Africa’s e-commerce boom a billion-dollar opportunity
By the end of 2025, nearly half the population of Africa will have engaged in buying goods and services online, compared to just 13% in 2017. This increase will be fueled by Africa's young and growing tech-savvy population - 70% of sub-Saharans are younger than 30 -...
How retailers can prepare for the R100bn e-commerce market
South African retail has experienced profound transformation over the past few years, with digital platforms and e-commerce reshaping consumer expectations. However, we are just in the earliest phases of digital transformation and SME retailers will need to be agile...
Why delivery times are important in e-commerce
One reason that big-name online retail stores like Amazon enjoy the market share they do is because of the speeds at which they deliver. In 2023 the company delivered goods to members using its Prime service at faster-than-ever speeds globally, with 7-billion items...
E-commerce could boost SME transporters
Since the pandemic, unprecedented numbers of people have embraced technology and shifted to e-commerce. Consequently, transport companies have increased demand. Justin Manson, sales director at Webfleet South Africa, sees this shift as a significant opportunity for...
Our last-mile delivery game needs to be on point
Africa's last-mile delivery market is expected to be worth $2,3-billion (R43-billion) by 2030. If one considers that the continent will be home to some two billion people by 2050, it becomes clear that this sector will grow exponentially and offer many new business...
Do global e-commerce platforms herald a boom for SA SMEs?
The news that Amazon is eyeing the South African market is sparking predictions that a new online future is almost upon us, and the established local e-shopping scene will never be the same. The beneficiaries of a more competitive local scene are expected to be...
Sustain talent through employee wellbeing
In the milieu of the modern workplace, where creativity, collaboration, and caffeine-powered brainstorming sessions reign supreme, mental health is the mechanism that keeps everything in motion, write Joshua Mills, talent manager, and Alison Palmer, head of human...
Unified commerce for customer-centric retail success
In the dynamic world of retail, understanding the evolving nature of the consumer journey is paramount. With increasing technological advancements and rising customer expectations, retailers need to be agile and responsive, ensuring their customers can seamlessly...
How the circular economy impacts e-commerce
As enterprises move online, the shipping and logistics sector offers many solutions that can help them become more sustainable, writes Natasha Parmanand, MD: operations sub-Saharan Africa, at FedEx. Among these is the growing field of reverse logistics. Sustainability...
The pros and cons of home delivery
With e-commerce in South Africa breaching the R55-billion a year mark, home delivery has become a way of life for the country's consumers. Yet delivery isn't the right fit for every retailer's customer base or business model. Each merchant should balance the potential...
Mobile devices should be retailers’ platform of choice
The retail industry has witnessed a remarkable transformation in recent years due to the widespread adoption of mobile devices, leading to the emergence of mobile commerce (m-commerce). This paradigm shift has changed how companies engage with their customers and...
Inospace ventures into e-commerce logistics
last-mile logistics park owner and operator Inospace has launched a outsourced fulfilment warehouse facility to help small and medium-sized e-commerce businesses with warehousing and distribution needs. The company launched its first e-commerce fulfilment and...