Tag: e-commerce

With Amazon readying itself to launch in South Africa in February 2023, forward-thinking local retailers and e-tailers are gearing up their businesses to leverage the country’s R30 billion per year e-commerce market. Globally, Amazon dominates online sales and has driven enormous disruption in the market.

While COVID-19 put the brakes on the economy, the post-pandemic recovery has almost been stymied by the ongoing Russian war on Ukraine and the impending fears of a US recession, contributing negatively to economies around the world. Through the most challenging hurdles, however, the franchise sector in South Africa has remained steadfast in its goals to grow the economy and create jobs.

Regulatory pressures have dominated the headlines for Chinese e-commerce in the past 12 months. We think the focus is now shifting. Nothing showcases China’s love of e-commerce better than Singles’ Day, or 11.11. This unofficial holiday, initially founded as an anti-Valentine’s Day for singletons, is held annually on the 11 November.

As Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) increasingly migrate to digital channels, fraudsters have taken advantage of the opportunity to revive the old Advanced Fee Fraud (419 scam), duping businesses to make upfront payments for good and services, without the intention to deliver, or pay sums of monies, in advance, to facilitate the payment of loans or promised funds. 

The face of retail is evolving, with many retailers realising that in the post-pandemic climate, simply having an online and physical presence is not enough. This is backed by research which shows that multi-channel shoppers spend 82% more per transaction than shoppers who only spend in-store.

Study shows more than 85% of surveyed South African shoppers say retailers need to get better at giving them the products, service and experience they want. South Africans surveyed form part of a study of over 30,000 global online consumers from 18 countries. 

Naspers Limited (JSE: NPN) announced strong revenue growth with profitability in core operations for the year ending 31 March 2022. Building on the prior year’s standout performance, the Group’s ecommerce portfolio delivered revenue growth of 49% to US$10.7 billion.

Prosus N.V. (AEX: PRX) announced strong revenue growth with profitability in core operations for the year ending 31 March 2022. Building on the prior year’s standout performance, the Group’s ecommerce portfolio delivered revenue growth of 51%1 to US$9.8 billion.

Although many retailers have successfully implemented omnichannel services like same-day shipping, in-store pickup or home delivery, research shows that only a third of retail executives said this was a regular service, while 62% said it was just for the 2021 holiday season.

The digital transformation of business and society has found fertile ground with early promise for the super-app model, specifically in the Middle East and Africa, even as mobile digital platforms continue to offer proprietary and third-party functions under a single brand.