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Clickatell Predicts Mobile Messaging to be the Next Big Channel for Digital Commerce in 2023

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Clickatell, a Chat Commerce and business messaging leader, conducted research on customer service trends and preferences for travel and retail and identified that brands that personalize both their digital and in-person commerce experiences can generate more meaningful and lasting customer relationships.

In 2023 mobile messaging will emerge as the ideal channel to create these holistic commerce experiences for consumers as well as to accelerate business demand and grow revenue, according to Clickatell’s leaders.

This and the five additional mobile messaging trends are likely to be the most relevant priorities in 2023 to help brands build and maintain consumer loyalty.

Chat Commerce is the next wave of digital commerce

“The next wave of digital commerce will strongly emerge in 2023. Shopping digitally, whether on the web or on a mobile device, is now widely adopted by consumers.

“But strong demand by consumers for even more convenient shopping will make 2023 the tipping point for Chat Commerce, with more consumers engaging with their favorite brands within the messaging apps they use every day, such as SMS, Apple Messages and WhatsApp.

“In 2023, the commerce experience within messaging apps will evolve to be more functional, with experiences that rival that of other mobile apps,” said Pieter de Villiers, CEO and Co-Founder at Clickatell.

Convenience adds a critical layer of satisfaction for consumers

“Brands add a layer of convenience by offering a real-time mobile option for consumers to receive order updates, new offers, and the ability to simply shop and transact through the messaging channels they already use daily, rather than shopping at a separate digital destination such as a website or mobile app.

According to Clickatell’s Chat Commerce Trends Report: Retail Edition, 51% of consumers want access to special offers via mobile messaging and 46% of consumers want to receive personalized promotions for things like last-minute deals. Retailers need to be meeting consumer expectations and that points to messaging commerce,” said Jennifer Shambroom, CMO at Clickatell.

Providing customer service exclusively online is a smart move

“With increasing costs and labor shortages, brands are looking for ways to simplify and consolidate, and leveraging mobile messaging with chatbots and the convenience of asynchronous communication with customers is a good decision.

Millennials and Gen Z are more likely to view messaging as a preferred communication channel. Our Chat Commerce Trends Report: CX Edition revealed 99% of customer service executives recognize the benefits of using chat with customers to bolster customer experience and drive revenue and growth for their businesses.

Further, with rising expectations of customer service departments to generate sales revenue, mobile messaging provides a seamless and secure venue for transactions that allows representatives to support customers along their entire path to purchase, while also encouraging the opportunity for increased sales,” said De Villiers.

 Consumers want to use mobile messaging to make payments

“Commerce within mobile messaging is becoming the preferred way for consumers to shop, accounting for 71% of retail traffic and generating 61% of online shopping orders. In 2023, brands will need to double down on mobile, and mobile messaging channels are the place to focus. Consumers want to use mobile messaging with a retail company if it is as convenient as chatting with a friend,” said De Villiers.

Mobile messaging apps are the new super app

“Consumers live on their mobile phones, especially in mobile messaging apps. As consumer behavior continues to trend toward engaging with brands within messaging apps, the need for a business to invest in a custom mobile app will become less viable.

“Mobile messaging apps will become the Super App in 2023 and beyond, going beyond linear message threads to deliver the full range of commerce experiences, allowing consumers to receive special offers, make immediate purchases, coordinate item drop-off and pick-up, and contact customer service, delivering satisfying, personalized experiences across the entire customer lifecycle,” said Shambroom.


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E-Business

Kaspersky Contributes to Joint INTERPOL-AFRIPOL Operation Combating Cybercrime Across Africa

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Kaspersky has recently assisted its partner law enforcement agencies INTERPOL and AFRIPOL in a joint effort to disrupt cybercrime across the African region.

Dubbed “Serengeti,” the operation has led to the arrest of more than 1,000 individuals suspected of links to cybercrimes such as ransomware operation and business email compromise (BEC) attacks, resulting in nearly US $193 million in financial losses worldwide.

As Africa is going through a rapid digitisation, the threat of cybercrime on the continent is also escalating. In the African region in general and West Africa in particular, ransomware emerges as one of the most prominent attack vectors, targeting critical infrastructure, financial institutions, and manufacturing facilities, among others.

During the first 10 months of 2024, ransomware detections in West Africa surged by 36% year-on-year, according to Kaspersky data. Other noticeable cyberthreats targeting users and organisations in the region include spyware and password stealers.

Conducted from September 2 to October 31, operation Serengeti dismantled 134,089 malicious infrastructures and networks linked to cybercrimes including ransomware operations, BEC attacks, digital extortion and online scams — all identified as prominent threats in INTERPOL’s 2024 Africa Cyber Threat Assessment Report.

Kaspersky has contributed to the operation by sharing information on threat actors, data on ransomware attacks and malware targeting the region, as well as up-to-date indicators of compromise (IoCs) for malicious infrastructure across Africa.

Among the malware targeting African countries was also a well-known Brazilian banking trojan Grandoreiro – Kaspersky recently released new findings on this trojan at its Security Analyst Summit. Additionally, ransomware families detected in attacks on African organisations among others included LockBit, Rhysida, and Medusa.

The operation has also resulted in the identification of more than 35,000 victims of cyber offenses investigated.

Valdecy Urquiza, Secretary General of INTERPOL, said: “From multi-level marketing scams to credit card fraud on an industrial scale, the increasing volume and sophistication of cybercrime attacks is of serious concern.

Operation Serengeti shows what we can achieve by working together, and these arrests alone will save countless potential future victims from real personal and financial pain. We know that this is just the tip of the iceberg, which is why we will continue targeting these criminal groups worldwide.”

Ambassador Jalel Chelba, AFRIPOL’s Acting Executive Director said: “Through Serengeti, AFRIPOL has significantly enhanced support for law enforcement in African Union Member States. We’ve facilitated key arrests and deepened insights into cybercrime trends. Our focus now includes emerging threats like AI-driven malware and advanced attack techniques.”

“We are proud to contribute to this multi-stakeholder operation orchestrated by INTERPOL and AFRIPOL,” comments Yuliya Shlychkova, Vice President, Global Public Affairs, Kaspersky. “The emerging dynamics of the threat landscape in Africa requires a stronger regional dialogue on mitigating acute cybersecurity risks.

Kaspersky firmly supports INTERPOL’s and AFRIPOL’s efforts to prevent and disrupt cybercrime attacks across Africa and shares the holistic approach towards creating a more cyber-resilient environment within the continent.”

Thanks to the cooperation with INTERPOL and AFRIPOL, Kaspersky has been an active contributor to fostering a more cyber-savvy environment in the African region.

In addition to the vast record of joint operations in Africa, with the latest being INTERPOL-led operation Synergia II, Kaspersky has recently sealed a five-year cooperation agreement with AFRIPOL to further strengthen its role in creating a more cybersafe climate on the continent by sharing Kaspersky’s extensive data on local cyberthreats and cybercrime trends with the organisation.


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NITDA Alerts Nigerians on Cybersecurity Risks Linked to Spotify

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National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has issued a public alert warning Nigerians about a cybersecurity threat involving the use of Spotify to promote malicious activities.

NITDA Alerts Nigerians on Cybersecurity Risks Linked to Spotify

The agency, in a public notice issued on Tuesday, disclosed that threat actors are exploiting the popular music streaming platform to advertise game hacks, pirated software, and spam links that could expose users to cyber threats.

According to NITDA, cybercriminals embed malicious promotions in playlist names and podcast descriptions on Spotify, explaining that these promotions are used to advertise game hacks for popular video games such as Fortnite, GTA, Apex, and Roblox. Additionally.

They also promote pirated software (commonly referred to as ‘cracks’), spam links, and other malicious sites.

This abuse is said to leverage Spotify’s web player results to improve the search engine visibility of these harmful websites, putting unsuspecting users at risk of malware, scams, and other cyber threats.

NITDA warned that the exploitation of Spotify could lead to exposure to scams and phishing attacks, downloading of malware that can compromise user devices and Loss of personal and financial data through interactions with malicious websites.

To manage the risks, NITDA advised users to exercise Caution with suspicious playlists and podcasts and avoid engaging with playlists or podcasts that feature unusual or suspicious text in their descriptions.

It also warned users not to click Unknown Links, and also ensure the Spotify app is updated to the latest version to minimise vulnerabilities.

The agency further advised Spotify users in Nigeria to remain vigilant and adhere to cybersecurity best practices to safeguard their personal information and devices.

According to the agency, the websites posing as OpenAI’s popular AI, ChatGPT, are tricking users into downloading malicious files or software to their devices.


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Konga Yakata’s Last Week: Don’t Miss Out on Incredible Deals

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Excitement is reaching a fever pitch among shoppers as the Konga Yakata Black Friday shopping fiesta enters its final week. Shoppers nationwide are gearing up for a rain of last-minute deals and irresistible offers, with the promotion set to end on Saturday, November 30, 2024.

The month-long Konga Yakata campaign, which kicked off on Friday, November 1, has delivered an unparalleled shopping experience, treating customers to incredible discounts, engaging promos, and unbeatable incentives.

In addition to massive price cuts across a wide range of products, Konga has thrilled shoppers with exciting events such as Treasure Hunts, Flash Sales, Bargain Bash, Brand Days, and specialized Black Friday packages like the Budget Store, Under 50k Store, and TGIF Epic Drop.

The highlight of the Yakata 2024 season will be this year’s Black Friday, which takes place on Friday, November 29. Thousands of customers will be able to score exclusive discounts on items including electronics, clothes, home appliances, computers, and groceries.

Reflecting on the experience so far, a satisfied anonymous shopper who snagged a TV at a discounted rate said, “Konga Yakata has been nothing short of amazing this year. The discounts are unbelievable but true, and the convenience of shopping online is unmatched.

“I’ve already made several purchases, and I’m excited to see what other deals are in store for the final week.”

Konga’s Black Friday sale has been a boon for consumers, offering respite from the economic challenges many Nigerians face. By providing access to affordable products and services, Konga has empowered shoppers to make the most of their money.

Despite the prevailing economic challenges, shoppers have embraced the Yakata season, targeting high-value deals and leveraging Konga’s tailored offerings to make significant savings. With the countdown underway, the excitement is expected to hit its peak on Friday as customers traditionally wait for that day to grab the most exclusive deals.

Speaking on the heightened anticipation, Kunle Ajani, Group Head of Marketing at Konga, stated, “We’re thrilled with the overwhelming response to Konga Yakata this year, and we’re committed to ensuring the final week delivers the biggest surprises yet.

“We are proud to offer a platform where shoppers can enjoy exceptional value, despite the economic realities.”

As the curtain closes on the 2024 Yakata season, shoppers can look forward to a flurry of last-minute deals, culminating at midnight on November 30. From tech enthusiasts to lovers of electronics and deal hunters, Konga Yakata continues to redefine the shopping experience, making it a season to remember for all Nigerians.

Take advantage of the final week of Konga Yakata. Visit Konga.com and experience the thrill of shopping at unbeatable prices.


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