Business costs are climbing as South African companies struggle with outdated technology, skills shortages, and inadequate infrastructure. At the same time, international online shopping giants, well-versed in navigating complex markets, are intensifying the competition.
A recent report from Accenture, a leading global consulting firm, highlights that almost all South African business leaders believe that e-commerce is evolving faster than they can adapt. This rapid growth is making it costly for them to connect with customers and keep pace with market changes.
"E-commerce used to seem straightforward," says Mushambi Mutuma, head of sales and commerce for Accenture in Africa. "Now, it's complex, constantly evolving, and fiercely competitive. Companies must make crucial choices regarding their survival in this demanding market.
Adding to these challenges, Amazon, the massive American online retailer, launched operations on May 7, 2024, in South Africa. We expect it to significantly disrupt the market and compete with local online stores like Takealot.com and Bob Shop, as well as international websites like Temu and Shein.
Experts predict that Amazon's entry will significantly boost the South African online shopping sector, increasing its value by several billion rand within the next seven months. The company's arrival is also set to transform the local delivery and storage industries as they scale up to meet Amazon's demand.
Amazon employs "dynamic pricing," a strategy where prices fluctuate based on demand, time of year, and other factors. According to Andrea Rademeyer, CEO of Ask Afrika, Amazon excels in this area, especially with its Amazon Prime customers, who receive discounts tailored to their shopping habits.
"Amazon is trying to dominate the market by offering loyalty discounts," Rademeyer states. "This makes them a formidable competitor against local online retailers."
Amazon, the online shopping giant, is facing some tough challenges. Andy Higgins, a top manager at Bob Group, mentioned that Amazon usually likes to handle its own shipping and delivery in other countries, but in South Africa, they have to rely on other companies to do this for them. This is tricky because managing product delivery is extremely important for an online store.
Unlike Google and Facebook, which mainly offer digital services that don't need physical delivery, Amazon has to deal with actual products, which makes things more complicated. Higgins pointed out that this could slow down Amazon's success in South Africa. He also suggested that local online stores could have an advantage because they manage their own deliveries, giving them more control over the process.
At an online meeting about e-commerce in February, Yaeesh Moosa, who is in charge of marketing at Takealot.com, mentioned that Amazon's move to South Africa shows that there's a lot of opportunity for the e-commerce industry to grow there.
In summary, Amazon is trying to expand in South Africa but is running into problems because of different ways of handling deliveries, which is critical for their business. This might give local companies like Takelot.com a better chance to compete with them as they invested in their logistical deliveries and tested them.
In a related development, concerns are rising over the practices of Chinese online retail giants Temu and Shein in South Africa. Ebrahim Patel, the Minister of Trade and Industry, has expressed his intent to address the use of tariff loopholes by these platforms, which are believed to harm local manufacturing.
Michael Lawrence from the National Clothing Retail Federation has reported suspicious activities by Temu and Shein to the South African Revenue Service (SARS), accusing them of exploiting tax and customs gaps to import goods cheaply and undercut local businesses, jeopardising local jobs and reducing tax revenue.
Frederik Zietsman, CEO of Takealot Group, echoed these concerns, noting that some new online marketplaces are not complying with tax laws, putting additional pressure on those that do, like Takealot.
Minister Patel emphasised the importance of ensuring all businesses pay their fair share of customs duties and VAT to prevent losses to the national economy.
While Temu has not commented, Shein insists it complies with all local tax laws and that its low prices are due to its efficient, tech-driven business model, which minimises waste and reduces costs, benefits they pass on to their customers.
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