Specno’s Joshua Harvey explains how clearer delivery costs, reliable mobile checkout and better after-sales support can help South African retailers reach first-time online buyers.
Tag: e-commerce
How to Turn a Creative Side Hustle into a Business in South Africa
Two South African creative entrepreneurs explain how to move from hobby to income, covering startup costs, pricing, customer acquisition, digital sales and the challenges of scaling.
How Naturals Beauty Is Building a Pan-African Skincare Business
South African skincare company Naturals Beauty says revenue rose about 80% in three years as e-commerce, exports and bespoke product development drove growth.
The supplier’s questions belong in the buying decision
A practical guide for African importers and distributors on using supplier questions to assess market fit, channel readiness, service capability and the potential for repeat orders.
Zambia Must Fix Its Skills Gap Before It Is Too Late
Zambia’s youthful population could become one of its greatest economic strengths—but only if the country addresses its growing skills gap. This analysis explores how education reform, digital skills, technical and vocational training, stronger public-private partnerships, and business-friendly policies can prepare Zambia’s workforce for the digital economy. Drawing on data from the World Bank, IFC, TEVETA, UNESCO and other sources, the article outlines practical policy recommendations to reduce youth unemployment and build a future-ready labour market.
Driven by AI, customers now rival criminals for ecommerce fraud, say merchants
Global ecommerce fraud is entering a new phase as AI accelerates both criminal activity and customer-driven abuse, according to Ravelin’s Global Fraud Trends 2026 report. Merchants now report rising losses—averaging $11.4m annually—as fraud increasingly blurs the line between external attackers and first-party customers. With 64% experiencing AI-enabled fraud and one in three lacking AI defenses, businesses are struggling to keep pace with automated attacks such as card testing, refund abuse, and account takeover. The study highlights a widening “AI gap” in fraud prevention, where merchants lag behind increasingly sophisticated, AI-powered fraud tactics impacting revenue, reputation, and customer trust.
AI-driven shopping and privacy: What the retail and e-commerce sector should expect in 2026
As AI-driven shopping transforms retail and e-commerce, cybersecurity and privacy risks are escalating rapidly. In 2025, retailers faced a sharp rise in ransomware, phishing, and mobile malware attacks, with cybercriminals increasingly targeting online stores, payment systems, and delivery services. Looking ahead to 2026, conversational AI search, external AI shopping assistants, and image-based product discovery are expected to expand the data and privacy attack surface, exposing both consumers and businesses to new threats. To sustain trust and growth, retailers must strengthen cybersecurity defenses, improve data governance, and proactively address emerging privacy risks associated with AI-powered shopping experiences.
Why 2026 Will Be the Year of the Super App in Emerging Markets
2026 is set to be the breakthrough year for super-apps in emerging markets, with Africa leading the digital platform revolution. High mobile adoption, fragmented services, and untapped MSME markets create the perfect conditions for integrated platforms that combine payments, commerce, logistics, and discovery. Flood, led by André de Wet, is building Africa-focused super-app solutions to connect informal businesses, drive financial inclusion, and enable scalable digital commerce.
Verto Unveils The Atlas Suite: API-First Embedded Finance Solutions to Transform Global Payments for Fintechs, Marketplaces, Platforms, and White Label Brokers
Verto unveils The Atlas Suite, API-first embedded finance solutions simplifying cross-border payments, FX, and banking for fintechs, platforms & brokers.
AI-fuelled retail media opens new frontier in performance marketing for South African brands
AI-driven retail media is transforming performance marketing for South African brands. As ecommerce platforms like Takealot, Checkers Sixty60, Makro, and Woolworths invest in retail media, brands gain powerful opportunities to reach high-intent shoppers with personalised, measurable, and data-driven campaigns. AI enhances targeting, product recommendations, and closed-loop reporting, making retail media the next big growth frontier.