Consumers are turning to the Internet to cut shopping costs. This is according to a study by the consumer division of Neotel, the second national fixed-line telecoms network operator.
The company advises people to shop online because by doing so they could save an average of 20%. It said that, with the latest security technology and encryption techniques, websites were becoming fraud-proof.
Online retailing in South Africa is growing at about 35% a year.
"The Internet not only allows you to harness global information but also conduct commerce with the click of a button."
The Neotel study identified several areas in which substantial cost savings could be made by shopping online. These include:
• Driving: costs include the amount of petrol spent sitting in traffic, as well as vehicle wear and tear;
• Time: the most basic shopping trip could cost more than an hour
• Impulse buys: magazines, chocolates and other small items are strategically placed to tempt customers;
• Grocery shopping: with 24-hour delivery time for some suppliers, a shopper can get the exact amounts of items wanted and save a day;
• Banking: the Internet is open 24 hours a day and saves a potentially dangerous trip to an ATM.
Julie Tomlinson, director of mobile business at Sybase SA, said South Africa was the fourth-largest user of mobile Internet services.
She said that, as the network infrastructure in Africa advanced, e-commerce would be used by more people at the lower end of the socioeconomic scale.
Source: The Times
By: Zweli Mokgata
If you have any questions, be sure to email us at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
.