online retail in South Africa Archives

8Oct

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

South Africa News

Mid-Year Consumer Outlook for South Africa shows ‘financial polarisation’ between consumers

Consumer spending is starting to turn a corner, but many South Africans feel worse off due to higher food prices Hustle culture is growing, with 83% of respondents seeking additional income streams NielsenIQ (NIQ), the world’s leading global consumer intelligence company, has released its Mid-Year Consumer Outlook: Guide to 2025 report, identifying macro catalysts across industries. The forward-looking study provides a strategic roadmap for South African retailers looking to win over consumers in the year to come. The report anticipates that global consumers will spend $3.2 trillion more in 2025, representing nearly 6% growth compared to 2024, according to World Data Lab. In South Africa, there are signs of growing consumer confidence and resilience, even with rising food and utilit...

14Feb

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

South Africa News

Carefully balancing technology and people can elevate retailers and benefit SA. The Human Face of Retail

By Peter Ludi, Business Development Executive at redPanda Software There’s widespread acceptance that improving customer experience will go a long way towards attracting and retaining customers, especially at a time when there’s increased competition for valuable consumer spend. Naturally, all eyes turn to technology to remove friction, add convenience, automate, drive personalisation and much more. However, the deeper we move into the digital age it isn’t technology and automation that will save and grow retail, it’s the people. The theme that technology should not replace humans but augment them is well understood, but there’s more here than ordinarily meets the eye. Balancing technology with investment in people isn’t just a morally prudent approach, it is fundamental to a retailer’s...

30Oct

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

South Africa News

The power of the scaffolding software development approach in retail

Niel Coetzee, Head of Engineering at redPanda Software In recent years, many South African retailers have come to rely on no-code and low-code solutions which ostensibly simplifies the software development process. While the appeal is undeniable, these methods often trap businesses in a web of unoptimised code, vendor lock-in, and restricted adaptability. Traditional low-code and no-code solutions may seem attractive at first glance. They promise speed, ease of use, and require less technical expertise. However, lurking beneath the surface are issues that can turn them into ticking time bombs. The code is often suboptimal, resulting in clunky and slow software. While employees might be adept at dragging and dropping low-code and no-code solutions in such environments, they can be left st...

Shopping for sustainability: online stores and e-commerce merchants answer growing consumer demand

28Feb

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Business, South Africa News

Shopping for sustainability: online stores and e-commerce merchants answer growing consumer demand

While 92% of South Africans say sustainability is important to them, only 58% claim to live sustainably according to a 2022 study by global consumer insights agency InSites Consulting. It’s clear South Africans want to make a change; they just don’t know where to start. That’s where online retailers and e-commerce merchants come in, says Steffen Burrows, CURBON co-founder and director. The ‘sustainability paradox’, or the gap between acknowledgment (92% importance score) and action (42% not living sustainably), should be treated by brands as an opportunity. Since 86% of consumers believe that companies have a duty to take care of the planet, merchants and e-commerce businesses can help consumers overcome barriers to adopting more sustainable habits in their daily lives. This means makin...