Despite being at a nascent stage, Amazon’s imminent arrival in the local ecommerce space will "definitely" foster competition in SA’s burgeoning online retail market.

The omnipresence of Temu has left consumers wondering if there is anywhere this retail giant can't reach. Why does it feel like everytime you Google a product only Temu pops up?

It comes as no surprise that online marketplaces are thriving amid the ecommerce boom.

Africa’s high mobile penetration rates as well as its young population have contributed to the continent’s positive response to digital marketplaces and on-demand services.

Amazon’s expansion into South Africa marks the beginning of a new era for both local and international businesses, introducing much-needed competition to the local ecommerce landscape.

Since Amazon.co.za officially went live in South Africa earlier this year, the question everyone has is, "Can homegrown ecommerce businesses compete against global juggernauts?"

As ecommerce surges globally, online marketplaces are finding exciting and innovative ways to approach the decentralised nature of the trading space.

For artisans and small business owners, selling online isn’t just an option - it’s a necessity to unlock new revenue streams and expand their reach.

Increasingly, traditional retailers (and other businesses like banks and telcos) are expanding their value offering in the market by adopting a third-party marketplace model.

Online marketplaces have revolutionised ecommerce globally, with industry leaders like Amazon, eBay and Alibaba setting the bar high for logistics and inventory management.