Expanding your e-commerce business to new markets is a strategic move that pays huge returns in terms of scalability and growth. Every emerging e-commerce business or startup aims for global expansion. But they don’t usually have an idea about how to start and what markets to capture. Considering the competition in each market, local e-commerce isn’t a good approach at all. It will keep you limited within your primary market and you won’t get the opportunity to sell globally. If we talk about international markets, they demand huge funding and resources due to extensive market caps. However, Africa is a less competitive market that your e-commerce business can capture even with a limited budget.
Why Does Your Business Need to be There?
Well, several reasons make Africa a perfect destination for your e-commerce business. Running an e-commerce brand internationally requires more focus on market dynamics and consumer preferences. Let’s discuss these factors and find out how the African market can prove to be successful for your brand.
Mobile-First Approach
As e-commerce is an innovative digital trend, your target audience should be aware of online shopping. After evaluating information from several market surveys, we must say that the African audience is tech-savvy and prioritizes mobile phones over desktop computers. It also indicates that they are well aware of digital trends and often buy goods from online websites and applications. With that in mind, your e-commerce business can create a user-friendly mobile application to serve African consumers. And if you have already created a mobile application, you can get it localized from a Somali translation company to entertain consumers in their native language.
Tech-Savvy Audience
The African audience is young and highly tech-savvy. They are exposed to advanced technology, e-commerce trends, and the perks of performing online purchases. While targeting this market, you don’t need to emphasize the scope of online platforms as you do for other markets. Instead, your job will be much easier as you just need to convey your application idea and functionality to your audience. Additionally, if it is localized, it will engage more users and become a credible resource for them.
Fill the Retail Gap
The best part about the African market is the scarcity of traditional stores and local retailers. This creates a void that your e-commerce business can fill by capturing the market. Online brands are often preferred because they offer competitive prices and deliver goods to the doorstep without any hassle. Similarly, the African market has fewer physical shops and retail stores. Your e-commerce brand can effectively fill the gap by offering goods at discounted prices to boost sales and capture a significant market share.
Diversification and Growth Opportunities
Tapping into the African market introduces your business to a new consumer base and enables you to diversify your revenue streams. Africa boasts a diverse audience that has different interests and preferences. Another important point to consider about the African market is linguistic diversity. Apart from Somali, a significant population of Africa speaks Arabic. To get full control over your target audience, a highly professional Arabic translation agency can be of great help. This will allow your brand to align with a diverse consumer base and render its products accordingly to fit the audience. Moreover, it not only reduces your dependence on Somali-speaking audiences but also opens doors for new markets.
Huge Economic Growth Potential
There was a time when Africa was considered a less stable and economically weak market. However, the situation has turned around in the last few decades. It is mainly because of the adoption of digital trends and technological innovations. Local businesses have globalized their impact by embracing technology, saving resources, and minimizing costs. This also shows positive signs for your e-commerce brand to revamp its online presence and capture the market. Moreover, its growing economy is a testament to consumer buying power.
Expansion Requires Careful Planning and Execution
These are some primary reasons that will encourage you to avail the chance and try out your brand luck in the international market. However, the transition may not be smoother if you don’t have a strategic plan to execute. That’s why we emphasize hiring a Somali translation company to overcome the hassle of establishing a personal connection with your audience. These services are suitable for seamless interaction with locals and getting to know about market trends. Moreover, e-commerce brands also need localization services for websites and applications. Somali translation services will take care of your application intricacies to localize with the highest standards and deliver a highly responsive experience to the end user.
Final Thoughts
E-commerce businesses are gaining traction because of their convenience and accessibility. The best part is that you don’t need to establish a dedicated franchise in every country you’re operating in. Instead, you just have to revamp your e-commerce platforms to serve global consumers. However, selecting your target market raises concerns if you don’t have enough market exposure. Africa is a feasible destination for your lean startup if you want to access a wider audience. This market will allow you to focus on efficiency and operate your business even if you have a limited budget.
