It’s time to cut through the metaverse hype

Industry reports show that almost 80% of South Africans could see themselves interacting with a brand in the metaverse in the future. While commercial applications are still in their infancy, the metaverse is set to transform how retailers and brands interact with...

Leveraging customer touchpoints is crucial for retailers

It’s hardly accurate to say the world has achieved a state of normality post-pandemic – one only has to read the news to understand that we are in turbulent and changing times. But then again, during the pandemic there was a lot of talk about the...

Unifying channels helps retailers tap into growth opportunities

As online retail growth pushes into double-digit territory, companies that are holding onto a purely face-to-face business model will lose out. Companies under pressure to deliver the revenue growth their investors are looking for shouldn’t just be focusing on...

Retailers must invest in customer satisfaction

Online retail in South Africa has hit a major milestone, eclipsing R50-billion in annual sales during 2022. Research from World Wide Worx records a 40% increase in the total number of South Africans shopping online since the onset of the pandemic in 2020. Yet many...

Digital payments could boost FMCG industry

The fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector contributes R1 trillion to South Africa’s annual gross domestic product (roughly 20% of economic production) and employs 2,5-million people (or 16% of the country’s total formal labour force). From a continental...

The impact of blockchain technology on the retail sector

During its formative years, blockchain technology became synonymous with the advent of cryptocurrency. Today, its use cases have transcended the world of finance, expanding into sectors such as retail. In Africa, its application in payment technology has demonstrated...