How bank transfers drive Poland’s rising e-commerce market

With the recent outbreak of COVID-19, the opportunity for merchants to sell across their borders has never been greater; it can be a solution to bridge revenue gaps and increase reach to an entirely new, global audience. Polish consumers are an excellent new audience to consider, as Poland is one of the EU’s most attractive, fastest-growing e-commerce markets.

With the increasing popularity of e-commerce and an economy growing at a healthy 5% GDP (pre-COVID-19), it’s increasingly evident that Polish customers love to buy online: 82% of its 30 million internet users have bought products and services online.

The latest data also shows that the number of Polish shoppers who buy across borders – looking for better prices or products unavailable in Poland – has been increasing year over year. Top shopping destinations for Polish consumers are China, Germany, and the UK; popular marketplaces include China’s AliExpress, German and Polish bilingual Amazon, Zalando and eBay.

Poles prefer the ease and security of bank transfers

When it comes to payment preferences, Poland is like many other Western European countries: Bank transfers are wildly popular. Indeed, half of all Polish e-commerce purchases are made with bank transfers, which is twice as many purchases made with card payments.

To anyone who knows the European payments market, it isn’t a mystery why Poles prefer bank transfers. This increasingly popular payment method is user-friendly, quick and secure. Bank transfer payments offer transparency, allowing the consumer to see their balance in real-time before they press the “buy” button. Payment is quick and easy — often just one or two taps on a mobile device — and there’s no need to enter card numbers or any other payment information. And because it’s been vetted by the consumer’s bank, both shoppers and businesses can have confidence in bank transfers. It’s no wonder Poland scores very well in European fraud statistics.

Boost conversion in the BLIK of an eye

With over 8 million users and 35% market share, BLIK is one of the most popular bank transfers in Poland. BLIK’s staggering growth rate (nearly seven times growth since 2017) means that it’s a must-have payment method for any merchant selling into Poland.

Launched in 2015 as the result of a successful collaboration between six of Poland’s major competing banks, BLIK quickly became a popular mobile payment method for millions of Polish users. Five years later, twelve major banks offer their clients BLIK for one-click purchasing, ATM withdrawals and mobile P2P payments.

Polish payments in a time of social distancing

As markets around the world continue to social distance in the wake of COVID-19, e-commerce growth rates will accelerate. Indeed, Poland has seen triple-digit growth for certain sectors like groceries, health, and beauty.

According to BLIK’s transaction data, the most popular products purchased in online shops during the coronavirus epidemic in Poland were electronic equipment and household appliances; the number of BLIK transactions in this category increased by 542% compared to February 2020. These products were followed by clothing and digital gaming.

As the amount of Polish shoppers that buy from foreign merchants continues to grow in the coming years, offering a locally preferred payment method like BLIK is a sure bet for boosting conversion.

If you’re interested in adding BLIK or any other Polish payment methods to your checkout, contact sales@ppro.com.