Smart locker growth to mirror e-commerce boom
The smart locker industry is about to undergo a similar growth surge to the one we’re currently experiencing in South Africa. By Herman Meyer, technical director of Ricoh South Africa Much of this is a result of the change in work and buying patterns as a result of...
Yassir Express launches in Gauteng
On-demand shopping app Yassir Express has gone live in Gauteng. Yassir Express offers a one-stop shop for thousands of products including everything from nappies and pharmacy items to pet food, fresh fruit and vegetables, and meat - all delivered right to customers'...
SA e-commerce continues to leapfrog
The boom in e-commerce, at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, was unprecedented. The International Trade Administration found that online sales in South Africa increased by almost 70% between 2019 and 2020, equating to over R30-billion. According to Deloitte's most...
Are your Black Friday shoppers night owls, afternoon strollers or worker bees?
One of the advantages of being an online retailer is that, theoretically, customers can buy any time of the day. But that doesn't mean customers don't have favourite times to shop online, particularly on Black Friday. Joshua Shimkin, head of marketing and SME growth...
Online shopping tips: safety and securing the goods
If there's one thing two years of living and working at home has taught South Africans, it's how to shop online and embrace the convenience it offers, especially for those who are time-strapped or actively seeking out a good deal. With Black Friday on our doorstep,...
Turn an e-commerce fling into a long-term relationship
Choices, choices. Just like most other purchases, consumers now have so much choice, be it online or a more conventional approach, and it's easier than ever to click or 'swipe' brand promotions away. And in a digital age, if we want to still be in play, brands need to...
Omnichannel adoption is set to drive the new e-commerce experience
Market studies show that the recent Covid-19 pandemic served as a significant catalyst for ecommerce adoption among retail customers across the globe, with a vast majority of shoppers moving their spending online. By Mayen Warrie, key account executive at Infobip...
Click-and-collect now part of a retail omnichannel strategy
With Black Friday and the festive season fast approaching, retailers are gearing up for a bumper shopping season. It is the perfect opportunity for retailers to offer an exceptional end-to-end customer experience by introducing click-and-collect as part of their...
How online SMEs can manage Black Friday logistics
For online retailers, Black Friday is one of the biggest business opportunities of the year. But without the right logistics in place, it could turn into a major business headache and customer deterrent. "No matter how stable your site is and how good your specials...
Fulfilling tricky last-mile deliveries in SA townships this Black Friday
The 2022 South African Township CX Report, which surveyed more than 1 400 townships residents, found that in the space of a year online purchases grew by a staggering 42%, from 28% in 2021 to 70% this year. Given their love of technology and the internet, it stands to...
Leverage data to drive actionable insight on e-commerce
In today’s digital world, where e-commerce platforms are becoming the de facto standard for many shopping experiences, the retail value chain has access to more data than ever before. By Andrew Dawson, MD of MACmobile The explosion of business intelligence and...
Grocery retail trends to watch out for into 2023
As retailers head into 2023, the industry must face many challenges, such as keeping stores and warehouses staffed in what many fear is a foundational readjustment in the labour market. With the food industry constantly evolving, the future of grocery retail is at the...