Innovate to engage
We can anticipate what’s ahead of the curve by looking at China - the leaders in social commerce. This is largely driven by platforms such as WeChat, which have become ingrained in Chinese lifestyle since their rapid surge in mobile reliance. China is the epicentre of retail innovation with 52% of their total retail transacted online in 2021 - whereas SA’s online transactions were just 2.8% of our total retail, according to World Wide Worx.
This massive scale of shift may be mirrored in Africa over the coming years, with mobile use embraced across generations.
E-commerce allows brands to effectively tap into distant locations through targeted digital touchpoints – creating both accessibility for consumers and reach for brands. But innovation is key to unlocking optimum engagement.
Although South Africa is still slightly behind the ever-advancing curve in terms of functionality apps, we have recently launched the Appointment Booking Pro app for our client Liza Clifford’s e-commerce platform, which has allowed her to fully optimise her service and scheduling. Liza Clifford is successfully utilising social media integration for her sales through Shopify and we are embarking on further innovations through her new website we are working on.
Consumers look for what’s new, not what’s expected, opening the door for creativity to strut in with all its flair.
