Amazon.co.za will launch in 2024. The company confirmed the news in a statement this morning. According to region manager Robert Koen, Amazon South Africa is excited to provide local sellers, brand owners and entrepreneurs the opportunity to grow by utilising the convenient shopping experience Amazon will offer to customers across South Africa.
Amazon also says that local resellers and businesses can already sign up to be part of the launch and have their products and businesses listed on the Amazon.co.za platform. You can visit the Amazon portal to find out more.
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The company says that at launch it will offer three shipment methods for customers. These will also depend on the business you’re buying from. Fulfilment by Amazon (FBA) will see Amazon store, pack and deliver products to customers on the sellers’ behalf.
Amazon Easy Ship (ES) will let sellers store and pack their own products with Amazon handling the delivery of the items. Lastly, Self Ship lets sellers handle their own warehousing, packaging and delivery of their products. They will simply use the Amazon.co.za platform to list the products for customers to browse.
Amazon says that like other regions, the South African platform will let businesses decide how they want to handle shipping methods. They can include products with a range of different options.
At the moment it isn’t clear yet whether or not Amazon.co.za will utilize its international logistics by allowing South Africans to import goods from other countries and use the platform as a method of payment and shipment. By the sound of things, Amazon South Africa is focusing on local businesses and products.
The company says that 60% of its current sales across all regions come from independent sellers. So I don’t think Amazon.co.za launching in South Africa will open up new ways for local customers to get products not available in the country. It sounds like the store will be an alternative to Takealot and you’ll be able to buy the same stuff for around the same prices but take advantage of Amazon’s shipping.
Source: MyBroadband
