E-commerce News from Costa Rica

“Made Costa Rica”: A Successful Online Nanobusiness

The Costa Rican Ministry of Economy, Industry and Commerce (MEIC) recently recognized Made Costa Rica (www.madecostarica.com) as a successful online business thanks to the effective use of information technology and communication (ITC).

Owned by Marcela Mora and a business partner,  they built this digital platform to sell national products (clothing, accessories and handcrafts). 

Made Costa Rica´s initiative was highlighted in a workshop organized by MEIC to discuss the factors that limit Costa Rican small and medium businesses’ efforts to enter e-commerce.  Mora pointed out that while some companies are just figuring out how to make online business with customers, suppliers or the government, Made Costa Rica has already gained a lot of experience in the e-commerce field. Although its structure is small, this online business credits its success to the effective use of ITC, which has allowed this nanobusiness to provide first-class online service. Mora considers training on the use of ITC tools important; however, in her opinion,  knowing how to make full use the available tools  is crucial. Made Costa Rica has been successful thanks to the “training with a purpose” that Mora and her business partner have received.  She believes that Exporta 2.0 from Cadexco (http://www.cadexco.net/servicios/95-proyecto-exporta-20) was very useful to help their business achieve its business goals and marketing objectives.

According to its owner, the most relevant benefit of this online platform is inventory reduction. Thanks to e-commerce, many of the products they sell can be manufactured to order.  This allows the online store  to avoid inventories and, consequently to  reduce product loss and/or damage.  That has translated into benefits to the entire value chain.

Made Costa Rica´s most challenging task was implementing its payment platform.   Costa Rica does not have the e-commerce platform flexibility and options available in more developed countries.  Mora believes that offering a product on a website that has to be paid through a bank deposit or payment at delivery does not make a website an e-commerce platform.  An online opinion, she says, must have the online payment option. At Made Costa Rica, customers  can pay online.

Mora also considers Facebook and Twitter excellent social media tools.  Made Costa Rica uses them to tell people about its line of business, show visitors/friends the products, and most importantly, to establish a commercial relation in a relaxed, friendly environment.  Made Costa Rica also has its own blog (http://www.madecostarica.com/blog/) to encourage communication with its customers.

Note:  This information was adapted with permission of the editor from the article originally written  in Spanish by Randall Cordero (http://pymelfinancierocr.com/node/306) which was published in elfinancierocr.com on Sept.6,2011.