Creating a website for your brand can be costly and time-consuming. It requires one to have the necessary know-how in designing, developing, and maintaining the site. If the main goal of the website is to sell products, there are additional factors like payment gateways and logistics to work out.
On the other spectrum are marketplaces like Lazada and Shopee to leverage the platform’s systems and users to get your products out there. While the hassle of managing a website can be skipped this way, brands are exposed to competitors selling similar products for cheaper.
Ordersini’s Iffat Salleh believes his SaaS has got the chops to fill this gap. He’s also looking to raise RM2 million to expand it.
An all-in-one solution
I envisioned a solution that will be a win-win for shoppers and retailers, and offers a positive network effect. Things like site upkeep and security would be handled by ourselves, so that the merchant would never need to worry about them. This would reduce the time, money, and staff needed to create and maintain a store.
Iffat Salleh, founder of Ordersini
As a former teacher, the founder also had a knack for business while still studying between the years of 2009-2012. When posted to teach in a rural area, his venture was halted but picked back up in 2015 as internet coverage became available there.
That was when he started his first online business selling digital products such as e-books, video courses, and software. The latter materialised into Ordersini, grown from a stand-alone system into a SaaS with the help of a remote team connected over Facebook.
Simply put, Ordersini is similar to Shopify. Merchants can use the platform to set up and manage their online stores across the web, social media, and marketplaces. To start selling, merchants will just have to upload their products’ details onto their store.
Backend processes like shipping, payments, inventory management, sales analytics, etc. are automated by Ordersini.
“The platform is meant for entrepreneurs to start an online store without much hassle even if they have no experience in digital marketing or sales,” said Iffat.
Customers can purchase the store’s products by heading to a merchant’s unique URL. These links can be found wherever merchants choose to advertise their listings, whether on Google, Facebook, or Instagram ads, which can all be managed within Ordersini too.
“In the marketplace (Lazada/Shopee), all sellers share the same traffic. But on Ordersini, each store can have its own. Each seller will bring their own traffic using paid ads and convert them into sales for their store,” added Iffat.
A low barrier to entry
Primarily hosted in the Malay language, Iffat clarified that his target market is the Malay community of micro, small, and medium-sized businesses. To lower the platform’s barrier of entry for aspiring sellers, Ordersini’s team also offers one-on-one coaching sessions to guide merchants in utilising the platform’s features.
During Ordersini’s early days in 2016, users were able to sell on the platform for just RM10. Through vigorous social media marketing in 2018, the startup expanded into a wider market segment offering more choices to cater to a wide range of e-commerce sellers.
Ordersini currently has 3 different packages with varying price points merchants can choose from:
- Business (free to use, but merchants must pay RM2/order and payment processing fees);
- BasicOS (RM49/month, or RM490/year);
- AdvanceOS (RM99/month, or RM990/year).
Iffat told Vulcan Post that the free plan was created to help attract more merchants to stay on board. Prior to this, most would subscribe for a month before dropping out, unable to afford the monthly fees. Thus, merchants using the free plan will only have to pay when they get an order.
5 years in, Ordersini has reached profitability and now serves 5,000 merchants with 244,356 active users. The platform offers 27,306 products and has recorded RM136 million in total transaction value. Iffat added that Ordersini is also on track to achieve annual revenue of RM2 million in 2022.
Not its first funding rodeo
Ordersini intends to raise RM2 million to fund the expansion of its team, marketing efforts, operations, and product development. This is the startup’s second round of funding, following its CIP300 grant from Cradle in 2019.
With most e-commerce sellers operating from the convenience of their phones, Iffat told Vulcan Post that a portion of the funding, if secured, will be used to develop an app.
“The round of funding will mark an important milestone for us. It will strengthen Ordersini’s position as the first choice for merchants of all sizes to build, innovate and grow their businesses online,” hoped Iffat. “The funds will further accelerate the expansion of our platform to a wider segment of the market in the country. We are also thankful to the funders who have so far helped reach the minimum funding target.”
With an increased demand for companies to shift from brick-and-mortar to e-commerce, Ordersini aims to help more entrepreneurs and SMEs adapt.
Featured Image Credit: Iffat Salleh, founder of Ordersini