E-commerce platform: South Africa bill to surpass Nigeria soon

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E-commerce platform

From Benjamin a ameh

Non-online shoppers’ gives reason of security of payments and not receiving items they have ordered is a reason they don’t shop online

With 70 percent internet users shopping online or expecting to shop online in future, South Africa has the second largest number of potential online shoppers, compared to Nigeria (89 percent) and Kenya (60 percent).

From a recent study conducted in South Africa by global market research company Ipsos, on behalf of PayPal and FNB, has revealed a growing interest by South African internet users to shop online. The study reveals that 22 percent of South African internet users have said they have made purchases online, and 48 percent expect to do so in the future.

Efi Dahan, Regional Director for Africa and Israel at PayPal stated that: “E-commerce penetration in South Africa is still relatively low by global standards; However, the number of online shoppers is expected to nearly triple in South Africa, making the country a significant e-commerce force in the region.”

According to the study, the key drivers that would encourage South African online shoppers to shop on line more often are lower product costs (88 percent of online shoppers say this would make them more likely to shop online), faster delivery (selected by 85 percent of online shoppers), flexible delivery options (selected by 82 percent online shoppers) and safer ways to pay (selected by 75 percent online shoppers).

The study also revealed that 71 percent of current online shoppers indicated that if they did not have to keep re-entering payments or delivery details, they would be more likely to shop online more often. Meanwhile, one out of two (51 percent) South African online shoppers indicated that not having to register to a website to make a purchase would make them shop online more often.

When asked about main barriers for online shopping, 67 percent of non-online shoppers indicate that online security of payments is a reason for not shopping online, while 58 percent of those who have not shopped online say that concerns about not receiving items they have ordered is a reason they don’t shop online.

“Online security matters. This is why PayPal provides a simpler, easier and more secure way to shop and pay on millions of websites around the world,” said PayPal’s Efi Dahan. “The fact that PayPal does not share financial information with the seller when authorizing a transaction reassures consumers that their financial details are more secure. PayPal also offers buyer protection for eligible purchases and can help protect consumers in cases where the purchased goods didn’t reach them, a big concern amongst South African consumers”.

As a result, over one million South African PayPal accounts have been opened. 59 percent of online shoppers who are aware of PayPal agree that PayPal is the safest online payment method. Overall, South Africans who have heard of PayPal think it is fast (80 percent), convenient (80 percent) and a safe (74 percent) way to pay.
Ipsos’ research found South African consumers are big fans of coupons and promotions, with 85 percent of online shoppers indicating that it would encourage them to shop online more often. The focus on promotions and online safety makes South African online shoppers savvy.

The most popular shopping categories for South Africans online are digital goods (purchased by 52 percent of online shoppers in the past 12 months), event tickets (purchased by percent), travel or transportation (45 percent), and fashion, consumer electronics and physical entertainment (all purchased by percent). Looking at future behaviour, 58 percent – 70 percent of online shoppers indicate that they expect to spend the same or more on those categories online next year.

The research also suggests a future increase in South Africans shopping online using mobile devices. About 50 percent of online shoppers who own a smartphone or a feature phone have used it to shop online, while an additional 21 percent expect to do so in the future.

Significantly, according to the study, mobile phones are making shopping more convenient. 70 percent of mobile shoppers use their phone to shop from their home or office. Searching on mobile devices when shopping is also a common trend with 94 percent of mobile shoppers saying they use their phone to search for information about products, stores or businesses. In addition, 62 percent of mobile shoppers use their phone to compare product prices while shopping in store.

In regard to browser preferences, 45 percent of mobile shoppers prefer to shop by using an app while 26percent of mobile shoppers prefer to shop from a mobile browser.

However, some barriers remain to mobile shopping, including 51 percent of those who have shopped on a mobile stating that the experience is not user friendly while 42 percent flag security concerns when shopping from mobile.

The study disclosed about how South African e-commerce sites are popular destinations for shoppers from Nigeria- the research shows 30 percent of Nigerian cross-border shoppers (online shoppers who have made purchases online from another country) have purchased goods from South Africa in the past 12 months.

With shoppers from elsewhere turning to online shopping in South Africans, it is clear e-commerce will continue to grow in the country

 


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