AI in Asia’s E-Commerce and Payments: Adoption, ROI, Risk, and Governance Outlook 2025

AI Adoption in Asia’s E-Commerce and Payments Spurs Growth and Risk Mitigation, but Highlights Regional Gaps and Cost Barriers.

AI Gaps Persist in Asia’s E-Commerce Sector

AI adoption across Asia’s E-Commerce landscape remains uneven. India and China are ahead, but Southeast Asia is still catching up. According to Lazada Group, by February 2025, only 25% of sellers in the region had fully integrated AI, while 50% remained in early-stage development. This reflects a pressing need for better infrastructure and support.

Basic AI Tools Dominate, Advanced Use Still Rare

Most sellers rely on chatbots, while adoption of advanced tools like predictive analytics is still limited. Sellers fall into three groups, Adepts, Aspirants, and Agnostics each with different levels of readiness. Lazada Group highlights that cost (64%) and uncertainty (61%) are major barriers, slowing down broader implementation.

AI Adoption Raises Efficiency And Risk

AI boosts performance but also exposes vulnerabilities. In 2024, AI-related fraud jumped by over 200% in Singapore, Thailand, and Indonesia, according to TechNode. Financial players are responding with biometric checks, fraud analytics, and AI-powered alerts to safeguard digital payments.

Countries Covered

• Singapore
• Malaysia
• Indonesia
• Thailand
• Philippines
• Vietnam

Questions Covered

• What share of companies in Asia reported regular use of AI systems in 2025?
• Which SEA country had the highest share of AI adoption among E-Commerce sellers in 2025?
• What challenge did firms in Asia-Pacific face when implementing AI-driven fraud systems in 2025? 
• How did ROI perceptions differ between AI Adepts and AI Agnostics in SEA in 2025?
• What was the leading AI function used by sellers in Asia in late 2024?