• World
  • Columnist
  • Commodities
  • WORLD BUSINESS & ECONOMY
  • Executive Knowledge Series
  • Finance
  • Manufacturing
  • Markets
  • Risk & Governance
  • Small Business
  • Technology, Media & Innovation
  • Comments
  • Business AM WebTV
  • Login

Businessamlive
  • FRONTPAGE
  • FINANCE
    • AllAsset ManagementAuditBankingBondBudgetCapital MarketsC&I LeasingCurrencyDealDebt marketForexFund RaisingFundingGovernmentHedge FundsInsuranceInvestmentInvestorInvestor ServicesMergers & AcquistionsMoney marketTreasury BillsMortgagePensionsPersonal financePonziQuantitative EasingshareTaxationTSAWealth Management
      Finance

      CBN says cryptocurrency ban in interest of Nigerians

      February 25, 2021

      Companies-in-Action

      Zenith Bank in strong operational performance as profit rises 10.4% to N230.56bn in FY20

      February 25, 2021

      Companies

      United Capital posts strong numbers as earnings rise 50% to N12.87bn in 2020

      February 23, 2021

      Finance

      CIBN revives mentorship initiative for bank workers

      February 20, 2021

  • MARKETS
  • ECONOMY
    • AllAfricaAgricAirportsAmericaAsiaAustraliaBreakthroughDealEuropeForeign InvestmentsforexGlobal marketGovernanceIMFMiddle EastNECANigeriaOutlookRich listSouth AfricaSport BusinessTradeU.KWest AfricaWorld Economic forum
      Insurance Business

      Enterprise risk management surges amid pandemic, RIMS reports

      February 25, 2021

      WORLD BUSINESS & ECONOMY

      Hyundai to recall 82,000 electric cars over battery malfunction

      February 25, 2021

      Frontpage

      Global health insurance premiums fall amid pandemic, says new report

      February 24, 2021

      Frontpage

      Insurance M&A record highest growth in Africa, Middle East in 2020

      February 23, 2021

  • COMMODITIES
  • ENERGY
    • AllConferenceElectricityOil and GasPowerRenewable
      Oil and Gas

      REA delivers 100kW hybrid solar mini grid to Edo community

      February 25, 2021

      Oil and Gas

      OPL 310: LEKOIL engages Optimum Petroleum over CRSA agreement

      February 25, 2021

      Frontpage

      Nigeria still losing 200,000bpd crude daily as NNPC enlists army’s intervention

      February 25, 2021

      Frontpage

      Nigeria to sell 170MW electricity capacity to Togo from Calabar plant

      February 24, 2021

  • TECHNOLOGY
  • MANUFACTURING
  • ANALYSIS
    • Analyst Insight

      Coronation MB analysts project sharp rates rise after Nigeria recession exit

      February 25, 2021

      Analyst Insight

      How NITDA can further foster data protection compliance in Nigeria

      February 22, 2021

      Analyst Insight

      Do we need more start-ups in insurance?

      February 16, 2021

      Analyst Insight

      Naira, PMI’s and Inflation in focus

      February 16, 2021

Companies Logistics

DHL Express, global logistics firm, takes stake in Link Commerce to ramp up Africa e-commerce

Ben Eguzozie
Ben Eguzozie is business a.m. regional lead based in Port Harcourt, providing regional and national  coverage for economy, business and finance
You can contact him on ben.eguzozie@businessamlive.com with stories and commentary.

May 29, 2020896 views0 comments

…continent’s retail market to reach 11-digit dollar value by year-end

DHL Express, global logistics firm, takes stake in Link Commerce to ramp up Africa e-commerce

Global logistics firm, DHL Express is set to take advantage of Africa’s growing online retail market by increasing its operations on the continent. This it is doing through a minority acquisition of a stake in its strategic partner, Link Commerce based in the UK, in support of growing e-commerce in sub-Saharan Africa and other global emerging e-commerce markets.

African e-commerce has been predicted to reach an 11-digit dollar value this year.

Read Also:

  • Nigeria, Egypt, Kenya, South Africa lead Africa’s home-tech market, with…
  • Spotify targets one billion listeners across 80 new global markets
  • Global health insurance premiums fall amid pandemic, says new report
  • Africa and the decade of COVID-19 (4)
  • Japan steps up Africa tech-funding as Tokyo VC stakes $15m on startups

With brick-and-mortar retailers in many regions operating at reduced capacity, consumers have turned to online shopping to acquire the goods they need. eShop has been providing vital online shopping access during this time, with impressive growth coming from countries like Nigeria, Ghana, Rwanda, Angola, Uganda and Kenya during the various stages of lockdowns, and with South Africa back on board to access e-commerce.

E-commerce is proving to be one of the most important and fastest-growing market sectors in Africa. A report published by Rapid B2C forecasts that Africa’s online retail market will reach an 11-digit dollar value in 2020, while another report by the McKinsey Global Institute estimates that this value could potentially reach $75 billion by 2025.

Link Commerce, the UK-based e-commerce firm had helped DHL develop its hugely successful DHL Africa eShop platform.

Hennie Heymans, CEO of DHL Express sub-Saharan Africa, says that the acquisition demonstrates the company’s commitment to growing e-commerce on the continent.

“Acquiring a stake in Link Commerce – the company behind the MallforAfrica.com platform – shows our tremendous support of e-commerce in Africa. It also positions us to realize our ambitions of growing the eShop offering globally, and work on the scalability of the platform when the opportunity arises.”

DHL Express, global logistics firm, takes stake in Link Commerce to ramp up Africa e-commerce

DHL is the leading global brand in the logistics industry, offering an unrivalled portfolio of logistics services ranging from national and international parcel delivery, e-commerce shipping and fulfilment solutions, international express, road, air and ocean transport to industrial supply chain management. With about 380,000 employees in more than 220 countries and territories worldwide, DHL connects people and businesses securely and reliably, enabling global sustainable trade flows.

Chris Folayan, founder and chief executive of Link Commerce and Mall for Africa described DHL’s investment in his e-commerce company as a perfect fit. “With the DHL investment, we are now able to grow faster by leveraging the amazing shipping network DHL has built globally. This will help us expand our white-label turnkey B2B eCommerce platform, and provide online shoppers with the ability to shop more and get more at great shipping rates fast.”

Just over one year on from its initial launch, the DHL Africa eShop continues to see massive growth in sub-Saharan Africa. Heymans notes that the DHL Africa eShop has consistently outperformed expectations since its launch.

“The platform was developed in partnership with Link Commerce, and initially launched in 11 African countries in April 2019. It was an immediate success, gaining around 5,000 subscribers within the first six weeks. Today, DHL Africa eShop is live in 34 countries across Sub-Saharan Africa, with tens of thousands of users across the continent,” Heymans said.

The DHL Africa eShop offers African consumers unprecedented access to international retailers via an easy-to-use platform, with great convenience, speed and reliability. It also enables African customers to shop directly from over 200 US- and UK-based online retailers, with purchases delivered directly to their door, by DHL Express.

Heymans adds: “online buying behaviours and product mixes have evolved quite significantly since the onset of COVID-19. Some of the most popular items on the platform now include productivity and communications devices to support remote working, home and kitchen appliances, entertainment gadgets and health related products, in addition to the historic orders of fashion and beauty products. Consumer interests have shifted towards goods that are harder to source locally.”

Assurance for delivery has become a top priority for consumers,” says Heymans. “Basket sizes have also increased, as shoppers seek to get all of what they need immediately, rather than to space out their orders. Online shopping supports the ultimate level of social distancing – connecting consumers to everything they need at a click of a button.”

Heymans explains that while the e-commerce market in Sub-Saharan Africa has been largely overlooked by international retailers in the past, it currently offers some of the biggest opportunities for rapid growth in the world.

“These growth predictions, coupled with the incredible demand and quick uptake of the DHL Africa eShop offering, confirm that this acquisition is the right move to ensure DHL Express is geared for continued growth,” adds Heymans.

As part of the acquisition, Heymans has been made a board member of London-based Link Commerce Ltd. “We have no doubt that deepening our partnership with Link Commerce in this way will take both companies, as well as e-commerce on the continent and new markets across the globe, to new heights. I am honoured to take on this new role as part of DHL’s growth strategy,” Heymans said.

With operations across 51 markets in Sub-Saharan Africa, servicing customers, efficient delivery is an important factor for DHL Express. “Our strategic investments in innovative technology and connectivity across the region, are all aimed at promoting global trade and ensuring that businesses and individuals across the continent can leverage global opportunities,” Heymans said.

Share on Facebook Tweet Email
TagsAfrica eShop DHL and Link Commerce DHL Express Link Commerce
PreviousElusakin, chairman GRS Insurance, gets virtual accolades @ 60, from ex-IGI colleagues
NextEcobank counsels parents on remote learning

Leave a comment

- Cancel reply

MARKET DATA

Market Videos

Recent Posts

  • Lions’ Den 2021: An opportunity for promising Nigerian entrepreneurs
  • Nigeria bourse in red as selloffs in banking, consumer goods stocks see bears return  
  • African Alliance paid N967m in claims in first 40 days of 2021, MD reveals
  • REA delivers 100kW hybrid solar mini grid to Edo community
  • Unilever Nigeria to complete tea business separation by end of 2021

World

Africa

Buhari, Okonjo-Iweala congratulate Adesina over reelection as AfDB President

Europe

EU businesses to cut investments in 2020, says EIB report

America

U.S. increases cost of visa application for Nigerians

Africa

Thatcher-Loving Nigeria Candidate Plans to Overhaul Economy

Africa

AfDB scales up industrialization pace on the continent, delivers improved business access to finance, skills, energy

Frontpage posts

0

Nigerian manufacturers could shut down as early as January, MAN warns

Frontpage December 24, 2020

1
2

FBNH, Guaranty, Dangote Cement power Nigerian equities to record 1.0% gain

Frontpage February 15, 2018

3

Improved score, four new reforms fail to lift Nigeria’s Ease of Doing Business ranking

Frontpage October 31, 2018

4

Global oil and gas discoveries hit four-year high

Energy January 9, 2020

5

It’s too soon for Goldman Sachs to need a bitcoin plan, CEO Lloyd Blankfein says

Frontpage December 1, 2017

SUPPORT

  • Photo Gallery
  • Help Centre
  • About Us
  • Accessibility

LEGAL & PRIVACY

  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Cookies
  • Copyright

SERVICES

  • Conferences & Events
  • Analysts Research
  • Advertising Rate
  • Ebooks

TOOLS

  • Portfolio
  • Newsletters
  • News feed
  • Currency Converter

SUBSCRIBE

Join us to get latest updates on business related news.

[mc4wp_form id="3076"]
  • ABOUT US
  • CONTACT US
  • CAREERS
  • TERMS & CONDITIONS
  • PRIVACY POLICY
Copyright 2017. All rights reserved. BusinessAMLive. A Businessnewscorp Member Company.