The Future of e-Commerce in Nigeria

New business models and evolving consumer behavior are the key drivers for the digital changes Nigeria is experiencing. The shift from offline to online; is the trend soon to take over Nigerian market.

Online shopping today is largely driven by price and convenience – a good deal on products that are delivered quickly.

By 2020, these fundamental desires will still exist, but expectations of the shopping experience would have changed drastically. Consumers will be demanding more from eCommerce providers, vice versal, such as the ability to pay before goods are delivered, real time tracking of goods,auctions and other futures yet to be discovered. Moreover, better exchange or return policies, trial at home offers, booming mobile payments will definitely increase online shoppers. Consumers today prefer shopping online, choose from a variety of options, without the hassle of getting stuck in traffic or jumping from one market to another.

For businesses to stay relevant 5 years from now and beyond, here are two key developments that must act on now:

1. Join the online market: this step is very vital in sustaining the life span of your business, because in years to come, majority of Nigerian consumer will prefer to shop online, leaving the sellers no choice than to join the moving train.
2. Update of your stores and providing adequate details to items in your store along side with a adequate or normal price. This step keep you in business, because consumers/customers will always come back for more and even refer people close to them to your online store.
   
   As consumers are increasingly interacting with brands and each other through digital content and services on mobile devices, desktops, apps, and tabs; it is important that sellers understand the user journey. Apps are fast becoming the best channel for user engagement,
   online sales of both small- and big-ticket items, and tracking of performance metrics like conversions, product views, and average order values. Therefore, sellers should become familiar with application-based and cross-device advertising and messaging, to reach users in a more customized way and help users experience the brand before buying products/services online. According to a recent user trend study, an average Nigerian user installs 25 apps on their mobiles phones. So therefore let's all join the moving train so we don't get left behind. Some of the platform that provide you with those opportunities are moehly, jiji, olx, jumia,etc. These platform are one of the fast growing online market that accommodate various sellers and buyer from the nook and cranny of Nigeria and also guarantee buyers and seller security.
   

Written by: Abiade Olalekan