As the country enters the second of the two week lockdown in an attempt to curb the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, the general public has been urged to consider e-commerce platforms for basic shopping to reduce unnecessary movement. Increasingly, more producers are considering using e-commerce platforms which are increasingly becoming popular due to the convenience offered as well the diversity of products available. Even popular producers such as the famous Sina Gerard of Akabanga have now set up e-commerce platforms to reach clients wherever they are. During the previous lockdown, the local ecosystem had an opportunity to test what works, what doesn’t as well as market preferences. During the previous lockdown, e-commerce was largely a new concept for most in the local market with most of the firms still in the beginner stage and clients unsure of whether it works adequately. The lockdown also provided an opportunity to build confidence among users that e-commerce platforms as most got to test if for the first time. Service providers also had a chance to understand the characteristics of the local market as well as market preferences. These developments should come as a relief to emerging brands or brands not able to secure premium retail space in malls and other retail outlets. The developments in the local market allows start-ups and other emerging brands to compete against established brands. The developments are also a chance for brands to enter into markets that were previously hard to penetrate through physical retail. At the same time, local stakeholders ought to look into ways to further make the most of the opportunities in the sector. Among the aspects that are likely to drive growth is emergence of warehouse services that will further formalize operations and allow operators to improve delivery of goods. There are also opportunities in logistics beyond motorcycles, packaging material, and address systems.
