Online Shopping Takes an Upward Trend in Kenya

Just a few years ago, not many of us were familiar with the terms ‘online shopping’ in that order. This is something that was perceived to be for the “rich” members of the society. How could we even shop online when even possessing a mobile phone was a very big achievement.

We were used to the long lines in our local stores, where we did our shopped for basic family needs, mostly food. Whoever needed to buy clothes, they visited their local open markets for the common and affordable second hand clothes locally known as “Mitumba”.

Even when online shopping was introduced, people felt uncomfortable using their credit cards and giving their personal information to cyber-shops for security reasons.  It took a long while before embracing online shopping, that currently, has become part of us.

Throughout the world online buying has grown exponentially. Consumers may still be concerned about the security of online shopping, but more and more of them are prepared to buy on the web. Faster delivery, easier return policies, and many sites offering free shipping have also increased the desirability of online buying.

Kenya is one of the top African countries where the uptake of technology is vibrant, and this can be testified through the rate at which people are shopping on the internet. Most of them have stated that shopping online is one of the most revolutionary innovations of modern technology, thus the positive feedback on this sector. There is no doubt that Kenyans and Africans at large are gradually warming to the online shopping trend which has been proved not only to be convenient but also cheaper when compared to other modes of shopping.

Read: Jumia becomes the one stop online destination in Africa

Growth of online shopping has been characterized by strong consumer demands and the increasing number and type of goods available. In Nigeria and other African countries, a growing generation of young, internet-savvy individuals has embraced new, online technology. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU documented an increase in internet penetration in sub-Saharan Africa. The numbers of users are still far below the world average of around 30 percent, but are increasing as Africans become more familiar and proficient with online shopping. E-commerce activities have expanded in Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya both due to the proliferation of mobile phones and availability of faster internet networks.

In South Africa, 51 percent of individuals with internet access shop online, Kenya 18-24 percent make online purchases while in Nigeria, approximately 28 percent of the population has internet access according to ITU figures. The number of mobile cell phone subscriptions has topped 87 million. A new group of internet developers are eager to increase buying options by providing discounted deals on a wide range of products and services. Analysts indicate that a lack of convenient and reliable electronic payment services for online shoppers is a major problem confronted throughout Africa.

The internet is only going to become more popular as time goes by and shoppers worldwide become more comfortable with the security and on-time delivery of their purchases. This is the one area of retailing that continues to have a positive outlook far into the future.