Lucy

Interesting post, Hash & Max. Kenya (for a start) is SO ready to go for e-commerce. Let’s see how this turns out. After all, the way I understand it is that we are talking a) about creating a plattform for e-commerce and acceptance for it among consumers in EAK and b) being ready for inet activities when eassy & co hit the kenyan market big times. For all those who can’t imagine such a progress – just look at the boom within the mobile phone market. Gives me reason enough to believe in the power of e-commerce in Kenya and consumers willing to jump on the upcoming e-tech train…

—–
“How would e-commerce function in East Africa? Is there really a large enough market with good access?”
—–

Kieran, East Africa is not exactly in the Dark Ages either. Every country has a sizable group of people who “do” use the Internet or crave more exposure to the efficiencies (marketing, communications, etc.) that it brings. Furthermore, access costs are coming down and by next year, KDN’s fibre line from India is supposed to be completed – according to Eric. Plus EASSY will come online in 2008.

Therefore, I predict a huge upswing in web use, so we might as well get STARTED now. Right? Do you propose we wait until said fibre goes live and then we started to create eCommerce services??

I think not.

Kieran, those are some good questions. The proliferation of internet cafes and mobile phones are definitely increasing the ways people can get online here in Kenya, and also decreasing the cost.

Max and the guys at Ayo Africa are probably better suited to answer the question, but I’ll give my 2 cents as well. Basically, you have a whole layer of Kenyans who only use their mobile phones for SMS and sometimes to talk – many of them have never been to an internet cafe and barely know what email is. Then you have the middle-class Kenyans who use their phones for everything and get on the internet for more than just checking emails.

So, having said that, I think that ecommerce will work here. It will work for the company that can win the mindshare of that niche of middle/upper class Kenyans and expats who can afford consistent internet access. The guys at Ayo Africa will need to make sure they do a good viral marketing job to let everyone know who they are and what they do. I think they’re on the right track with it so far.

How would e-commerce function in East Africa? Is there really a large enough market with good access? I’ve been particularly interested in the role of e-commerce, and in particular e-communications, in fostering economic and infrastructural development in the DRC. The spread of mobile networks and the very cheap and widely availble access to the internet have been one factor overcoming the generally fragmented political and economic environment of that country. I also know that in Sierra Leone the internet has been particularly useful in dealing with elements of Truth and Reconcilliation, so my interest more generally is in the development implications that increased e-commerce and communication might have for Africa.

MaxTheITpro
==========