In recent times electronic
commerce has become a significant tool in unlocking job creation and innovation
for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria. E-commerce and mobile commerce have dramatically
changed the way small businesses reach customers, making it faster and easier
for consumers to make purchases on the go while avoiding the hassles of going
to the store.
The online marketplace provides
a springboard for SMEs, transcending local and regional boundaries to attain a
global reach. Many SMEs are taking advantage of the opportunities afforded by
e-commerce to tap into a bigger clientele, new market and increase their
revenue.
“We’re
now living in a time when competition is driving brands to innovate, giving
their customers better products, customizable options, efficient delivery and
more purchasing channels to choose from.
Large
retailers have set the bar high for SMEs who are just looking to break into the
e-commerce market. For small retailers one of the most pressing challenges
faced is poor delivery and tracking system” stated Evangeline Wiles Deputy MD
Kaymu.com.ng in a statement released by the company
The proliferation of SMEs into
e-commerce present new challenges for this sector that do not have the capacity
to overcome them unassisted.
According to Wiles, “One of
the major challenges faced by SMEs remains inefficient delivery system”. For an online marketplace such as Kaymu that provides a platform for buyers
and sellers to conduct business transactions, we have seen cases whereby the
seller has a good product offering, great image quality and the most
competitive price but does not have the capacity to deliver”.
To address the challenges, e-commerce
platforms have to provide technical assistance to sellers on their platforms by
providing SMEs market intelligence, spotting opportunities and developing specific
delivery solutions for SMEs to effectively work in the online marketplace.
“This is a call for delivery companies
and systems to operate a functional delivery process that facilitates prompt
and efficient delivery and tracking system as this is pertinent to SME growth”,
Wiles concluded.
I totally agree with Wiles. I also believe eCommerce can be a huge catalyst that could boost Nigeria economy beyond what we are relishing today.
ReplyDeleteThe future looks very bright
ReplyDelete