Africa's online sales are expected to top R1 trillion by 2026, with e-commerce companies in a race to grab a piece of the pie.
Over the next two years, the digital commerce market is expected to reach $72 billion across South Africa, Egypt, Kenya, Morocco and Nigeria, according to research by Payments and Commerce Market Intelligence (PCMI).
It also expects Africa to contribute more to consumer spending than Europe over the next decade.
Adapting operations
But to succeed in this competitive space, companies must not only meet all market demands, but also be able to adapt their operations as the e-commerce boom intensifies.
Anita Erasmus, head of business at Bob Group, South Africa's e-commerce ecosystem, has seen companies run into problems because they start planning for scale too late.
“Then it becomes difficult to manage the changes needed to scale. Introducing new technology may be easy, but getting people to change the way they operate takes time. ” she says.
Streamline your processes
For this reason, she advises business owners to streamline processes from the beginning by implementing easy-to-use technology and hiring properly trained staff.
More than 2,500 e-commerce companies are using Bob Group's order processing and delivery tool, Bob Go, and Erasmus says successful companies are those that make the most of the technology's potential. says.
“Most technology providers are constantly improving their services, and it is important for business owners to take advantage of all relevant features to improve their fulfillment strategies.
“On a more practical level, you need to make sure that your online store, which is your primary data source, is integrated into all your other systems, such as shipping, without the need for human intervention. When systems can communicate with each other, it not only saves time but also limits mistakes.”
Adding inventory levels to your online store will optimize inventory performance, she says. This means that businesses can ship products immediately after ordering and get them to customers as quickly as possible.
She also recommends weekly inventory counts, even of fast-moving items, to help businesses spot issues related to theft or gaps in the fulfillment process.
Balancing quality and delivery speed can be difficult, but Erasmus says it all comes down to how to optimize the process.
“Streamlining inventory management and communication channels, leveraging technology, and partnering with trusted logistics providers are important steps.
“It’s also important to set clear and realistic expectations from the beginning. Be transparent about delivery timeframes, keep customers informed during the process, and offer options regarding delivery methods. This is why Bob Group That's one of the reasons we also offer Bob Box locker solutions as an alternative delivery method for courier – door.”
Erasmus adds that while disruptions do happen and always will, businesses need to establish strategies to strengthen their resilience. It all starts with a plan.
If something goes wrong, the seller should have other options and sufficient inventory to replace the customer's parcel in the short term if necessary.
“This requires good relationships with suppliers and logistics partners, so we need to work with companies that are considerate and willing to help when needed.
“Using processes that facilitate fulfillment, such as stickered waybills and automated tracking, can also reduce the impact of disruptions.”
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