The rapid growth of e-commerce is disrupting Nigeria’s retail landscape, driven by expanding internet access, improving digital payments and logistics infrastructure, and an increasingly tech-savvy young population. Online retail provides immense opportunities but also poses significant challenges for players in this complex, low-trust environment.
The Emergence of Online Retail
Formal e-commerce activities gained roots in Nigeria in 2008 when platforms like Kalahari, Jumia and Konga were launched to tap the uptake of broadband internet and online shopping trends. Subsequently, ventures like Yudala, Payporte, Wakanow, Dealdey and OLX also entered with horizontals and verticals.
Initially, e-commerce adoption was slow as consumers were skeptical of buying online. However increased smartphone penetration, social media integration, and advances in fulfilment and payments have now catalysed adoption. Jumia’s IPO filing revealed Nigeria accounts for 27% of its 4 million active customers across Africa.
Expanding Internet Access Driving Growth
Nigeria’s 84 million internet users, up 10% in 2021, provide a swelling addressable market for e-tailers. Urban connectivity rates exceed 38% even as costs fall, providing online access to over 60 million Nigerians. The demographics are also favourable, with 70% of users below 35 years. Expanding rural broadband initiatives will further boost e-commerce readiness.
Mobile Phones Powering Online Commerce
With over 200 million mobile lines in Nigeria, mCommerce dominates online retail. Up to 85% of traffic to sites like Jumia and Konga comes from smartphones. Jumia’s mobile app has been downloaded over 10 million times. Verticals like e-health and digital banking thrive on mobile uptake. Sites must be fully mobile responsive.
Advances in Digital Payments
As credit card penetration remains low at under 10%, scarcity of trusted payment options long hindered e-commerce. But growth in channels like bank transfers, QR codes, payment apps, USSD and debit cards by firms like Interswitch, Flutterwave, OPay, Paystack has now expanded options for consumers and sellers.
However, cash-on-delivery still dominates, accounting for over 70% of online transactions. This proves operationally expensive for merchants. Consumer education on digital payments is still critical.
Logistics Infrastructure Investments
Online retail growth also hinged on the rise of logistics solutions tailored for e-commerce to facilitate delivery. Startups like Kobo360, Sendbox, Fieldinsight, and Pricepally now provide improved warehousing, pickup stations, and last-mile delivery with technology integration for online sellers. Jumia, Konga and others now invest heavily in proprietary logistics capabilities. However, limited delivery reach beyond major cities persists.
Growth of Online Marketplaces
The emergence of B2C marketplaces like Jumia, Konga, and B2B players like TradeDepot, Alerzo, Omnibiz, who enable multiple sellers to profitably reach larger buyer pools online with minimal investment, is catalysing broader e-commerce adoption. Jumia alone hosts over 50,000 Nigerian SMEs and continues heavy investment to consolidate first-mover advantage. Its 2020 Black Friday promotion saw 560,000 orders worth $21 million placed on its platforms across Africa.
Vertical Specialization
The rise of specialized online retail ventures targeting specific verticals like fashion, beauty, home supplies, auto parts, pharmaceuticals etc based on market gaps is accelerating sector growth and attracting investment. Fashion alone is estimated as 10-15% of current e-commerce revenues in Nigeria.
Social and Influencer Commerce
Online shopping trends are also boosted by integration with social platforms like Instagram and TikTok which have surged in Nigeria over the past 5 years. Over 4 million Nigerians regularly use social media for purchasing influences. Working with social media influencers to push product discovery is now common among savvy e-tailers.
Key Market Segments and Categories
Nigeria’s formal online retail market is projected to reach $75 billion by 2025 according to Statista, up from $12 billion in 2018 when e-commerce accounted for just 1% of total retail. Products dominating online sales include:
Electronics – Mobile phones, computing devices, TVs, gaming consoles, home appliances make up an estimated 40% of e-commerce transactions, led by marketplaces like Jumia, Konga.
Fashion/ Apparel – Clothing, shoes, bags, jewellery etc. are among the fastest growing categories, driven by ventures like Fashpa, Dressmeoutlet, Felo Online.
Home and Living – Home decor, furnishings, tools, and hardware are growing segments where retail chains like Hubmart Stores are adding online channels.
FMCG/CPG –Packaged grocery, beauty items, homecare products still account for under 10% of online retail but is set to gain share with efforts by Pricepally, Tingo, Omnibiz to enable consumer basics online.
Other Categories – Vertical specialists are emerging in other segments like pharmaceuticals, auto parts, books, baby products and more. Marketplaces host wide assortments across categories.
Jumia’s 2020 annual report indicates that besides mobile phones, fashion, beauty, home appliances, electronics, FMCG, and computing products accounted for a bulk of merchandise value sold on its platform.
Operational Models
Nigerian e-tailers operate diverse models spanning pureplay online retailers, omni-channel players with both online and offline presence, specialized web stores, e-commerce-focused startups, and social selling.
Pure Online – Indigenous pioneers like Jumia and Konga who began online are now complementing with physical footprints for service centres and pickup stations even as online channels drive volume.
Omnichannel – Existing retailers like Hubmart, Healthplus, Spar, Hubmart who’ve added e-stores to boost reach and sales beyond walk-in customers.
Global Brand eShops – International brands like Amazon, Alibaba have dedicated Nigerian web stores to tap demand. Local partnerships help navigate complexity.
Social Commerce – Instagram stores & influencers leverage Nigeria’s active social media user base for sales. However, credibility and fulfillment are challenges.
Focused Startups – Ventures like Pricepally, Sabiman, Autochecker etc target specific online verticals leveraging changing consumer demand and technology.
Distributor Marketplaces – B2B e-commerce platforms like Alerzo, Omnibiz enable informal FMCG distributors to directly connect with product manufacturers digitally for restocking.
Key Challenges Limiting E-commerce Growth
Despite the immense potential, e-commerce in Nigeria still faces hurdles:
Low Consumer Trust – Fraud risks and wariness of unseen online products mean Nigerian consumers still prefer to ‘see and touch’ before buying. Building confidence remains a barrier.
Limitations in Logistics – While progress has been made, deficiencies in addressing systems, warehousing, delivery fleets and pickup stations, especially in secondary cities constrain growth. Many e-commerce players invest heavily in building captive logistics capabilities.
High Costs of Customer Acquisition and Retention – The outlays required for online advertising, promotions and discounts to attract and retain customers remain high in a price-sensitive market with low loyalty. Lifetime value also tends to be low.
Underdeveloped Digital Payments Infrastructure – Risks around card frauds and low debit/credit card penetration hampers e-commerce. Though improving, cash-on-delivery reliance has poor economics for merchants.
Cybersecurity and Online Fraud – Lack of adequate encryption, data protection and KYC heightens risks of online scams which erode consumer confidence in digital payments. Merchants face product return fraud.
Deficient IT Infrastructure – Unreliable internet connectivity, digital skills shortage, and lack of specialized solutions for Nigeria’s peculiar challenges drive up costs of local e-commerce operations. Players invest heavily in captive capabilities.
Policy and Regulatory Uncertainty – Multiple taxes, ambiguous rules around international trade, forex repatriation, payments and data regulation create uncertainty for e-tailers around compliance.
Foreign Competition – Large global online retailers entering Nigeria leveraging superior technological expertise and funding threaten local pioneers. Jumia’s 2021 loss was attributed partly to competition from AliExpress. Partnerships may be a solution.
Omnichannel Complexities – For retailers adopting online channels, managing disparate inventory, channels and operational processes across brick-and-mortar and online landscape remains a steep learning curve. Customer experience integration is key.
Operational Risks – Challenges around logistics, forex volatility, cybercrime, talent shortage, infrastructure deficits, and policy uncertainties compound risks of e-commerce execution in Nigeria for local and foreign players.
Strategies to Overcome Challenges and Unlock Opportunities
Nigerian online sellers can harness massive e-commerce upside potential by:
Building Localized Logistics and Supply Chains – Develop captive warehousing, pickup stations, and delivery capabilities. Jumia is investing $1 billion in logistics infrastructure across Africa. Partner companies can complement reach.
Leveraging Marketplace and Social Commerce – Using established multi-seller platforms for easy onboarding before investing in owned infrastructure. Integrating social media influencers into marketing.
Expanding Digital Payment Options – Offering payment channels like cards, bank transfers, QR codes, cryptocurrency, payment apps, instalment schemes and properly executed cash-on-delivery.
Investing in Brand Building and Consumer Education – Driving awareness of product quality, reliability, online security and convenience to increase low trust. Jumia’s awareness campaigns highlight benefits.
Adopting Bundled Pricing and Loyalty Programs – Offering discounts, bundle pricing, free shipping, loyalty points etc. to attract and retain customers by enhancing value perception. Many global players use such strategies.
Leveraging High Mobile Adoption – Developing streamlined, user-friendly mobile sites and apps with relevant features to align with the strong mobile shopping culture.
Utilizing Data Analytics – Using customer data analytics, digital merchandising and personalized engagement to boost experience. Global platforms rely heavily on analytics.
Forming Strategic Partnerships – Tie-ups with established players, marketplaces, social platforms, logistics providers and payment gateways to gain capabilities and overcome entry barriers.
Optimizing Operational Efficiency – Deploying technology solutions for inventory management, CRM, analytics, cybersecurity, digital assets etc. to tackle peculiar e-commerce challenges in Nigeria. Improved internal ops enhance customer experience.
Supportive Government Policies – Advocating for clear supportive regulations, incentives for adoption, security frameworks, infrastructure upgrades and skills development to boost sustainable e-commerce in Nigeria.
Outlook for Nigerian Online Retail
The acceleration of e-commerce in Nigeria looks set to continue, potentially accounting for up to 10% of all retail within the next 5 years. Key drivers will be increasing consumer demand, demographics, digital adoption and improvement in allied fulfilment infrastructure as global players intensify competition.
However, considerable consumer education, brand building, logistics development, strategic technology adoption, operational excellence and policy support will be imperative for local pioneers to defend their turf amid foreign big-tech disruption. Partnerships and consolidation may emerge as solutions. Affordability, trust and localization will determine the winners.
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