Jamaica - eCommerce Jamaica - eCommerce
In 2007, the E-transaction Act came into effect, providing the legal framework for secured electronic commerce. Since then, e-commerce has grown in significance, with a larger number of businesses (particularly utilities and banks) offering the option to pay bills online or via mobile phone. Jamaicans with U.S. dollar credit cards also make online purchases from U.S. based companies.
Jamaica has relatively robust telecommunications infrastructure and has one of the highest mobile phone penetrations in the world. The country has therefore become an attractive location for information and communications technology firms to set-up business process outsourcing operations. While internet access is increasing, a “digital divide” still exists.
The latest census conducted in 2017 found that 35 percent of Jamaicans have access to computers and 84 pecent of households have mobile phones. Access to internet is on an upward trend, with Jamaica’s ranking in the World Economic Forum’s 2017-18 Global Competitiveness Index at 89 out of 137 for internet users as a percentage of the population, 71 for fixed broadband internet connections, and 74 for mobile broadband internet connections.
Online commerce is becoming more common, particularly amongst larger companies. These companies are more likely to have a web presence to market their products or services, in addition to using social media channels. Small and medium sized companies tend to rely on free social media platforms to market themselves. There are companies offering e-commerce domestically, as well as for cross-border sales. For companies offering online commerce, online payments can be made via credit card, paypal, online banking, or bill payment services.
A number of mobile payments services entered the market in the past five years. The Bank of Jamaica’s regulatory framework for mobile payments, called “Guidelines for Electronic Retail Payment Services,” came into effect April 2013.