In the first quarter of 2026 Colombians made 186.35 million online purchases, 22.2% more than a year earlier, but the average ticket fell to COP 211,192. They are more purchases and smaller ones: in e-commerce in Colombia 2026, winning depends on an easy checkout, payments your customers already use and fast service.
Here are the figures, the themes shaping the year and 6 actions for your store.
How is e-commerce in Colombia 2026 doing?
According to the Colombian Chamber of Electronic Commerce (CCCE), reported by Portafolio and DPL News in May 2026, these were the first-quarter numbers:
| Indicator | First quarter of 2026 | Comparison |
|---|---|---|
| Online transactions | 186.35 million | +22.2% vs 152.48 million |
| Sales | COP 39.72 trillion | +14.5% vs COP 34.38 trillion |
| Average ticket | COP 211,192 | Was COP 341,119 before the pandemic (−38%) |
Keep in mind that the sales figure varies between outlets: one of the sources mentions COP 39.4 trillion in a later indicator. We use the one from the CCCE report as reported by Portafolio (May 19, 2026). (Here "trillion" means the Spanish billón, a million million.)
Which themes set the sector's agenda?
eCommerce Day Colombia 2026, its 17th edition, was scheduled for May 7 in Bogotá, organized by the eCommerce Institute with the Colombian Chamber of Electronic Commerce. According to the agenda published by ENTER.CO, it included artificial intelligence applied to business, unified commerce and omnichannel, marketplace growth, retail media, social commerce, smart logistics and digital payment methods (ENTER.CO).
Those are the themes most discussed in the sector.
What does this mean for a small store?
Our reading, which does not come from any report: if the ticket falls and purchases rise, every friction weighs more. A slow page, a payment that fails or a reply that takes too long cost more when the order is small and the customer has many options.
Which 6 actions can you take?
- Measure your checkout speed. Check LCP, INP and CLS with real data and fix what blocks the first paint. Here we explain how to improve Core Web Vitals.
- Offer the payment methods your customers already use. Ask them or check which methods complete their purchases; if a payment fails often, fix it before running ads.
- Serve customers on WhatsApp with the order prefilled. A button that opens the chat with the product already written shortens the path from interest to purchase.
- Sell in more than one channel. A marketplace can be an additional channel without replacing your own store, where you control the brand, the data and the customer.
- Use AI carefully. An assistant can answer frequent questions, but if it touches customer data, check what the law requires: AI and customer data guide.
- Protect the store. Two-step verification, updates and tested backups: 7 web security habits.
How do we do it at Mokev?
Our digital products store charges through Mercado Pago, and digital cards with a catalog let the customer order through WhatsApp with the product message already written. If your business is small, you can start with that WhatsApp ordering and move to your own store when volume calls for it. We help at every step with e-commerce.
To see how it works, look at our store and digital cards, or write to us.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average ticket?
It is the average value of each purchase: total sales divided by the number of transactions. In the first quarter of 2026 it was COP 211,192, according to the CCCE.
Do I need to be on a marketplace?
It is not mandatory. It is one more channel, and the decision depends on your product and margin. The advantage of your own store is that you control the brand and your customers' data.
What is unified commerce?
ENTER.CO mentions it alongside omnichannel: integrating digital and physical sales channels so the customer has a continuous experience.
Is it better to sell on WhatsApp or have an online store?
It depends on volume. WhatsApp helps you start fast and serve people personally; your own store automates payments and inventory when volume grows. They can coexist.
How do I know if my store is fast enough?
Measure it on PageSpeed Insights on mobile and look at the Core Web Vitals report in Search Console. If LCP is above 2.5 seconds, there is work to do.
