Lessons from 2024 for a stronger, more inclusive retail credit market
In many ways, the retail credit market acts as a barometer of broader economic health, reflecting consumer confidence, spending power, and financial stability, writes Regan Adams, CEO of RCS. 2024 saw South African consumers grapple with harsh economic challenges such...
How cloud networking prepares retailers for seasonal success
The festive shopping season kicked off this year with Black Friday, showing a surge in online customers placing immense pressure on retail systems. Reports indicate that at least four major South African banks experienced notable growth in Black Friday activity this...
Are SA retailers experiencing an AI lag?
The adoption of advanced technologies in South African retailers is moving at a slow pace. By Dean Wolson, GMM: infrastructure solutions group at Lenovo Africa While artificial intelligence (AI) has made inroads into routine processes like inventory management, demand...
Harness technology for a seamless retail experience:
The holiday season is a make-or-break time for retailers. As consumers flood physical and digital stores searching for the perfect gifts, expectations for convenience, speed, and personalisation are at an all-time high. Meeting these demands requires more than just...
FMCG retail could turn Black Friday into a festive season win
Black Friday has become an integral part of the South African retail calendar. With consumers rushing to find the biggest and best deals, many retailers view the event as a race to the bottom. However, in the fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector, Black Friday has...
Enhance connectivity for a seamless festive retail experience
As South Africa gears up for the festive season with Black Friday and Cyber Monday approaching, retailers are bracing for an influx of shoppers both in-store and online. Tobie van Schalkwyk, business unit manager at Duxbury Networking Shopping centres, retail stores,...
Cards and contactless payments set to grow this holiday season
As South Africans gear up for the summer holidays, spending is set to surge. But this year, as has been the trend for the past few years, how they choose to do their spending is set to continue evolving. By Privesan Naidoo, executive: trading product VP (card and...
GenAI reshapes retail by enhancing omnichannel CX
South African retail and e-commerce businesses are stepping up their game by weaving generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) into their omnichannel strategies to meet evolving customer expectations. Customers here tend to favour brands that deliver a smooth...
Retailability trades up on data evolution
Retailability, a group of retail brands in southern Africa, has harnessed Qlik solutions to enhance data-driven decision-making, streamline reporting and help the group prepare for AI readiness. Retailability, founded in 1984 and headquartered in KwaZulu-Natal, South...
Putting the customer first, adding value is key for Black Friday
Black Friday is almost upon us again, just in time to raise the stress levels for everyone involved. Shoppers are in a rush trying to find the deals that offer value, while retailers for their part need to achieve sales numbers in order to satisfy shareholders. By...
How retailers should be preparing for Black Friday
Black Friday has evolved from being a single day to a month-long sales event that places considerable demand on South African retailers, their staff and their systems. By Warren Hawkins, MD of Euphoria Telecom In the run up to this period, here’s what you should be...
Data analysis, reporting gives retailers edge for Black Friday
South Africa’s retail sector experienced an important shift when the Black Friday tradition entered the local landscape, most notably the introduction of a large spike in trading volume during the month of November, peaking around the day itself. This is according to...