Embrace e-commerce: Kaymu advises

Today technology is changing Tanzania - the way we work, communicate with each other, educate ourselves, buy goods and services and transfer money are done increasingly through the Internet, bringing convenience to our day-to-day routine How do we ensure Tanzania keeps pace with the global shifts toward e-commerce? What do we need to do to avoid being left far behind in this development? 

First, we should not only accept that technology is changing our way of life, but embrace that an increasing amount of our time in the near future will be spent conducting more business online. E-commerce commonly refers to any business conducted online, using any of a variety of websites and applications that rely on the Internet (such as e-mail, instant web messaging, social media, websites etc. This kind of trading can be between two businesses transmitting funds, goods, services or between a business and a customer.

For example, the online shopping space has become a source for buyers to do product comparisons and find out all the information they would ever want without setting foot in a store – offering buyers the complete satisfaction of a shopping experience without the hassle of visiting a market and window browsing store-by-store. People can now browse virtual marketplaces and online adverts on their favorite websites or even social media pages. 

Kaymu has set an example on how Tanzanians can use e-commerce to improve their businesses. Tanzania’s number 1 online platform offers anyone who joins Kaymu (registration is free) the chance to buy or sell items. For a business – especially local SMEs – this means a very affordable, risk-free opportunity to generate additional revenues and grow a company’s operations.

Mobile networks have introduced mobile wallets where you can pay, save and withdraw money using your mobile phone through different recognized agents. Anyone with a mobile wallet can also transfer money to his/her bank account, buy groceries from elected shops and so forth. This reduces our reliance on carrying sufficient cash everywhere we go (a restriction on some and a safety risk for others), and allows to conduct business or simply lending a friend money over great distances.

On the other hand you can even see event tickets being sold online. Using these same mobile wallets, people can pre-order discounted tickets to their favorite events (like the Nyama Choma Festival) online, from [Kaymu.com] or tiketi.co.tz. This rewards those who plan ahead by helping them save money and avoid long queues at the event. 

The way we sharing and listen to music has also rapidly moved online. In the most recent news, Tigo announce the launch of Tigo Music through a partnership with Deezer, an international music streaming service that will provide Tanzanians with unlimited music experience. A part from giving Tigo customers unlimited access to local and international music local artists are getting an opportunity to earn extra payment from their songs listened to through the service.

This demonstrates how technology can help us improve lives, by saving time and making business much easier and successful, this is a step closer to Tanzania becoming one of the developed countries even though we still has long strides to take.