[ad_1]
The number of new shoppers introduced to e-commerce during the lockdown drove the total volume of online transactions for the Black Friday weekend by 50% compared to 2019, data from online payment gateway PayFast shows.
The company said it processed a 283% increase in total payment volumes on Black Friday alone compared to a normal busy day like payday.
“This year’s Black Friday spending exceeded the volumes we’ve seen in previous years.
“The rapid adoption of e-commerce over the course of 2020 has meant that we have seen more people shopping online, especially amid fears of a Covid-19 resurgence,” said Jonathan Smit, Managing Director of PayFast.
The highest transaction of the day was 99,950 R2 – and online shoppers spent more per basket on R1,243, compared to the average basket value of R803 in 2019.
“In addition to expensive items like televisions and game consoles, more purchases were made online for items that are traditionally traditional, focused on retail stores, such as toiletries, cosmetics and essentials,” said Smit.
As seen with other shopping trends during the coronavirus lockdown, 66% of purchases were made using a mobile device.
“Using smartphones means that you can buy from literally anywhere and at any time. We are seeing merchants and payment methods better meeting the demand for mobile devices as well, ”Smit said.
Smit said that for the past six months, retailers have invested in their online platforms to deliver better user experiences to first-time shoppers.
“This Black Friday delivered a more considerate and improved customer experience across the board. The lockdown was a good test for many e-commerce companies, and the lessons carried over to this peak period, ”he said.
This year, 66% of transactions were made with cards, but data shows that alternative online payment options are also on the rise.
“Instant EFT, QR codes and mobile wallets are becoming more popular as consumers become more comfortable shopping online,” Smit said.
Read: What would ‘instant’ lockdowns mean for South Africa’s economy
[ad_2]
