The Future of eCommerce in Egypt 2023

The Future of eCommerce in Egypt: Challenges to Consider for an Industry that will generate 9 billion US $ in 2023.

Welcome to the Future of eCommerce in Egypt, where everything is just a click away. With 50% of Egyptian adults spending more than 30 minutes commuting daily, this promise was bound to resonate with consumers. Finally, the COVID-19 pandemic has convinced the most reluctant people to adopt this easy and convenient way of shopping.

These shifts in consumer demand are here to stay: Egypt’s sale of physical goods via a digital channel will experience a yearly growth rate of around 22% between 2021 and 2025, while the global average will be 6%.

However, some challenges still need to be addressed to enhance the overall quality of the e-commerce experience in Egypt.

 

Snapshot of the eCommerce in Egypt

In 2022, Egyptian consumers purchased 3.4% of all their goods online (for 6.9 billion USD), and this share will grow to 4.5% in 2025.

Consumer electronics remains the sector that dominates the eCommerce industry. Fashion, Apparel, and footwear follow. In third place is the Food and Drink sector, thanks to delivery companies that link supermarkets, groceries, and restaurants with their customers.

Almost 60% of Egyptian online shoppers are between 18 and 34. Rapid eCommerce growth is occurring due to Egypt’s young, tech-savvy population and the massive use of mobile internet.

The high prevalence of social media in Egypt has changed consumers’ buying habits. Social media platforms make it easy for brands to promote their products and connect with their audiences. They have learned to build strong follower bases online. Consumers rely more and more on online reviews and comments.

 

The supply chain challenge: controlling delivery costs

Shipping and delivery can be the most time-consuming part of an eCommerce business. It’s a complex process that requires planning, workforce, and time—and there are no shortcuts to this headache.

But let’s talk about the most expensive and complicated part of the delivery process: the last mile. Usually, the goods’ final destinations are the customer’s house.

For local businesses, this means constantly innovating and improving to meet the high expectations of consumers who want fast service. Amazon’s promise of same-day deliveries has set very high standards in the industry. 

Some online stores in Egypt only serve specific neighborhoods because they are either too expensive or difficult to deliver elsewhere. It requires a lot of staff members or several warehouses.

The considerable extension of Greater Cairo makes it very difficult to guarantee delivery to all the districts on time and without the costs associated with transportation becoming excessive.

 

Specificities of transactions and payment process of eCommerce in Egypt

 

The card penetration rate in Egypt is still shallow because payment cards are often considered more expensive than cash and checks. Customers want to use forms of payment that they know they can trust.

There are only about 10 million credit/debit cardholders, which explains why, in 80% of cases, Egyptian consumers prefer to complete their e-commerce transactions through cash-on-delivery (COD). However, credit card issuance is increasing by roughly 40% annually, indicating that cash needs may decrease. 

According to Visa Egypt, 75% of consumers said the security of a payment gateway was crucial when deciding how to pay online rather than COD.

But COD has several disadvantages for the merchants:

• Cash may result in many failed deliveries (whether there is a no-show or the consumer is unreachable.
• Buyers can reject the package once it reaches their door. If they do, the online store loses a sale, and the parcel must returned to the warehouse at additional costs.
• Because of the risks involved in carrying cash, most couriers set a maximum amount for cash-on-delivery shipments. The limit varies depending on the courier company.

 

How can we win the trust of online eCommerce consumers in Egypt? 

Egyptian consumers tend to trust local brands less than foreign ones. Customers’ trust in an eCommerce platform is essential for any successful business. We can break this down into six key areas:

1. Brand recognition. Create brands that are recognizable and meaningful to consumers.
2. User experience. Create a pleasant and frictionless experience for your customers navigating your e-commerce, from discovery to after-sales support.
3. Payment experience. Find the right mix of payments and flexibility.
4. Delivery Tracking. Customers should be able to track their parcel anytime and receive notifications at every milestone.
5. A clear Returns policy and processes. Shoppers will be more likely to shop online if they know it’s safe to make mistakes or return items if the product does not meet their expectations.
6. Customer support. Excellent customer support is the best way to get loyal clients. They need to feel there are humans behind the machine who can answer their questions.

Attracting Vs. Converting consumers

Targeting customers is more challenging than ten years ago when you relied on Google’s search engine to target your audiences. Now, you have your Social platforms, different search engines, and video platforms.

Even if attracting traffic to your website is relatively easy, converting is the biggest challenge. Online merchants must focus on abandoned carts and investigate consumer sentiment.

Companies must listen carefully to what their customers say and comment about their brands on social platforms and in public and private groups. Customer support reviews and feedback are pure gold. 

 

The entry barriers for B2C eCommerce in Egypt are low. Still, the industry is gaining in competitivity.

If you’re looking to enter the B2C eCommerce sector in Egypt, you’ll find that the entry barriers are low. However, a few challenges may take some time to overcome. Players must focus on three key capabilities to build a successful e-commerce business:

1. Infrastructure.

   Technology is the first thing!

2. Operations of eCommerce in Egypt.

   Availability and selection of products. Storage and integrated supply chains (in-house or outsourced to fulfillment companies, for example). Capabilities around analyzing data across all stages of the supply chain. Being able to take corrective measures and actions.

3. Consumers.

   Expertise in targeting customers through different channels.

 

Conclusion

B2C eCommerce in Egypt has enormous potential, but achieving it will take some time. Solutions to the challenges mentioned above exist. Still, it will take time and effort from everyone involved, especially in inflation. The biggest challenge is consumer confidence in online transactions, which is still very low despite its growth over the past few years.

In addition to this issue, many potential buyers prefer cash-on-delivery orders rather than paying online.

Merchants have to invest more money in logistics and payment processing than they’d like; however, these costs could be offset by offering free delivery options and attractive discounts or incentives for online purchases instead of offline.

 

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