African sellers are using digital marketplaces to sell their products because it is quite affordable and provides access to a larger global market. Although ecommerce in Africa is still under the global average, there are several African ecommerce companies that are taking the e-commerce space by storm. Online retail revenue in Africa is estimated at around $20 billion annually. This accounts for only 3.5% of total retail sales.
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Top Ecommerce Companies in Africa
Technological advances and innovation have played a critical role in the adoption of online trade in Africa. The following are the best ecommerce companies for Africans to sell products online:
Afrikrea
Afrikrea is an online African marketplace dealing in African fashion, arts and crafts. The products available on the platform include fine art, fabrics, jewelry, bags, etc. It serves clients in over 100 countries globally and has over 5000 shops. Afrikrea online store has over 250,000 visitors every month.
How Afrikrea Works
You will first need to create your shop on the site for free and add as many products as you want. When a buyer orders your product, you receive a notification through text or email which you have to confirm within 48 hours. Once the order is confirmed, you receive the money in your virtual wallet. However, when you fail to confirm the order within 48 hours, the buyer is automatically refunded. You (the seller) are responsible for shipping the products. You will also need to pay a 10-15% commission after selling a product.
Afrikrea Reviews
Afrikrea has been rated 3.8 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot. Most customers have given positive feedback concerning their experiences while shopping on Afrikrea. They are praising Afrikrea’s fast delivery, good quality items, reasonable prices, and excellent customer service. The few negative reviews complain about orders gone wrong and the inability of sellers to send return shipping labels.
Jumia E-commerce
Jumia operates in over 10 African countries including Egypt, Tunisia, Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria, and more. It is one of the largest ecommerce companies in Africa. Products sold here such as décor items, groceries, clothes, electronics, books, health and beauty products must be new, legal, and of good quality.
How Does Jumia Work?
First, register as a seller on their website by providing your contact details, your shop’s location, and product category. After signing up, you receive an email containing a link to Jumia’s Seller Center page which you can use for your operations. Jumia also trains members on online selling, marketing, packaging, and sales.
Jumia Reviews
Jumia has been rated 2.0 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot. Most buyers are not satisfied with its customer service. Jumia does not have a direct contact number, and when you email or tweet them, they take long to respond. However, other customers are satisfied with Jumia’s fast delivery and genuine products.
Jumia is one of the biggest e-commerce companies in Africa in Africa with around 31.8 million visits per month. Its largest market is Nigeria, which provides 26% of its monthly traffic. Jumia’s wide reach in Africa has made it to be known as “the Amazon of Africa”.
Konga E-commerce
Konga is one of the best ecommerce site in Nigeria dealing in a wide range of products such as home décor, electronics, fashion and beauty products. As a seller on Konga, you decide your pricing, preferred shipping method, and the payment mode.
How Konga Works
To sell on Konga, you will first need to fill a signup form on their site. Then, Konga will verify your contact and bank details to ensure they are accurate. You will then be assigned a support officer who will be available to assist you 24/7. After signing up, you get a SellerHQ account (a market management dashboard) that helps you manage your inventory, upload product images, and monitor your sales. When a buyer places an order, you have 24 hours to confirm it and 3 days to ship it. When the buyer receives the package, the payment is sent to your account.
Konga Reviews
Konga has been rated 2.2 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot. Customers giving positive reviews praise Konga for its fast delivery while many negative reviews are disappointed in their poor customer service and botched deliveries.
Kilimall
Kilimall is one of the best ecommerce platforms that has gained popularity in Kenya, Uganda, and Nigeria. However, most of its traffic (79%) is from Kilimall in Kenya. Products for sell include phones, tablets, fashion, electronics, home appliances, baby products, and more.
How Kilimall Works
First, you will need to register as a global or local seller online or through the Kilimall app. After creating a shop, you can select the appropriate product category on Kilimall seller center, upload product images, and start trading.
Kilimall Reviews
Kilimall is not rated on Trustpilot. However, Kilimall Kenya has been rated on other sites like Sitejabber and Facebook. Satisfied customers were happy with their easy-to-use platform and affordable prices. Dissatisfied customers complain about late deliveries, poor quality products, poor customer service, and customers receiving what they didn’t order.
Zando
Zando is a South African ecommerce platform where sellers can sell beauty products, fashion brands, homeware, etc. It receives around 3.5 million visitors every month.
How Zando Works
You will first need to register as a seller on the Zando website. After registration, you can upload your products and other necessary details. When an order is placed, you have 36 hours to package the item and send it to Zando’s warehouse. Zando will communicate with the client and deliver the product.
Zando Reviews
Zando customers have rated it 2.5 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot. Most satisfied customers praise its easy-to-use platform, fast delivery, and quality products. Dissatisfied customers complain about Zando’s unresponsive customer service and its inability to make refunds.
Other Best Websites for E-commerce in Africa
Africa’s e-commerce space is dominated by Kenya, South Africa and Nigeria. E-commerce websites in these countries include the following:
E-commerce Companies in Nigeria
Top e-commerce sites in Nigeria are leading in Africa in terms of number of online shoppers and revenue. E-commerce websites in Nigeria include PayPorte, Obiwezy, Ajebomarket, etc.
Best E-commerce Platforms in South Africa
Other online selling platforms in South Africa include Bidorbuy, Takealot.com, superbalist.com, woolworths.co.za, makro.co.za, etc.
E-commerce Websites in Kenya
Kenya has a number of online marketplaces. Top ecommerce platforms in Kenya include Jiji, BuyRentKenya, Pigiame, Cheki, etc.
Final Thoughts on E-commerce in Africa
E-commerce is becoming popular and disrupting the retail industry in Africa. Existing African ecommerce companies are building names for themselves as they strive to offer excellent customer service, quality products and affordable prices. However, there is no perfect platform as each has its own advantages and disadvantages.
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