With online sales in South Africa gradually increasing since the onset of the Covid pandemic, bringing the industry to over R30 billion by the end of 2020, the next frontier for small business is here: mobile commerce.
“Mobile commerce is more than a trend. It is a lifeline that connects businesses to a vast digital marketplace, breaking down geographical barriers and levelling the playing field. With more South Africans shopping and transacting using their smartphones, small businesses have an opportunity to join the early adopters in meeting this growing need.
The most immediate and pressing task for small businesses looking to leverage the mobile commerce movement, is to optimise websites for mobile use. Despite rising levels of smartphone penetration, many e-tailers have focused too heavily on the development of their websites for desktop use and not enough on mobile.
One of m-commerce’s biggest drawcards is its potential for a high level of personalisation. The 24/7 availability of online shopping and the quantum leaps that have been made in recent years by brands looking to ride the tide of digitisation, has shifted customer needs and expectations.