Digital Commerce Acceleration

This article provides an overview of the current state of digital commerce in South Africa and the strategies that businesses can adopt to accelerate their growth in this space. It highlights key trends in digital commerce, the role of data, and pain points for shoppers. The document also emphasizes the need for businesses to focus on customer experience, digital infrastructure, brand presence, agile business models, and strategic partnerships to succeed in the digital commerce space.

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Key Figures:

• South-Africa’s E-commerce was an estimated US$3bn in 2019
• With a 37% e-commerce penetration, approximately 22 million consumers shopped online in 2020.
• South African consumers mostly used food delivery services weekly (36%), online retailers monthly (42%) and online classifieds less than once a month (34%).

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The top pain points for online shoppers include lack of security, unreliable delivery, limited details about the product, false advertising, and a difficult return process. The article concludes by stressing the importance of understanding consumer expectations, addressing concerns and barriers to online purchasing, and delivering a seamless and personalized online shopping experience to build brand trust and loyalty.