Digital Commerce Acceleration Increased Online Purchases Present New Opportunities for Digital Commerce Players
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Digital Commerce Acceleration Increased online purchases present new opportunities for digital commerce players February 2021 Digital Commerce Acceleration | Contents Contents 02 Introduction 12 Unpacking seven factors that matter most to South African online shoppers 03 Top takeaways 22 Appendices 04 South African online consumer shopping insights 29 Contacts “Digital commerce has to solve a specific customer problem. Leveraging data, human-centred logic and exceptional design, will assist retailers to prioritize and fulfil customer demands at the core of their interactive and omni-channel digital commerce experience.” Rodger George Advisory Consumer Industry Leader, Deloitte Africa Digital Commerce Acceleration | Introduction Introduction The increase in online shopping in South Africa presents an Key objectives of the report: exciting growth opportunity for retailers, wholesalers and manufacturers. To accelerate digital commerce in South Africa, research indicates that it will become increasingly important to design offerings that solve specific consumer concerns and use consumer insights to strengthen differentiation. Investigating what consumers Uncovering what drives There has been an uptake in online shopping A strong digital commerce offering is not just expect in terms of online consumer expectations due to the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, in South about having the right technology in place. It is shopping experiences Africa and across the world. COVID-19 has also about a new way of generating growth and challenged and shifted many of the barriers revenue and future-proofing a business. consumers have had to online shopping. With this in mind, the starting point for any Manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers need organisation seeking to develop a digital to understand the key factors that influence commerce strategy should always be: ‘What consumer behaviour and accelerate their problem are you solving for a customer?’ efforts to meet consumer expectations. Determining the concerns Investigating consumer profiles To be able to answer this question, a clear and barriers against and their nuances across the Deloitte Africa commissioned a South African understanding of customers’ needs and wants online purchasing South African population for survey on online shopping and complemented is required. online shopping these findings by applying a South African filter to the Deloitte Global State of the Consumer This report aims to provide insights that will Tracker longitudinal survey to gain a better help to better understand South African online understanding of the factors influencing online shoppers and hence will assist in developing shopper behaviour and to identify specific effective digital commerce strategies. nuances among various consumer groups. Investigating the key positive and negative consumer perceptions regarding online shopping 02 Digital Commerce Acceleration | Top takeaways Top takeaways Seven factors that matter most to South African online shoppers Click on icons to jump to Insight The survey data revealed seven factors that matter most to South African consumers. Some of them are directly linked to certain steps in the customer journey, while others are Growth in online shopping is set Online shoppers know what to accelerate… they want and where to get it. overarching issues or concerns that apply to multiple points on the customer journey. Ongoing concerns about COVID-19 and the South African consumers are discerning convenience of online shopping are key drivers shoppers. More than two thirds (67%) of These factors should be part of the foundation of any digital of future online shopping. The frequency respondents indicated that they go to commerce offering being taken into the market, irrespective of of online shopping is expected to increase a specific online store and look for the in the coming years, with two in three product they want. target segment or category. respondents indicating they will shop more online in 2021. Consumers choose an online store based on key influencing factors… Smooth checkout …but focus needs to be on omni- channel shopping experiences. There are key elements, including effective checkout, low delivery costs, and clear Consumers’ purchasing journeys will and simple return or refund policies, that Buying vs Choice of increasingly become a blend of in-store influence South African consumers’ browsing delivery and online shopping experiences across decisions where to shop. If online retailers can all categories. get this right, they will succeed at the start of the online journey and see their market share Electronics and fashion are the grow. most popular categories online. 7 factors …while certain elements will make that matter Clothing, electronics, footwear, household them go and stay away. A brand you to SA online Service appliances and health products are the most can trust matters popular categories among South African South African consumers also highlighted their shoppers online shoppers. Interestingly, fresh food frustrations with and concerns about features relatively highly among the new top certain key elements, including poor data categories - likely a result of the lockdown and payment security, high delivery fees, measures, which gave grocery delivery apps a cumbersome returns and unreliable delivery Clear returns and Protect my data strong boost. times. Online retailers that can address these refunds will see an adoption of online shopping and further unlock the potential of e-commerce. 03 South African online consumer shopping insights Digital Commerce Acceleration | SA online consumer shopping insights Growth in online shopping is set to accelerate… The South African e-commerce market was With a 37% e-commerce penetration, Reason for increased online shopping estimated to be US$3bn in net sales in 2019 approximately 22 million consumers shopped and growing by a compound annual growth online in 2020. This number is expected to It’s more convenient 26% rate (CAGR) of 13% on average (2019-24).1 grow by 44% to 32 million users by 2024.3 Due to COVID-19 25% Over the next five years, e-commerce revenues More than 70% of survey respondents Short waiting period/saves time 23% are expected to grow by a CAGR of more than indicated that they shop online at least once 9%, continuing on the robust growth path seen a month, pointing to an opportunity for major It is the safest option 11% in recent years.2 growth in online shopping. There is no difference/satisfied with current method 9% As seen in other markets, COVID-19 has acted Ongoing concerns about COVID-19 and the Online shopping is more appealing 8% as a catalyst for e-commerce in South Africa convenience of online shopping are key drivers More product variety 7% and growth could accelerate significantly as of future online shopping. The frequency of Other options are more appealing (outlet stores, consumers migrate from in-store shopping to online shopping is likely to increase in the short grocery stores) 5% online alternatives. term, with two in three survey respondents Depends on my budget 5% indicating they will shop more online in 2021. Familiar with online shopping apps/websites 5% Online shopping frequency Expected online shopping frequency in 2021 More than once a day 2% Over 70% of 2 in 3 37% 29% 25% Daily 7% respondents respondents Make online Stay the same Make online Weekly 27% indicated that they purchases purchases will shop slightly more significantly Monthly 36% shop online at least more more online Less than once a month 21% once a month. 5% 4% in 2021. Never 7% Make online Make online n = 1 004 purchases purchases n = 1 004 Source: Deloitte Africa Digital Commerce Survey, 2020 significantly less slightly less Source: Deloitte Africa, 2020 05 Digital Commerce Acceleration | SA online consumer shopping insights …but focus needs to be on omni-channel shopping experiences While financial concerns may impact overall growth can be attributed to a channel shift Categories are also impacted. South Africans market growth, with the Deloitte Global State from offline to online where health and safety plan to spend more, online and in stores, on of the Consumer Tracker (survey date 6 January concerns will impact consumer shopping groceries, household goods and medicine, Consumers’ purchasing 2021), indicating that 55% of South Africans behaviours – in January 2021, only 34% of but plan to cut down on clothing/footwear, are concerned about losing their jobs, online South Africans felt it was safe to go to a store.4 electronics and furnishings in the short term.5 journeys will increasingly Consumer concerns become a blend of in-store and online Financial concerns Employment concerns Safety concerns Intended shopping channel I'm concerned about... I feel safe... in-store vs online shopping experiences In-store across categories. Online - Delivered Online - Picked up Clothing/ Electronics Furnishings Groceries Household Medicine Restaurants/ footware goods Take-out 39% 55% 34% Making upcoming Losing my job Going to the store payments Intent to spend more over the next four weeks* Health and safety -37% -37% -45% 31% 22% 22% -62% concerns will impact 85% 81% 78% consumer shopping 67% 65% 54% 56% 49% I'm delaying large purchases decisions to go online. 10% 12% 9% 7% 8% 12% 10% 13% 23% 26% 14% 31% 39% Source: Deloitte Global Consumer Tracker, 2021 * For the next four weeks starting 6 January 2021 Source: Deloitte, 2021 06 Digital Commerce Acceleration | SA online consumer shopping insights Electronics