Infobip Makes SMS Available in 100+ New Countries via Microsoft Azure Communication Services

Posted on by africanretailteam | 5401 Views | 7 min read

Global cloud communications platform Infobip has announced the expansion of its integration with Microsoft Azure Communication Services, enabling its advanced SMS interface to connect businesses with customers in more than 100 additional countries. This collaboration unites Infobip’s carrier-grade global messaging with Microsoft’s communications platform, empowering organisations to deliver secure, high-quality, and compliant messages worldwide. As

Checkers Tests SA’s First Smart Trolley

Posted on by africanretailteam | 5911 Views | 11 min read

Checkers has launched South Africa’s first smart shopping trolley, pioneering a major step towards a frictionless, technology-led in-store experience. Called the Xpress Trolley, it allows shoppers to scan-and-bag items as they go, track a live running total, and pay directly on the trolley without needing to stand in a queue or bag products at a

Telkom South Africa Upgrades Legacy Systems with Amdocs’ Cloud-Native Suite

Posted on by africanretailteam | 6596 Views | 8 min read

Amdocs (NASDAQ: DOX), a leading provider of software and services for communications and media companies, announced today the successful completion of a major business support systems (BSS) transformation with Telkom South Africa. The South African service provider upgraded its legacy BSS to Amdocs Customer Experience Suite (CES), Amdocs’ cloud-native, modular platform, now supporting approximately 25 million

Two Loyalty Programmes, Double The Value – Pick n Pay’s Burger Friday Delivers For Customers

Posted on by africanretailteam | 7799 Views | 10 min read

Pick n Pay and FNB’s Burger Friday has set a new benchmark for customer and loyalty rewards with its discounted Burger Friday deal. The collaboration between two of South Africa’s leading loyalty programmes – Smart Shopper and eBucks – is delivering double the value to customers by combining their benefits. It also forms part of

Vivo Energy Maroc Launches “La Pause” at Shell Stations

Posted on by africanretailteam | 5433 Views | 11 min read

Vivo Energy Maroc, the company responsible for the distribution and marketing of Shell-branded fuels and lubricants in Morocco, and Butagaz-branded Liquefied Petroleum Gas, is taking a new step in improving the customer experience with the launch of “La Pause,” a catering concept integrated into its service stations. This initiative offers a contemporary offering, inspired by

Vivo Energy Zambia Unveils “Talk to Engen” Platform

Posted on by africanretailteam | 8240 Views | 5 min read

Vivo Energy Zambia has successfully transformed customer engagement across its network with the comprehensive “Engen’s Got You Covered” campaign that ran from April to June 2025.  The campaign introduced the innovative “Talk to Engen”, a powerful new customer feedback online platform designed to revolutionise how Vivo Energy listens to customers and drives better experiences across

Takealot Expands Pickup Points at Pick n Pay as Shoppers Flock to Convenient Collection Option

Posted on by africanretailteam | 9464 Views | 10 min read

Takealot and Pick n Pay are rolling out more convenient Pickup Points in Pick n Pay supermarkets as a growing number of South Africans collect their Takealot orders while doing their grocery shopping. What began with just two pilot locations in 2023 has expanded to 30 Takealot Pickup Points in Pick n Pays across the

Pick n Pay Launches New App

Posted on by africanretailteam | 11543 Views | 24 min read

Pick n Pay has launched a powerful new app that brings together its on-demand delivery service asap!, Smart Shopper loyalty programme, and value-added services into a single, next-generation platform. This is the retailer’s most significant digital milestone since launching asap!. The asap! back-end and front-end technology has been completely re-platformed over the past 18 months, resulting

Jumia Expands Delivery Service to Nigeria

Posted on by africanretailteam | 11252 Views | 8 min read

Following success in Côte d’Ivoire, Jumia Delivery launches in Nigeria with plans to enter more key markets. Jumia, the leading pan-African e-commerce platform, announced the expansion of its logistics service, Jumia Delivery, to Nigeria. Building on its successful operations in Côte d’Ivoire, Jumia Delivery offers individuals and businesses a fast, secure, and cost-effective parcel delivery service across the

Blind SA and Checkers Sixty60 Collaborate on App Accessibility

Posted on by africanretailteam | 9348 Views | 13 min read

Blind SA, a leading nonprofit organisation dedicated to advocating for accessibility and inclusion, has been working closely with Checkers to optimise the online shopping experience on the Sixty60 app for blind and partially sighted users. Following the launch of the new Checkers Sixty60 app in October 2024, various representatives of Blind SA – including Christo

Takealot’s On-Demand Delivery Service, TakealotNOW, Expands to Greater Cape Town Areas

Posted on by africanretailteam | 10229 Views | 9 min read

South Africa’s leading online retailer, Takealot, is proud to announce the expansion of its on-demand delivery service, TakealotNOW, to greater Cape Town areas. This expansion aims to provide even more customers with the convenience of ordering hundreds of Takealot products, delivered in minutes. TakealotNOW, available on the Mr D app, offers a vast selection of

Takealot Launches Unlimited Free Delivery & Collect Subscription Service – TakealotMORE

Posted on by africanretailteam | 9062 Views | 12 min read

In an exciting development for the South African retail landscape – Takealot, the country’s leading online retailer – is poised to transform the digital shopping experience with the launch of TakealotMORE. This groundbreaking subscription service offers millions of South Africans exclusive monthly benefits to eliminate delivery costs and enhance shopping convenience. TakealotMORE emerges as customer demand grows

iKhokha Elevate: Introducing a New Operating System Built for SMEs

Posted on by africanretailteam | 13080 Views | 21 min read

iKhokha, the fintech company dedicated to fostering growth for South African small businesses amid challenging macroeconomic conditions, hosted its first iKhokha Elevate event in Durban on Wednesday, 12 March. The event, which saw hundreds of merchants attending in person and thousands more joining online, centered around discussing the challenges and successes of small businesses. It

POP Warehouse Integration Enhances Provantage’s Retail Offering

Posted on by africanretailteam | 11196 Views | 11 min read

POP Warehouse, a respected leader in South Africa’s retail display and logistics sector, has announced its incorporation into Provantage, one of Africa’s largest integrated media and marketing companies. This integration enhances Provantage’s retail services offering and capabilities, strengthening its ability to provide clients with a seamless end-to-end integrated point-of-purchase (POP) supply chain solution. Founded by

Shoprite & Standard Bank Partner to Boost Customer Rewards

Posted on by africanretailteam | 19121 Views | 6 min read

Africa’s biggest bank and Africa’s biggest retailer have teamed up to offer customers Africa’s biggest grocery rewards. This comes as the Shoprite Group doubles down on transparent partnerships that offer shoppers real value.  From April 2025, qualifying Standard Bank UCount Rewards members will receive the following benefits on every product, every day:  The Standard Bank

FNB Expands Partnership With Pick n Pay, Naming It as eBucks’ Primary Retail Partner

Posted on by africanretailteam | 22536 Views | 19 min read

FNB and Pick n Pay are proud to announce the expansion of their partnership to add more value for all their FNB and RMB Private Bank’s customers. The bank’s retail and commercial customers will all earn up to 30% of their spend back in eBucks when using Pick n Pay’s asap! on-demand delivery service, and up

Mr Price Foundation and Zapper Launch Initiative to Combat Youth Unemployment

Posted on by africanretailteam | 10986 Views | 14 min read

In a bold new partnership, Mr Price Foundation and Zapper have joined forces to address South Africa’s youth unemployment crisis. Mr Price Foundation is leveraging Zapper’s streamlined digital payment solutions to raise awareness and drive donations for its Hope4Youth campaign. Founded by Mr Price Group 20 years ago as a registered non-profit, Mr Price Foundation

Highlighting SPAR Brand Growth Across Africa

Posted on by africanretailteam | 13923 Views | 11 min read

The SPAR brand is present across more than 48 countries with over 14,000 stores operating worldwide. On the African continent, new store openings in various formats across Cameroon, Zimbabwe, and South Africa reflect how local retailers continue to meet the needs of their customers. SPAR South AfricaIn mid-December, the SUPERSPAR Supermarket Mondlo celebrated its grand

Touchsides Rebranded as Kazang Insights Following Lesaka Acquisition

Posted on by africanretailteam | 18868 Views | 9 min read

Kazang Insights provides analytical and predictive solutions that empower FMCG firms, wholesalers and other companies to thrive in South Africa’s informal market. Leading data analytics, insights and merchant services company, Touchsides, is rebranding as Kazang Insights and integrating into Kazang—the prepaid value-added services (VAS) and card acquiring business within JSE-listed fintech Lesaka Technologies. Integration of

Redpanda Software MD: Gerhard Nortjé, a Retailer Born and Bred

Posted on by africanretailteam | 18232 Views | 25 min read
redPanda Software

Retail and relationship-building have always been the key drivers behind Gerhard Nortjé’s evolution towards becoming an IT business leader. Today, Nortjé is more than three years into his highly successful tenure as MD at redPanda Software, the leading retail software partner in South Africa. Nortjé’s journey to tech was facilitated by retail, a shared passion

Unitrans: Driving Supply Chain Innovation and Efficiency

Posted on by africanretailteam | 14847 Views | 12 min read
Unitrans

Unitrans has witnessed firsthand how technology has drastically transformed our lives and work. In logistics, this transformation enables deeper insights, enhanced decision-making, and greater operational efficiency. It is no longer a mere trend but an essential tool for companies seeking to boost productivity and remain competitive in challenging economic climates. At Unitrans, successful innovation means

Royalty Rewards Programmes Harness Technology and Safety for Better Loyalty – Randgo

Posted on by africanretailteam | 19103 Views | 15 min read
Royalty rewards

Kinola Pather, CEO of Randgo Royalty rewards programmes are becoming essential, with 76% of South Africans participating in them, prompting brands to leverage this opportunity for customer engagement and business growth. As technology evolves, these programmes have grown in sophistication, with the most successful offering real-time rewards and personalised experiences. Given the vast amount of

Float: Credit Card Holders in South Africa Reveal Shopping Trends

Posted on by africanretailteam | 25705 Views | 12 min read
Float

Float, Africa’s first card-linked instalment platform has unveiled the latest shopping trends among credit card holders using its payment method. With an impressive average order value of close to R10,000, order values through the platform significantly exceeds those of the regular buy now pay later model, which typically ranges between R1,000 and R1,400. The latest

ZURU Unveils Innovative Outdoor Toys for Summer 2024, Retailers Urged to Prepare for Festive Season Stock

Posted on by africanretailteam | 10885 Views | 15 min read
Zuru

ZURU, the world’s fastest growing toy manufacturer, globally recognized for its ground-breaking designs, is ready to heat up the summer season with its exciting range of outdoor toys. Retailers are urged to prepare for high consumer demand, especially in the lead-up to the festive season, as ZURU’s latest innovations offer fresh and exciting ways for

Trade Intelligence Retail Conference 2024 – Bringing the Industry Together in Challenging Times

Posted on by africanretailteam | 18462 Views | 22 min read
Trade Intelligence

Trade Intelligence (Ti) marked its 20th anniversary by hosting the annual Ti Retail Conference on the 12th of September. With an impressive lineup of speakers and panellists, the conference once again demonstrated Ti’s role in bringing the industry together, offering practical insights and creating a space for collaboration and knowledge exchange. Four key themes emerged

FMCG Sector Mastering Peak Season Through Agile Workforce Solutions – Workforce Staffing

Posted on by africanretailteam | 16199 Views | 18 min read
FMCG sector

By Eleni Fourie, Corporate Sales Executive at Workforce Staffing The Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) space sees the movement of everyday essentials with short shelf lives, which as a result requires a well-functioning supply chain from procurement to retail. As this fast-paced sector prepares for peak shopping periods such as Black Friday and the holiday season,

Creating Customer-Obsessed Experiences in B2B – fintech specialist e4

Posted on by africanretailteam | 15254 Views | 20 min read

A customer-obsessed mindset is no longer the preserve of B2C companies The concept of customer experience (CX) has shifted from customer-centricity to customer obsession, making it much more comprehensive and immersive than ever before. Where customer-centricity sets its sights on understanding and meeting customer needs, customer obsession goes a step beyond by integrating every aspect

Calling All South African Brands to Celebrate Excellence With the Brand New SA Customer Experience Awards

Posted on by africanretailteam | 16993 Views | 12 min read

The world-renowned **International Customer Experience Awards UK (ICXA™) is thrilled to announce the launch of the South Africa Customer Experience Awards (SACXA™), a groundbreaking initiative set to recognise and celebrate outstanding achievements in customer experience (CX) across various industries in South Africa. This prestigious inaugural event marks the homegrown edition of the well-known International Customer

South African Retailers Have Arrived at an E-commerce Crossroads

Posted on by africanretailteam | 26417 Views | 29 min read
South African Retailers

South Africa’s e-commerce landscape has arrived at an important juncture. The explosive growth observed during the pandemic years has slowed down somewhat and consumer spending power has faltered amid low economic growth and a global cost of living crisis. At the same time, competition is heating up. Asian retailers such as Shein and Temu are

South African Consumers Lead Global Trend in Prioritising Value Over Price in Beverage Choices – CGA by NIQ

Posted on by africanretailteam | 17723 Views | 12 min read

In a landscape where economic pressures weigh heavily on household budgets, South African consumers are setting a global precedent in their approach to value, particularly when it comes to their beverage choices. According to the latest findings from CGA by NIQ, a remarkable 51% of South African consumers now prioritise value over price in their

The Enduring Power of Sa’s Independent Grocery Trade – Trade Intelligence

Posted on by africanretailteam | 17562 Views | 20 min read

New research underscores the enduring strength and intricate dynamics of South Africa’s independent grocery trade, from big wholesalers to spazas, thriving amid two decades of retail shifts. When retail research business Trade Intelligence was founded in 2004, the formal grocery retail space was dominated by the ‘Big Six’ – Pick n Pay, Shoprite, SPAR, Woolworths,

Engen Celebrates 700th Quickshop & Co Milestone

Posted on by africanretailteam | 20232 Views | 10 min read

Engen, South Africa’s biggest fuel and convenience retailer, opened its 700th Quickshop & Co store at Engen Summit Convenience Centre in Midrand on 1st August 2024. Located at 386 Olifantsfontein Rd, Engen Summit is designed to serve the early risers, the late-night cravers and the busy bees navigating life’s hectic schedules. Operating 24/7, the site’s

bpSA Redefines Convenience to Meet Customer Needs With New Retail Initiatives

Posted on by africanretailteam | 17788 Views | 14 min read

bp Southern Africa (bpSA) has announced three initiatives in response to market demands – a revamped store design and offer, an inhouse loyalty programme as well as a low carbon battery rental service “Our investment in new convenience offerings, in the year bpSA celebrates 100 years of doing business in South Africa, is testament to

Women in Wine Launches Exclusive Range at Shoprite

Posted on by africanretailteam | 12757 Views | 6 min read

Founded by 20 professional black women from diverse backgrounds in viticulture, Women in Wine marks a shift in the traditionally male-dominated wine industry, committed to opening doors for women, including vineyard workers and their families. Advocating for women’s inclusion in leadership roles, Women in Wine have established the Farm Worker Women’s Trust, collaborating with strategic

Makro Doubles Comparable Online Grocery Essentials Sales

Posted on by africanretailteam | 21174 Views | 6 min read

As the pace of digital adoption increases in our country, more and more South Africans are browsing and shopping online to ensure they get the best prices. In light of this rise in comparative shopping behaviour and the current challenging consumer environment, Makro has redoubled its efforts to help customers save money so they can

Forging a New Path Under the Agrimark Banner

Posted on by africanretailteam | 15206 Views | 6 min read

In October 2024, Forge stores, operating in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), are changing to Agrimark, a move which promises exciting opportunities for both customers and communities. This change is part of Agrimark’s strategic drive to create a unified brand identity across all regions, integrating the KZN branches with Agrimark. “Forge and Agrimark share a similar product range

Telr Elevates E-commerce With Mastercard’s Click to Pay

Posted on by africanretailteam | 22218 Views | 8 min read

Telr, the award-winning online payment gateway, has announced its strategic collaboration with Mastercard to introduce its digital checkout solution, Click to Pay, across its extensive network of merchants in the UAE. Through this partnership, Telr will deploy cutting-edge payment technologies to enhance the customer experience. Click to Pay is an innovative, seamless, and secure payment

Makro Sees Growth in Online Grocery Essentials Sales in South Africa

Posted on by africanretailteam | 17319 Views | 4 min read

As the pace of digital adoption increases in our country, more and more South Africans are browsing and shopping online to ensure they get the best prices. In light of this rise in comparative shopping behaviour and the current challenging consumer environment, Makro has redoubled its efforts to help customers save money so they can

Global Retail Specialist Smollan Announces Strategic Alliance With Impact HD Inc.

Posted on by africanretailteam | 21256 Views | 11 min read

Smollan, a leading global retail specialist representing some of the world’s loved brands, has officially entered into a Capital and Business Alliance Agreement with Impact HD Inc. a prominent Japanese company specializing in sales promotion and data marketing. The alliance aims to leverage the strengths of both companies to create enhanced value and develop innovative

Vodacom to Invest Over R500 Million to Expand Connectivity in the Eastern Cape

Posted on by africanretailteam | 19513 Views | 19 min read

Vodacom Eastern Cape region is spending R500 million this financial year on modernising the network, energy projects and accelerating broadband coverage across the region, particularly in townships and deep rural areas of the province. This investment forms part of the company’s commitment to drive digital inclusion in the communities in which it operates. In 2023–2024

Massmart Launches ECONO Samp in Continued Drive to Help Customers Save Money

Posted on by africanretailteam | 23300 Views | 7 min read

The cost of living remains challenging for South African consumers many of whom are hard pressed to meet monthly expenses for basic food items. This situation is typically exacerbated in winter where people need to consume more calories. Consistent with its objective to ‘help customers to save money and live better’, Massmart continues its drive

Döhler Announces Key Expansion of Paarl Plant to Deepen Local Market Connection

Posted on by africanretailteam | 18926 Views | 7 min read

The expansion of Döhler South Africa’s plant in Paarl introduces new, state-of-the-art production lines for compounds and emulsions as well as powdered and liquid flavours. In addition, it substantially increases the company’s capability for processing bulk juice concentrate. From now on, customers will have direct access to the complete portfolio of compounds, which shows Döhler’s

POS Versus POS: Selecting the Right Solution Is Far More Complex Than Chasing the Cheapest – redPanda Software

Posted on by africanretailteam | 26168 Views | 25 min read

By Peter Ludi, Business Development Executive at redPanda Software A point of sale, commonly referred to as POS, is a vital cornerstone of any retail business, regardless of whether it sells products or services. However, a misunderstanding of the definition of POS sees many small and medium-sized retailers fall into the trap of buying a

Redefining the Retail Strategy Through Store Reinvention – Accenture

Posted on by africanretailteam | 20152 Views | 29 min read

By Lauren Samaai, senior manager within the Retail business at Accenture, Africa It was just four years ago during the pandemic – with consumers restricted to their homes and mall doors tightly shut, that online commerce began its unprecedented rise. This phenomenon left retailers thinking about the role of the actual store moving forward. Today,

SHEIN Showroom: The First Offline Pop-up Debuts in South Africa

Posted on by africanretailteam | 18608 Views | 8 min read

SHEIN, the global online fashion and lifestyle powerhouse, is thrilled to announce the launch of its first-ever pop-up store in South Africa. Set to take place from 2 – 11 August 2024, at the prestigious Johannesburg Mall of Africa, this ten-day event promises an interactive experience for fashion enthusiasts and casual shoppers alike. Drawing inspiration

Africa’s Retail Sector Set to Score Big as AI Adoption Accelerates – SAP Africa

Posted on by africanretailteam | 20322 Views | 15 min read

by Blessed Hwaire, Industry Advisor: Consumer Products, Life Sciences & Retail at SAP Africa A wave of AI-powered innovation is set to sweep across Africa’s retail sector. With a unique landscape marked by diverse consumer needs, a burgeoning youth population, growing levels of technology adoption, and a rapidly changing economic environment, Africa’s retail sector is

Shipping Technology Tackling South Africa’s Tricky Last-Mile Delivery Challenges – Bob Group

Posted on by africanretailteam | 38569 Views | 14 min read

Bob Group’s Ship Logic platform is helping the country’s courier companies overcome faulty address details, failed delivery attempts and poor communication with customers South African ecommerce ecosystem Bob Group is playing a leading role in optimising courier services around the country through its Ship Logic platform, a software solution that enables delivery specialists handling high

InstaPay Launches in South Africa: An Innovative Merchant Payment Application

Posted on by africanretailteam | 29593 Views | 19 min read

InstaPay, a cutting-edge new merchant application, has been launched to transform the payments landscape in South Africa. This innovative solution offers unique functionality and competitive rates that surpass traditional card providers, setting a new standard in the industry. InstaPay is the result of combined expertise and technology between Omnea and Amber Pay, two industry leaders

Understanding SA’s Evolving Shoppers: A Call to Action for Brands and Retailers – Trade Intelligence

Posted on by africanretailteam | 26411 Views | 18 min read

As shopper behaviours evolve, brands and retailers are working hard to catch up, using tools to connect with a new generation of increasingly demanding and informed shoppers. South African shoppers are not what they used to be. They’re tougher, savvier, and more in tune with what they are looking for. A combination of COVID and

Jumia Transforms Customer Experience With Sprinklr’s AI-Powered Platform

Posted on by africanretailteam | 23585 Views | 5 min read

Jumia, Africa’s leading e-commerce platform, announces a successful partnership with Sprinklr to elevate customer experience (CX) across its diverse user base. Jumia implemented Sprinklr’s unified customer experience management (Unified-CXM) platform to streamline support for millions of customers, sellers, and employees across 11 African countries. “Sprinklr’s solution is a perfect fit for our diverse customer base