WITH the mega shopping season fast approaching, Lazada Philippines brought together the country’s top sellers and category leaders to discuss shifting consumer preferences and industry trends.
Held on August 25 at The Blue Leaf Cosmopolitan in Pasig City, the Lazada Power Up: Mega Season 2026 Kickoff offered insights into the trends shaping the Filipino online shopping experience ahead of the Mega Season (9.9, 11.11, and 12.12).
Leading the discussion and conversation are Head of General Operations Alvin Ching, Head of Communications Portia Trinidad, Category Director for Electronics Mishie dela Cruz, Category Director for Fashion Joey Bienvenida, Category Director for FMCG Raphael Pineda and Category Director for General Merchandise Janet Basa.
The rise of smart, intentional consumers
Filipino spending habits are constantly evolving; online shopping introduced ease and more affordable deals for consumers.
“Over time, we've seen Filipino consumers become more intentional with the way they’re online shopping. Especially in the current economy, you have to be sure with what you’re buying,” says Trinidad.
According to the speakers, consumers are now more deliberate in their purchases, doing planned upgrades and researching products that they feel are good value or worth it for their budget.
“For electronics, it’s normally a planned purchase, it’s very seldom that you see something and you buy it. So people normally, they like to check the specs [specifications], they like to check reviews from trusted media partners and from other buyers,” dela Cruz shared.
In the realm of general merchandising, Basa says customers are looking for quality and what they can deliver. “Our consumers now are very smart, so they will research before buying. So for general merchandising, you look at durability, functionality and even the reviews.”
Additionally, the panel highlighted trust as a key factor influencing which platforms and sellers consumers choose to engage with and purchase from in the long term.
“Lazmall gives them that boost of confidence, authenticity is something that they really look for as well as the after-sales. If there is ever a problem, you want to be confident that either the brand, the reseller, or the retailer will be there to support you with warranty and after-sales,” Basa said.
AI-powered shopping experience
The integration of AI has stepped up the game for both sellers and consumers.
“For Lazada, AI is making the experience more personal online with discovering, matching, and recommendations. Specifically, AI Lazzie helps shoppers discover more from us. It can also reduce the questions of, ‘Where do we begin?’ and ‘What do I buy?’ And for sellers specifically, AI can help them find the right audiences, the right shoppers to get engaged,” says Trinidad.
With the range of products available within the online shopping platform, AI can help narrow down specific needs tailored to each buyer.
In terms of modifying search terms and product descriptions for AI, Pineda says sellers and retailers should take time to meticulously review and specify product descriptions. “Search is still one of the key traffic drivers in the platform, and your description, all those attributes that we have really makes a major difference in the searchability of your products.”
Beyond online shopping, AI integration and shifting consumer behaviors are shaping how sellers and buyers build and sustain long-term relationships on the platform.
