E-commerce Adaptation and Barriers for Women Entrepreneurs in Bangladesh

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the influential impact of e-commerce on women entrepreneurship along with its challenges. This study reviewed the existing literature to understand how e-commerce is helping women to be empowered as established entrepreneurs as well as how they face emerging challenges. The study has incorporated several published articles from electronic media using the keywords women entrepreneurs, e-commerce adoption, barriers, and relevant terms. It included studies that focus on the adoption, utilization, and challenges associated with e-commerce platforms and technologies by women-led businesses. Moreover, papers published within the last 12 years (not before 2011) are considered to ensure the relevancy and currency of the context. The ways e-commerce changes the lives of women, along with challenges and opportunities are identified through this study. Women entrepreneurs attribute a significant impact of e-commerce to their entrepreneurial activities. E-commerce enhances the skills and knowledge of women entrepreneurs and acts as a catalyst for continuous learning and skill development. Several challenges are faced by women entrepreneurs in adopting e-commerce. Online security and privacy, high costs, and a lack of digital literacy come as the major barriers for women entrepreneurs. This suggests that financial and skill-related challenges hinder the widespread adoption of e-commerce.