User-centred design of an e-commerce platform for the marketing of handicrafts from native communities in the Upper Amazon región

Artisan trade in the native communities of the Alto Amazonas represents an important source of income for many families and an expression of the indigenous cultural heritage. However, traditional sales methods, such as fairs and local stores, limit their market reach. Therefore, the general objective of this research was to design a user-centered e-commerce platform for the marketing of handicrafts from native communities in the Alto Amazonas. The study was basic, with a quantitative approach, a descriptive level, a non-experimental design, and a proactive scope. The sample consisted of 12 artisans from the Shawi community in the Balsapuerto district, and surveys and observation guides were used as data collection instruments. The results indicated that the artisans had limited use of marketing strategies, highlighting a low adoption of digital channels. The ISO 13407 standard was applied to structure the user-centered design, and the prototype was validated by a panel of experts. Kendall's W test showed moderate agreement for the interface design (W = 0.524; p = 0.194), but low agreement for the other dimensions evaluated. It was concluded that the platform design was relevant and functional for the community's cultural and economic context, constituting an initial solution to promote the digital transformation of artisanal trade in Indigenous areas of Peru.