stated Eksath Wijeratne.
Ayugiri encapsulates the essence of life, inspired by the lotus flower held by the graceful queens of the infamous Sigiriya frescoes. Just as the lotus emerges from the murky depths, untainted and serene,
Ayugiri invites guests on a journey of purity and rejuvenation, harmonised with a balance of mind, body and spirit, the essence of nature, echoes of culture and the wisdom of ancient Ayurvedic healing.
HNB General Insurance, one of Sri Lanka’s leading general insurance providers, has been honored as the Best General Bancassurance Provider in Sri Lanka 2024 by the prestigious Global Banking and Finance Review – UK.
The esteemed accolade underscores HNB General Insurance’s unwavering commitment to excellence and its outstanding performance in the field of bancassurance. Through dedication and hard work, the HNB General Insurance team has continuously endeavored to deliver innovative insurance solutions, cultivate strong relationships with banking partners, and provide unparalleled service to customers nationwide. This recognition is a testament to the team’s dedication and relentless pursuit of excellence in the bancassurance business.
“We are honored to receive this prestigious award, which reflects our team’s tireless efforts and dedication to delivering value-added insurance solutions and exceptional service through our bancassurance partnerships,” said Sithumina Jayasundara, CEO of HNB General Insurance. “This recognition reaffirms our position as a trusted insurance provider in Sri Lanka and motivates us to continue striving for excellence in serving our customers and communities.”
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