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...
ESG and sustainability the cornerstones of a future-proof business
In today's dynamic global business environment, the importance of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors, as well as sustainability, is becoming more apparent. Nikhil Naidoo, zero accelerated sustainability solution lead at Remote Metering Solutions...
Digitising the delivery game for Gen Z
The delivery game has experienced a seismic shift in recent years, thanks to the convergence of Gen Z's shopping habits and the exponential growth of online shopping. Gen Z, the digitally native generation born between the mid-1990s and early 2010s, has not only...
Embedded finance in the age of e-commerce
The African online e-commerce market has grown rapidly in recent years and is estimated to be worth approximately $40-billion - a figure that will likely increase by 66% by 2027. Consumers value the convenience, time savings, and discounts online shopping can provide,...
Bringing smart mobility to SA’s scooter economy
Ordering groceries or a hot meal using your favourite delivery smartphone app has quickly become a normal part of life here in Mzansi. By Bongani Mthombeni-Möller, director: smart mobility at Royal HaskoningDHV But how many of us take a moment to think about the...
Smart last-mile delivery tech addresses click-and-collect vulnerabilities
As the click-and-collect delivery option becomes more popular, so technology needs to keep pace with customer expectations. Already a juggernaut in the US, where research indicates the model will account for almost 11% of all UK online sales by 2025, click-and-collect...
Smart locker adoption soars
Customer demand for an online delivery service that always works is driving growth in the smart parcel locker market and courier industries. By Craig Pitchers, chief operating officer of The Courier Guy The size of the global smart parcel locker market could reach...
Temporary employment services support the growth of e-commerce
E-commerce has seen tremendous growth in South Africa in recent years, spurred by the Covid-19 pandemic that forced traditional retailers to develop an online presence. By Lucinda Alfonica, commercial manager at Workforce Staffing There is also a proliferation of...
Online retailers must service customers where they demand
We have heard it said many times before but it doesn't change the fact that it is true: technology is, and will continue to be, crucial to an online retailer's competitiveness and success. By David Meintjes, CEO of Telviva Retailers know that today's consumer, and no...