Trendyol attracts over 4M customers in GCC: CEO

Mohammed Elansari, CEO of Trendyol Gulf  

Mohammed Elansari, CEO of e-commerce platform Trendyol Gulf, said that the company has attracted more than 4 million customers in the first year of operation, making the region Trendyol’s second-largest for international growth after Turkey.

In an interview with Argaam, he added that 2024 was a milestone year for Trendyol, as the GCC market contributed significantly to the company's growth, as a result of the increasing demand for high-quality, affordable and trend-driven products, as well as the adoption of digital technologies by consumers and the evolution of shopping patterns in the region.

Elansari pointed out that the company has invested in infrastructure and local talent, opening two offices and warehouses in Riyadh and Dubai to boost operational efficiency, improve delivery services, and develop supply chains to keep pace with the rapid expansion of the customer base.

"As a marketplace, we don’t set or control the pricing strategies our brand partners use. Instead, we provide them a platform to showcase their products to over 40 million customers. This supports local businesses to get more visibility and unlock growth opportunities, not just in their region, but internationally,” he said.

“We provide them with the tools they need to succeed, whether through our intuitive seller platform, advanced logistics support, or insights to make smarter decisions to boost their businesses and enable commerce," Elansari said.

He indicated that Trendyol's localization drive was one of the key success factors, as it partnered with key market players from banks, telecoms to local retailers, which helped it integrate into the local markets.

"We also developed Turkey’s first large language model, enabling seamless translation from Turkish to Arabic and breaking language barriers for sellers in the region, and we leverage AI to personalize the shopping experience for our customers," said Elansari.

Trendyol relies extensively on artificial intelligence to personalize the shopping experience and improve logistical operations through predictive analytics, he added.

"As we look ahead, our current focus is on expanding our selection and onboarding more local retailers and SMEs onto our marketplace to support their growth.

This will ultimately contribute to fostering entrepreneurship and economic diversification within the national visions of Saudi Arabia and the UAE," the CEO said.