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5 Top E-Commerce Platforms in Africa

Top E-Commerce Platforms in Africa

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Paballo Molahlehi searches the store for a new pair of sneakers and finally finds one that strikes her eye. She looks at it with glee, drooling over the new purple Reeboks.

“It’s exactly the one I was looking for, I knew I’d find it here,” she says as she adds the shoes to her shopping cart.

She navigates her way to the pay point, thrilled with her latest addition to her increasing footwear collection. Molahlehi is doing all of this while relaxing on her couch and taking advantage of the convenience of online shopping.

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After learning about online purchasing, I stopped visiting stores. It makes sense given that my items are delivered for free and that occasionally I am given discounts. she explained!

Molahlehi is part of Africa’s increasing middle class, which has money to spend and has transformed its purchasing habits. Many Africans are getting into the habit of shopping online as internet access on the continent rises.

In the Lions Go Digital research from McKinsey, it is predicted that as more Africans acquire access to the internet, Top E-Commerce Platforms in Africa sales across the continent might reach 10% by 2025, totalling around US $75 billion.

Top Job Opportunities in Africa’s E-Commerce Industry

Top E-Commerce Platforms in AfricaWith increased internet connectivity comes the quick growth of e-commerce businesses eager to capitalize on the continent’s rising online consumerism. Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa, for example, are at the forefront of this trend.

Businesses like Jumia, a Lagos-based online retailer, are dabbling in practically every major market on the continent, carving out an enviable slice of the pie. Jumia, one of Africa’s best-funded e-commerce companies, raised $150 million in US dollars in 2014.

As more individuals use the internet to complete their shopping, the demand for gadgets like smartphones rises.

According to the 2017 Accenture Digital Consumer Survey, smartphone acquisition in nations such as South Africa climbed from 52% in 2016 to 63% in 2017.

Smartphone adoption rates in some of the most technologically advanced countries, such as Kenya and Nigeria, are higher than 44% and 30%, respectively.

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The number of smartphone users on the continent then doubled, reaching more than 226 million. This surge in smartphone penetration is driving a digital revolution across the continent, exposing individuals to the limitless possibilities that the internet offers.

5 Top E-Commerce Platforms in Africa

Here are some of the 5 Top E-Commerce Platforms in Africa that are benefiting from the continent’s growing internet usage.

1. JUMIA

Jumia is setting the way for African e-commerce platforms with its goal statement and attitude of uniting African customers and entrepreneurs to do better business together.

The company is developing a platform via which small, medium, and large African businesses may connect with their potential customers, thereby building a new-age ecosystem that eliminates the middleman.

Since its debut in Nigeria in 2012, the site has established a presence in over 23 African nations, with a network of over 500,000 dealers. Jumia has built a remarkable reputation as a one-stop shop for products and services in retail, food and hospitality, talent recruiting, concierge, and the hotel and catering industries.

Jumia has been upskilling and supporting the employment of many Africans with qualifications in disciplines such as engineering, information technology, online marketing, and web development, in addition to serving the expectations of customers and businesses.

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2. TAKEALOT

Takealot, founded in South Africa, is the go-to online store for shoppers searching for a simple and convenient online shopping experience.

The site, which was launched in 2002, has been in business for about a decade. Its extensive inventory and wide range of leisure products give it a distinct advantage. Consumers can purchase everything from books to games, computers, and televisions.

Takealot is an e-commerce success story in part because the online retailer aims to supply its clients with the most recent products on the market, as well as up-to-date product specifications.

One of Africa’s top internet businesses, Naspers, invested $69 million in Takealot in April 2017. This comes after Tiger Global Management, an investment group, invested $100 million in the internet shop in 2014. Naspers owns 53.5% of Takealot, while Tiger Global owns around 20%.

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3. KILIMALL

Kilimall, Kenya’s largest online shopping mall, is relatively young in the e-commerce market but has surprisingly managed to establish an intercontinental presence since its inception in 2014. The site, which is now established in additional countries such as Nigeria and Uganda, has a growing retail customer base.

Electronics including phones, computers, and gadgets are often sold on Kilimall, which also offers top brands like Samsung, Huawei, Lenovo, and Phillips. Other things available on the website include household appliances, clothing, literature, health and beauty products, and more. All of its services come with a 7-day free return policy on its premium line of goods, making it an appealing option for customers.

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4. KONGA

Since its early days as a Lagos-only e-commerce site specializing in baby and cosmetic care in 2012, Konga has come a long way. The internet platform has evolved into a large online retailer, branded “Africa’s Amazon.”

Konga partnered with prominent Nigerian banks in 2015 to introduce KongaPay, a safe and convenient online payment mechanism designed to address Africa’s lack of trust in online payments.

The online marketplace was one of the first in Africa to develop a payment system that was integrated with global banks – an invention that used a click system that avoided the need for sensitive information to be shared during payments.

Konga is now a prominent player in the e-commerce industry, thanks to Naspers, the South African media conglomerate. Naspers, which owns 50% of Konga, invested $50 million in the online store in 2014.

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5. BIDORBUY

South Africa’s online store Bidorbuy, founded in 1999, is one of the continent’s oldest online markets. What distinguishes the site is that buyers can not only buy what they want, but they can also bid on things, effectively acting as an online auction.

The website serves as a marketplace for buyers and sellers to conduct business. Antiques and collectables are among the most popular goods on Bidorbuy, accounting for 40% of all things sold.

High-end DSLR cameras and lenses, laptops, novels, and video games are all popular second-hand items.

Bidorbuy has acquired various South African web firms throughout the years. Popular examples are the online job portal Jobs.co.za and the e-commerce company uAfrica.com.

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