81 Percent Rise in May Retail eCommerce Sales, ACI Worldwide Research Reveals

Posted on by Initiator | 4798 Views | 24 min read

Easing of lockdown restrictions reflected in trends across retail categories; DIY and sportswear recover while growth in home office and electronics supplies levels off Global eCommerce sales continued to show strong growth in May, with certain sectors experiencing triple-digit year-on-year growth, according to an analysis by ACI Worldwide of hundreds of millions of eCommerce transactions from global

Vivo Energy Uganda Launches ‘IGNITE’ Health and Safety Initiative at Shell Service Stations

Posted on by Initiator | 14178 Views | 11 min read

Vivo Energy Uganda, the distributor and marketer of Shell branded fuels and lubricants in Uganda has embarked on a deep cleaning and sanitizing exercise at its Shell service stations countrywide in preparation for the resumption of vehicular traffic on the roads and consequently, the increased demand for fuel and complementary non fuel related services. The

Nestlé Continues to Empower its Consumers and the Dairy Industry

Posted on by Initiator | 4549 Views | 12 min read

Delivering tastier, healthier and value to nutritional dairy products that benefit consumers whilst supporting the dairy industry; is one of the important pillars of Nestlé across the East and Southern Africa Region (ESAR). This was a view shared by the company as it marked today’s celebration of World Milk Day. Twenty years ago, the Food and Agriculture Organisation

Game Stores Partners with Uber Eats

Posted on by Initiator | 5292 Views | 12 min read

A new partnership between Game Stores and Uber Eats will allow customers to order Game products online, and have them delivered to their doorstep. The partnership enables the retailer to provide food and other much-needed essential products to its customers more effectively during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the country currently on a Level-4 lockdown. The

UX Has Made Customer Acquisition a Different Playground

Posted on by Initiator | 4642 Views | 9 min read

The acquisition of valuable, next generation clients has become a hot bed of innovation according to e4 CEO, Grant Phillips. In the wake of celebrating the company’s 20th anniversary, Phillips says one of the biggest evolutions over the past decade is the nature of the client relationship. He admits that technology lies at the heart

Mukuru Groceries Launches to Support Zimbabwean Families During the Crisis

Posted on by Initiator | 17962 Views | 12 min read

The service will give foreign national workers living in South Africa the ability to provide for their families back home with basic staples.  Mukuru, one of Africa’s leading remittance providers, has launched Mukuru Groceries – a service that will give South African based customers the ability to send groceries to their families and communities back

Global eCommerce Retail Sales Up 209 Percent in April, ACI Worldwide Research Reveals

Posted on by Initiator | 5264 Views | 23 min read

The COVID-19 crisis continued to drive global eCommerce sales in April, with the general retail sector experiencing 209 percent growth compared to the same period last year, according to an analysis by ACI Worldwide of hundreds of millions of eCommerce transactions from global online retailers. Following general retail, the gaming segment saw the biggest bump, up 126

Mastercard: SA Consumers Make the Move to Contactless Payments for Everyday Purchases

Posted on by Initiator | 5039 Views | 15 min read

In a Mastercard global consumer study, 75 percent of South African consumers say they use contactless payments 88 percent of South African respondents view contactless as a cleaner way to pay, with 71 percent preferring to shop at merchants where contactless is accepted In South Africa, the number of contactless transactions grew 13X in March

The Coca-Cola Company Announces Strategic Partnership with Microsoft to Transform Global Engagement and Experiences

Posted on by Initiator | 4683 Views | 11 min read

The Coca-Cola Company has announced a five-year agreement with Microsoft Corp. to standardize its business operations on Microsoft’s cloud and deliver rich new digital experiences that will provide innovative solutions to modernize how the company engages with employees and customers. With this agreement, the companies will utilize the capabilities of Microsoft Azure, Dynamics 365 and

Jumia to Open its Platform in South Africa Focusing on Essential Products

Posted on by Initiator | 5368 Views | 11 min read

Jumia, the leading e-commerce platform in Africa has announced the launch of its portal in South Africa to help consumers access essential products at the lowest price (www.jumia.co.za). The launch of the Jumia portal will provide a steady supply of hygiene & sanitary products such as diapers, soap bars, disinfectants, and liquid hand wash at

Shoprite: Innovation is the Name of the Game

Posted on by Initiator | 5485 Views | 8 min read

A number of innovative new online services recently launched by the Shoprite Group have been making life a whole lot easier. And the good news is, they’re here to stay – even beyond the national lockdown. Virtual Vouchers South Africans who wish to reach out and help those in need can now purchase a virtual grocery

MACmobile Partners with Cognizance Processing to Deliver the Last Mile of Supply Chain Intelligence

Posted on by Initiator | 4676 Views | 13 min read

Cognizance has some very experienced FMCG and business executives on their board. The board is formed by Neil Brimacombe (Ex Tiger Brands Exec), David Brown (Lead non exec Vodacom), and Stef Riccardi (CEO CKR Engineers). Additionally, Cognizance has strategic alliances with Retail Development Solutions Pty for Category Insights and Pack and Stack Merchandising Pty. With

DPO Group and Mastercard Join Forces to Help Businesses in Africa Move Online

Posted on by Initiator | 5001 Views | 12 min read

New e-commerce store provides free website with integrated digital payments    African digital payments company, DPO Group, has launched an e-commerce store. Powered by Mastercard’s payments gateway technology, the platform will enable merchants across Africa to swiftly move their businesses online and continue to trade with their customers. The end to end e-commerce solution, called

South Africans Embrace e-Commerce During Lockdown – And Not Just to Buy

Posted on by Initiator | 5018 Views | 14 min read

Leading e-tailer releases lockdown shopping trends and stats on new donation portal As the country enters into its fourth week of lockdown, South African consumers have embraced the concept of online shopping – not only for themselves, but also to assist the many families who are in desperate need of financial relief during the COVID-19

Virtual Vouchers to Help for Those Left Destitute in Harsh Economic Conditions

Posted on by Initiator | 7098 Views | 6 min read

South Africans who want to reach out and help fellow citizens who are economically destitute, in a time where physical contact is severely restricted due to the lockdown, can now buy virtual vouchers via an electronic funds transfer (EFT). The EFT functionality adds to the convenience of buying virtual vouchers, which were recently introduced and

Stay Safe & Beat The Queues by Knowing the Waiting Time at Supermarkets Around You in Real Time

Posted on by Initiator | 6923 Views | 12 min read

Tiendeo launches a cool new tool to avoid long queues and crowds in South Africa responding to the unique needs of RSA consumers and retailers “Is there a queue?”, integrates the data obtained from Tiendeo’s  advanced geotracking technology with feedback from actual consumers in supermarkets. In this way, a real-time estimate of waiting times is

Shoprite the First Retailer to Offer Contactless QR Payments

Posted on by Initiator | 5639 Views | 7 min read

The Shoprite Group’s customers can now pay for groceries with their phones as the retailer continues to find new ways to keep its stores, customers and employees safe during the Covid-19 pandemic. It is the first South African food retailer to offer dynamic QR payments which will be available at the tills in all Shoprite, Usave, Checkers and Checkers Hyper stores

Checkers & Mr D Food Delivers Medicine to Customers’ Homes

Posted on by Initiator | 5634 Views | 7 min read

Customers can download the Mr D Food app, phone their MediRite pharmacy, place an order and pay for it via EFT or medical aid. MediRite will process the order and customers can then order their delivery on the app to receive their medicine at home. The initiative will be rolled out initially across 55 of the

“We Will Feed the Nation” – ZAMBEEF

Posted on by Initiator | 16626 Views | 12 min read

In keeping with its famous motto, Zambeef has vowed to continue feeding the nation, despite the Coronavirus disease (COVID-2019) outbreak. The country’s largest food producer and retailer continues to stand true to its mission despite the COVID-19 pandemic that is adversely impacting the manufacturing sector in Zambia and beyond. The viral disease is threatening the

Shell Gas Introduces Free Home Delivery Solution

Posted on by Initiator | 14426 Views | 11 min read

Vivo Energy Uganda has announced the introduction of a free home delivery solution for Shell Gas. This is in a bid to bring services closer and offer greater convenience, safe transportation and doorstep delivery of Shell Gas to customers. The move follows restrictions put in place by the Uganda government to stem the spread of

Covid-19 – Counting the Losses and Learning the Lessons

Posted on by Initiator | 5304 Views | 20 min read

 In light of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, the retail sector is facing unprecedented challenges, as is every other industry to a greater or lesser degree. However, ScanZone, a technology supplier to the industry, believes that the current slowdown may be a window of opportunity for retailers to retrospectively look at their journey into e-commerce platforms.

Expect Big Growth in Contactless Payments as Businesses Pivot to Digital

Posted on by Initiator | 6587 Views | 11 min read

South Africa can expect significant growth in contactless payments on the back of Covid-19. It is also likely that the public’s newfound (and sensible) aversion to contact will spur additional innovation, especially given the uncertainty around second and third waves, says South Africa’s largest payment solution provider, DPO SA. “There is no doubt that an

2020 Global Customer Experience Benchmarking Report

Posted on by Initiator | 4293 Views | 25 min read

Connected customers expect a hyper-personalised, effortless experience but organisations are slow to respond. Only 9% of organisations say customers rate brand experiences as fully satisfactory, with satisfaction around AI and robotics experiences faring even worse. Customer experience continues to be one of the greatest challenges to businesses across Africa and the Middle East, at a

Massmart COVID-19 Lockdown Price Freeze

Posted on by Initiator | 5310 Views | 3 min read

Massmart announces a price freeze in all our Makro, Cambridge Food, Game and Cash & Carry stores for the duration of the 21-day nationwide lockdown. This will involve suspending price adjustments that were scheduled, as part of the normal course of business, before the lockdown was announced. Fresh produce, which is procured daily from fresh

Jumia Implements “Contactless” Delivery and “Cashless” Payments in Response to the COVID-19 in Africa

Posted on by Initiator | 4814 Views | 6 min read

Africa’s leading eCommerce platform Jumia has announced the implementation of ‘contactless’ delivery for prepaid packages on the platform. The company is taking additional measures to keep consumers, delivery agents and partners safe in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak. To drive the initiative, the ‘contactless safe delivery’ option has been implemented on JumiaPay, the payment

Africanews Launched on DStv and GOtv Across the African Continent

Posted on by Initiator | 4468 Views | 11 min read

After launching Euronews on its platforms in November, the MultiChoice Group has just launched Africanews (www.Africanews.com) – part of the Euronews group. The channel is available on DStv and GOtv and offers millions of households across Africa access to a pan-African multilingual news channel. As the COVID-19 crisis develops and spreads across the African continent, the

In Response to Panic Buying, Dis-Chem to Limit Customer Quantities

Posted on by Initiator | 5452 Views | 5 min read

In response to government’s call on citizens to refrain from excessive purchasing and stockpiling goods as it intensifies its efforts to contain the coronavirus (COVID-19), Dis-Chem Pharmacies has advised that it will be limiting the number of items consumers can purchase. With immediate effect, shoppers will be able to purchase a maximum of six units

Shoprite Group Statement and Action on the Novel Coronavirus

Posted on by Initiator | 5628 Views | 14 min read

The Shoprite Group is committed to adhere to the strict measures put in place by the South African government following President Cyril Rhamaphosa’s announcement of a National state of Disaster, and are following any directives to stay abreast of information and required actions to be taken in relation to the effect of Covid-19 on its

Spur Corporation: Statement on CVID-19 (Coronavirus)

Posted on by Initiator | 5055 Views | 9 min read

Spur Corporation thanks you for the trust we know you place in us every time you choose to dine at our restaurants. These are unprecedented times for our industry, our country and the world. We would like to reassure our patrons that, their safety, health and wellbeing of all is our priority, and we are

Iemas Financial Services is Turning Things Up a Notch to Offer a More Rewarding Shopping Experience

Posted on by Initiator | 13986 Views | 14 min read

With growing trends in digital evolution, personalisation and having a socio-economic impact, financial services cards and payment solutions have to evolve beyond swipes and complicated rewards. Iemas Financial Services has been in the game for over 80 years and has grown into the largest financial services co-operative in South Africa. One of Iemas’ flagship products

Jumia Announces Actions to Support Governments’ Fight Against COVID-19 in Africa

Posted on by Initiator | 4888 Views | 11 min read

Africa’s leading e-Commerce platform Jumia has offered the support of its integrated ecosystem which include a marketplace, logistics and online payments to governments in Africa, as part of the  global action against the COVID-19. “We are proud to partner with relevant authorities to help fight against COVID-19 and support our communities which continue to support

Mozambik Group Launches Holidays to Expand Brand and Add Value to Its Customers

Posted on by Initiator | 15567 Views | 6 min read

The Mozambik Group today launches its “Holidays by Mozambik” travel brand in South Africa and Zimbabwe. The restaurant group, which has seen growth circa 29% over the past 18 months, has embarked on a significant brand expansion charge in a strategic move toward customer lifestyle-centric value. Initially the brand will focus on value-driven escapes to

Multichoice and Microsoft to Look to The Future of Entertainment in Africa

Posted on by Initiator | 4975 Views | 31 min read

The world of entertainment is changing rapidly. Increased access to fibre to the home, as well as a growing number of content creators and video-on-demand services are forcing large entertainment companies to rethink their business strategies and innovate new and exciting ways to delight their customers. The MultiChoice Group and its companies have long provided

Shoprite, The First Retailer to Offer Outbonus Following Outsurance Partnership

Posted on by Initiator | 14839 Views | 6 min read

The Shoprite Group will be the first supermarket retailer to offer an OUTbonus, following a partnership between Africa’s largest food retailer and OUTsurance, to bring consumers more accessible and affordable insurance products. A very competitively-priced funeral policy is the first product to launch under this new partnership, with numerous additional offerings in the pipeline. The

Recession, Loadshedding Loom Large for Unprepared Retailers

Posted on by Initiator | 4930 Views | 14 min read

The unexpected dip into technical recession in the last quarter of 2019 is anything but unexpected for South Africa’s beleaguered retail sector. Research conducted by customer experience specialists nlighten, shows that retailers have been hard hit by Eskom’s ongoing loadshedding that has disrupted their daily operations. “Retailers and the hospitality industry report a direct impact

Retail Success in the Experience Economy

Posted on by Initiator | 5913 Views | 20 min read

By Ian Steyn, Product Executive at Innervation Pan African Payment Solutions Want to succeed in the retail game? Then focus less on the products you sell and more on the experiences you offer your customers. We have now officially moved into the Experience Economy, where customer experience outranks price and product in importance regarding how

Growing Emphasis on Convenience for Today’s Consumers

Posted on by Staff Reporter | 7013 Views | 10 min read

Today’s consumers increasingly prioritize convenience when it comes to purchases, and expect retailers to continue to offer innovative ways to save them time and effort, according to the latest issue of the Consumer View report released by the National Retail Federation. “Time is a precious commodity for today’s consumers,” NRF Vice President for Research Development

MediRite Makes Healthcare More Accessible and Affordable with Smart Clinic

Posted on by Staff Reporter | 8228 Views | 7 min read

MediRite, the chain of pharmacies located inside Shoprite and Checkers supermarkets, is piloting its first Smart Clinic. It aims to make healthcare more accessible and affordable by leveraging technological advancements in the medical industry. The new Smart Clinic, conveniently located inside the Checkers Hyper Parow in Parow Centre in the Western Cape, is able to

Digital Retail Forum Returns to Johannesburg in January 2020

Posted on by Staff Reporter | 8238 Views | 8 min read

The 2ndannual Digital Retail Forumis set to take place on the 29thof January 2020, at Emperors Palace in Johannesburg. The forum is hosted by IT News Africa, under the theme; Digital Disruption in Retail: Apocalypse or Revolution. Following a successful 2019 event, #DigitalRetailForum will bring together over 200 local and international retail industry leaders to

Cash Strapped SA Consumers Still in the Mood for Shopping

Posted on by Staff Reporter | 8184 Views | 14 min read

Economy and job security biggest concerns but small improvements in spare cash and spending intentions South Africa’s latest Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) for the third quarter of 2019 showed a five point decrease to 88, presenting a less positive quarter on quarter picture for consumer sentiment in South Africa. Nielsen South Africa Connect MD Kerith

Digital Retail Forum Returns to Johannesburg in January 2020

Posted on by Initiator | 5359 Views | 8 min read

The 2nd annual Digital Retail Forum is set to take place on the 29th of January 2020, at Emperors Palace in Johannesburg. The forum is hosted by IT News Africa, under the theme; Digital Disruption in Retail: Apocalypse or Revolution. Following a successful 2019 event, #DigitalRetailForum will bring together over 200 local and international retail

Makro’s Customers Connect with the Retailer Directly on WhatsApp

Posted on by Staff Reporter | 8303 Views | 8 min read

Impressive features available in Makro’s chat offering include tracking orders, viewing current catalogues, accessing a digital store card, locating nearby stores Makro has announced that shoppers at its 22 South African outlets and busy online store will now experience instant customer care and service by directly connecting with the retailer on WhatsApp. Impressive features available

Checkers Pioneers New 60-Minute Grocery Delivery Service

Posted on by Staff Reporter | 8619 Views | 5 min read

Checkers has launched its exclusive on-demand one-hour grocery delivery service named Sixty60. It is South Africa’s first 60-minute grocery delivery service from a supermarket chain, as Checkers relentlessly innovates to respond to customers’ demands for hyper-convenience. The mobile app delivers groceries and drinks at the touch of a button and offers the same value for

AI – Helping Brands Manage Their Online Reputation

Posted on by Staff Reporter | 9952 Views | 19 min read

The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning is on the rise but it’s important to know which reputation management processes should and shouldn’t be automated. AI, using Natural Language Processing (NLP) models, allows computers to understand and decipher what a human is saying. This is starting to be used by companies in South

‘Best of Suite’ Approach Key to Personalised Digital Customer Experience

Posted on by Staff Reporter | 4818 Views | 19 min read

As regional mobile subscribers increasingly come to expect near real-time, personalised products, services and customer support, telecom operators will require a transformative digital Business Support System (BSS) that enables them to control the full breadth of their operations. Using a ‘best of suite’ approach will allow them to quickly, successfully and cost-effectively meet these demands.

Shoprite Creates Almost 120 Jobs in a Week with the Opening of New Stores

Posted on by Staff Reporter | 5562 Views | 7 min read

The Shoprite Group is whole-heartedly committed to employment in Africa, as their staff complement of 147 268 attests. The Group is proud to be the largest employer, after government, in South Africa. In only one week, almost 120 new jobs were created by the opening of three supermarkets in South Africa. Shoprite Stimela Barberton Shoprite

Pick n Pay: The Right Plan For Tougher Times

Posted on by Staff Reporter | 5628 Views | 10 min read

Trading profit up 15.8% to R641.5 million on a normalised basis Headline earnings per share up 11.6% on a normalised basis Diluted headline earnings per share up 13.1% on a normalised basis Turnover growth of 5.1% to R39.3 billion Internal inflation restricted to 3.6%, well below CPI food inflation of 6.9% R500 million investment in

Vivo Energy Uganda Introduces the Shell Club, a Nationwide Customer Loyalty Programme

Posted on by Staff Reporter | 23598 Views | 9 min read

Vivo Energy Uganda has today announced the introduction of a pioneering nationwide customer loyalty programme, designed by Shell, called the Shell Club. The user-friendly platform will enable customers to earn and accumulate points for all their purchases at Shell service stations, which can be converted into rewards. Speaking at the launch, Vivo Energy Uganda’s Managing

What Retailers Should Know About Online Shopping, an Infrographic

Posted on by Staff Reporter | 5165 Views | 3 min read

Can you remember back to the beginning of the internet, and also back to the beginning of online shopping? If you can, then you remember how limited your options were. You could get books at Amazon. You could sell some of your stuff on eBay, and bid against others when you were looking for something

American Express, Discover, Mastercard and Visa Implement Click to Pay to Make Online Checkout Simple and Secure

Posted on by Staff Reporter | 6460 Views | 13 min read

BassPro, Cinemark, JoAnn Fabric and Crafts, Movember, Papa John’s, Rakuten, Saks Fifth Avenue, Staples, SHOP.com and Tickets.com are among the first merchants to offer consumers new option to click to pay Today, American Express, Discover, Mastercard and Visa announced the arrival of faster, more secure online checkout based on the new EMV® Secure Remote Commerce