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DHL, Google Disclose Intents of New Age E-Commerce Consumers
The rise of e-commerce on the African continent is changing the face of the traditional consumer, and brands need to adapt their business models and strategies in order to remain relevant amongst consumers and avoid a drop in market share.
African consumers are increasingly searching online platforms with commercial intent, which include querying prices of goods, and researching where products or services can be purchased.
According to research by Google South Africa, there was an increase of 49% in query volumes in Nigeria, 37% in South Africa and 33% in Kenya, during 2014.
Charles Brewer, managing director of DHL Express Sub Saharan Africa said that understanding your consumer, knowing how to target communications to them and ultimately deliver what they want, when they want it, is key to the ongoing success of e-commerce in the region.
“Africa’s growing middle class is driving consumer demand and in turn, the e-commerce industry on the continent. As a result, retailers need to ask themselves if they are ready for this ‘new’ and evolving client base.
He added that, “Logistically and operationally speaking, businesses will need to shift from a business-to-business approach to a more business-to-consumer approach as retailers will now have to meet the demand of transporting products to individual clients. New structures will need to be implemented to ensure that the company’s supply chain is agile enough to respond quickly and effectively to the increased demand.”
Brewer noted that while there is huge potential for e-commerce in the region, compared to emerging markets, e-retailing in Africa is still in its infancy.
A recent retailing study conducted by Urban Studies on behalf of South African Council of Shopping Centres (SACSC), revealed that Africa and the Middle East’s share of global e-commerce in 2015 is just 2%, but that it shows high potential.
This is supported by a recent report by McKinsey & Company, which revealed e-commerce could account for 10% of retail sales in Africa’s largest economies by 2025.
Google also predicts that a massive e-commerce market will emerge in Africa by 2017 as the continent becomes more familiar with technological advances.
As e-commerce gains momentum, it once again highlights the potential for local retailers and entrepreneurs.
A great success story is that of Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu, who founded soleRebels, a footwear company in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in 2005.
Within less than a decade, she has been able to grow her business from an organization of just five people, producing for her local market, to a global organization of over 300 employees with eight stand-alone stores, serving over 50 countries.
The key to her success in a fiercely competitive retail environment was a combination of traditional African artisan skills and technologies, innovative use of local (often recycled) materials, personal drive and energy, and a global vision.
“This is just one example of the many opportunities that we are seeing in the region. In this developing market, the needs of the emerging e-commerce players have played a key role in our aggressive expansion strategy in Africa,” Brewer added.
Nigerians will start paying for the new national identity card due to low revenue, according to National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).
Dr Peter Iwegbu, head of card management services at NIMC, said the payment was to ensure that it was produced for only those who needed it.
Iwegbu stated this at the two-day conference organized for journalists in Lagos.
He also added that the decision was made to avoid repeating the mistake of the past efforts to issue physical cards to Nigerians for free, which many did not collect.
“The government’s limited revenue is also a major factor in the decision to make Nigerians pay for the new ID card,” he said.
Iwegbu explained that due to the low revenue generated, the government could not fund the production of ID cards.
Mr Lanre Yusuf, director of Information Technology at NIMC, explained that the idea of a free national ID card in the past was not productive.
“To get the new national ID card, Nigerians will need to make a payment, select a pickup location, and then collect their card from the chosen location. The government has implemented programmes to make the card accessible to the less privileged Nigerians who cannot afford it but require it to access government support.”
“This initiative demonstrates the government’s commitment to inclusivity and equality,” Yusuf said.
He said that the versatile cards were scheduled to launch soon, and sample test cards had already been received.
“NIMC is working with banks across the country, which will make it possible for people to walk into any bank closest to them and request the card.”
“The new national ID card is a multipurpose card that can serve the purpose of identity verification, payments, and even government services,” he said.
The card will be enabled for all government interventions and services across various ministries, departments, and agencies. The card, powered by AfriGO, was launched in partnership with the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigeria Interbank Settlement System.
Cycling enthusiasts, gear up for an exhilarating experience this Saturday, November 23rd, as FXTM proudly sponsors the Lagos State Monthly Crit at Dolphin Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos.
Interested participants should register at 6:30 AM and prepare for the main race, kicking off at 7:30 AM. Participants will compete for four thrilling hours in three categories: Professional, Junior, and Veteran.
The top prize starts at $500, adding an exciting competitive edge to the event. There will also be refreshments, music and an opportunity to socialize with like-minded individuals.
FXTM, known for its global commitment to promoting fitness through charitable cycling events, is thrilled to bring this spirited race to Lagos. Riding has always been synonymous to freedom, matching the company’s value of freedom to succeed.
The event not only aims to foster a love for cycling but also to enhance community fitness and well-being.
The stand-in Country Representative for FXTM, Kelechi Ehibudu said: “We are thrilled and delighted to sponsor this event as part of our charitable project.
“We look forward to an exciting time with all participants from all works of life. It’s going to be action packed event.”
Thembi Alfreds was driving home from a soccer match in Johannesburg when she stopped at a traffic light. A thief suddenly appeared and smashed the window of her car, grabbing her phone. She struggled with the thief but they managed to get away with the phone.
The incident left her feeling violated and unsafe. Not only did she lose personal memories, like photos of her children, but her personal and financial information stored on the phone was now compromised.
Phone theft is a serious concern in many countries across Africa, including South Africa, where Thembi’s situation highlights the need for better phone theft solutions.
Smartphone usage is on the rise in Sub-Saharan Africa, with adoption rates reaching 61% in Kenya, 31% in Uganda, and 24-25% in Rwanda and Burundi. This increased uptake has been accompanied by a rise in cellphone theft, as these devices become attractive targets for criminals due to their resale value and sensitive data within. This poses a significant challenge that can have serious consequences for both individuals and businesses in the region.
According to the GSMA Consumer Survey 2023, 19% of mobile phone users in South Africa experienced theft or loss of their device in the past year.The GSMA reports millions of devices stolen every year, and the numbers continue to grow. With our phones becoming increasingly more valuable & central to storing sensitive data, like payment information and personal details, losing one can be an unsettling experience.
Phone theft can be a traumatic experience, but there are steps that can be taken to reduce the risk and protect personal information. That’s why we have developed and thoroughly beta tested, a full suite of features designed to protect you and your data at every stage – before, during, and after device theft.
These advanced theft protection features are now available to users around the world through Android 15 and a Google Play Services update (Android 10+ devices).
Theft Detection Lock uses powerful AI to proactively protect you at the moment of a theft attempt. By using on-device machine learning, Theft Detection Lock is able to analyze various device signals to detect potential theft attempts. If the algorithm detects a potential theft attempt on your unlocked device, it locks your screen to keep thieves out.To protect your sensitive data if your phone is stolen, Theft Detection Lock uses device sensors to identify theft attempts.
This feature is rolling out gradually to ensure compatibility with various devices, starting today with Android devices that cover 90% of active users worldwide. Check your theft protection settings page periodically to see if your device is currently supported.
In addition to Theft Detection Lock, Offline Device Lock protects you if a thief tries to take your device offline to extract data or avoid a remote wipe via Android’s Find My Device. If an unlocked device goes offline for prolonged periods, this feature locks the screen to ensure your phone can’t be used in the hands of a thief.
If your Android device is lost or stolen, Remote Lock can quickly help you secure it. Even if you can’t remember your Google account credentials in the moment of theft, you can use any device to visit Android.com/lock and lock your phone with just a verified phone number. Remote Lock secures your device while you regain access through Android’s Find My Device – which lets you secure, locate or remotely wipe your device. As a security best practice, we always recommend backing up your device on a continuous basis, so remotely wiping your device is not an issue.
These features are now available on most Android 10+ devices via a Google Play Services update and must be enabled in settings.
Advanced security to deter theft before it happens
Android 15 introduces new security features to deter theft before it happens by making it harder for thieves to access sensitive settings, apps, or reset your device for resale:
- Changes to sensitive settings like Find My Device now require your PIN, password, or biometric authentication.
- Multiple failed login attempts, which could be a sign that a thief is trying to guess your password, will lock down your device, preventing unauthorized access.
- And enhanced factory reset protection makes it even harder for thieves to reset your device without your Google account credentials, significantly reducing its resale value and protecting your data.
Later this year, we’ll launch Identity Check, an opt-in feature that will add an extra layer of protection by requiring biometric authentication when accessing critical Google account and device settings, like changing your PIN, disabling theft protection, or accessing Passkeys from an untrusted location. This helps prevent unauthorized access even if your device PIN is compromised.
Real-world protection for billions of Android users
By integrating advanced technology like AI and biometric authentication, we’re making Android devices less appealing targets for thieves to give you greater peace of mind. These theft protection features are just one example of how Android is working to provide real-world protection for everyone. We’re dedicated to working with our partners around the world to continuously improve Android security and help you and your data stay safe.
You can turn on the new Android theft features by clicking here on a supported Android device. Learn more about our theft protection features by visiting our help center.
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