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eCommerce

Enabling Women Entrepreneurs: Three Ways Digitization Is Fuelling Growth for Women-Owned Businesses

As we celebrate Women’s Month in South Africa under the theme “Celebrating 30 Years of Democracy Towards Women's Development,” it is important to acknowledge the transformative power of digitisation in enabling women entrepreneurs to thrive.

In today’s advanced age, mastering digital tools is not just an advantage—it’s a game-changer. Women entrepreneurs who are driven to innovate and grow their businesses will find that embracing digitization can liberate them. It enhances their access to markets and capital, increases efficiency, and ultimately provides them more time and resources to focus on running their business.

Need a trusted last mile partner to deliver beyond expectations?

The surge in online shopping among South Africans has been nothing short of remarkable. Initially prompted by lockdowns, the convenience of purchasing local and global products from the comfort of one's home has solidified online shopping's appeal. A Mastercard study revealed that a staggering 71% of South Africans planned to continue shopping online even after the pandemic.

The local online retail scene has thrived, with an anticipated annual value of over R400 billion by 2025. This growth follows a 55% surge in online sales in 2020, followed by another 42% increase in 2021, reflecting the dynamic shifts in consumer behaviour.

Case Study: Cotton On and DPD ZA – One million parcels delivered

Meeting the e-commerce challenge: a partnership built on trust and excellence

In the fast-paced world of e-commerce, last-mile delivery is the key to ensuring that online shoppers receive their purchases in a timely and reliable manner. As the South African e-commerce landscape evolves, a strategic partnership between Cotton On, a leading retailer, and DPD ZA, a prominent logistics provider, stands as a testament to the importance of choosing the right logistics partner and building a relationship based on trust.

How BugOut SA is helping South Africans be prepared 

Since 2020, we’ve featured several online stores as case studies on our website that demonstrate the resilience and determination of South African entrepreneurs and business visionaries during the COVID-19 pandemic. Each and every one of them overcame hardship and uncertainty to create something magical – successful online businesses they could proudly call their own.  

How to select the ideal e-commerce business model

According to Statista Digital Market Outlook, the e-commerce market is set to grow over the next few years. The growth rate for the next four years (2021 - 2025) is predicted to be 16%. With more people made aware of the ease and convenience of online shopping, investing in an e-commerce business model may be the next big step your business takes. But how do you choose which business model to follow? Let’s look at three aspects which will determine which business model you will adopt.

Handy tips for handling your online returns

It goes without saying that e-commerce is here to stay, which means that online returns are also a reality that small businesses must prepare for to keep their customers happy and meet their expectations. The simplicity of click-to-buy must be matched by the speed and convenience of delivering goods and managing customers that want to return their goods as it is a standard part of online business.

How can you ensure that your business handles returns in a way that can save you money and create loyal customers? Explore our handy tips:

E-commerce questions to ask when starting or enhancing your business

An online store is now a need rather than a nice-to-have for your business., Since the COVID-19 outbreak, e-commerce has grown in popularity, and more people are choosing to shop online instead of going to physical stores.

Almost everything may be bought or sold using the internet, including books, electronics, clothing, software, and furniture. E-commerce additionally gives users a platform to purchase or sell anything they want, anytime they want.

Assessing some characteristics of your business before setting up an online store is essential. If you already have a business, you should change it to reflect your new e-commerce initiatives. On the other hand, you should design an e-commerce program if your business is just getting started.

How to create a digital storefront for small businesses

As more and more of our lives move online, it has become critical for businesses to have a presence on the internet. Many people use Google search to find solutions to their pain points and if you don’t have a digital storefront or it looks a bit scruffy then you will be looked over for the next store. But how can you create a digital storefront for your small business? Here are four steps to creating a digital storefront.

PayFast’s top 5 digital payment trends for 2023

We’re almost halfway into the first month of the new year and are all systems go to make the most out of 2023. We’re pretty excited about what’s in store for PayFast and the South African payments industry as a whole. So, for the third year in a row, we’d like to share some of our top payment trend predictions that we believe will make an impact on e-commerce and the digital payments industry over the next 11 months, and beyond.  

We’ve identified five trends that share a common theme: convergence; specifically, the integration of payment experiences, shopping platforms and currency. Even though cold hard cash remains the most popular payment method in South Africa, with the growing internet penetration made possible through network infrastructure and smartphones, it’s only a matter of time before more people embrace a cashless society, both online and off. Our five trends outlined below are related to the growing interoperability of payment technology, demonstrating how digital transactions are already influencing all areas of commerce.  

How Mafastela developed their stylish vision

Humanity is responsible for countless remarkable inventions that have progressed our development substantially. Obvious examples include the wheel, penicillin, the internet and even prescription eyeglasses that can magically help near and far-sighted individuals see the world with crystal-clear clarity.  

Due to the vast amount of people across the world who have weak eyesight, prescription eyewear has become half necessity, half fashion statement associated with sophistication. Yet despite this, many young people feel self-conscious about having to wear a pair of spectacles due to the ridicule they may receive from their classmates. Leandra B Manjate, Founder of the chic eyewear online store Mafastela, was only six years old when she was prescribed her first pair of glasses, so she knows first-hand what it’s like wearing frames she didn’t like.    

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