Tag: eCommerce

Black Friday has evolved. What was once a single day of discount-driven frenzy now stretches across weeks of promotional activity. Businesses widely describe this period as Black November. This shift is quietly changing the question South African ecommerce businesses need to ask. What we tend to ask before Black Friday is how businesses can generate more sales. But an equally important question is what happens if all those sales actually arrive.

Black Friday is coming up, and even a well-stocked warehouse can struggle to get orders out on time. The right number of staff on the payroll matters. However, having a workforce ready to perform under pressure matters even more. This distinction can determine whether a retailer successfully navigates peak season or wastes valuable time recovering from avoidable operational challenges.

In this, the fourth edition of the 2022 South African Digital Customer Experience Report, it has become clear how far South African consumers have progressed. They now interact with brands and shop both online and offline in increasingly sophisticated ways. Conversely, brands and businesses have made significant Customer Experience (CX) improvements to meet the growing demands of these savvy consumers.

Digitalisation has brought, and continues to bring, sweeping advancements in how companies go to market and how customers engage with brands. Agentic AI is now poised to disrupt even these developments. As a result, organisations are scrambling to invest in the "next big thing" because they fear being left behind. However, history shows that when speed becomes associated with winning, companies often blur the line between operational effectiveness and strategy.

FY26 was a year of delivery: strong results, disciplined capital allocation and accelerating Artificial Intelligence (AI) innovation. Naspers delivered across its AI-powered Lifestyle Ecosystem of delivery, finance and experiences, with all regional ecosystems profitable.

The rapid growth of e-commerce has fundamentally reshaped the global retail landscape. It has pushed retailers to rethink how physical stores engage with modern consumers. However, rather than diminishing the role of brick-and-mortar retail, this shift has accelerated the evolution of experience-led shopping destinations. These destinations continue to attract consumers, tenants and investors alike.

Across South Africa, a quiet entrepreneurial shift is underway. From spare rooms and garages to small home studios and converted garden offices, thousands of businesses are launching from home. They are also selling to customers nationwide. While the rise of e-commerce has accelerated this trend, another factor also plays a crucial role.

Supply chains across the continent face mounting pressure. Geopolitical shifts and economic volatility drive this pressure. Many logistics operators have turned to technology for answers. This shift supports building a competitive logistics ecosystem. This focus also reinforces building a competitive logistics across regional networks.

In 2029, tokenised transactions are expected to double in value from $283 billion in 2025 to $574 billion. This market growth largely stems from the rapid rise of mobile payments, digital transformation and expanding ecommerce activity. In addition, security, personalisation and privacy continue driving adoption. While tokenisation applies easily across multiple industries, retailers increasingly use it to secure transactions.

Most South Africans already run their businesses on WhatsApp. A hair salon takes bookings through voice notes. A courier firm shares delivery updates using photo messages. A restaurant sends out its weekly menu via broadcast. What began as an informal backchannel for orders and service has now become the country’s most entrenched digital business tool. In fact, for many, WhatsApp serves as the foundation of their daily business operations.