SA fintech to host free eCommerce Virtual Summit 

Cape Town-based online payment processing service PayFast in partnership with  Insaka eCommerce Academy will be hosting a free eCommerce Virtual Summit this month. The event aims to unpack how local entrepreneurs can leverage off the stark increase in online shopping as an offset from the global pandemic.

PayFast to host a free virtual eCommerce summit.

There is no denying that the pandemic resulted in massive growth within the online eCommerce sector as Jonathan Smit, Managing Director and Founder of PayFast points out.

“From groceries to clothing and tech, South African consumers have embraced online shopping as a convenient means of retail. Despite the lowering of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, the variety of products available, and ease of online shopping has sustained consumer interest in the eCommerce sector. This presents an opportunity for more businesses and entrepreneurs to move online.” 

The eCommerce Virtual Summit

Hosted by the Insaka eCommerce Academy, the virtual summit will take place from 17 to 20 May 2021. The event will serve as a networking opportunity for industry leaders to assist entrepreneurs in starting, growing, and scaling their eCommerce business. 

The event is open to the public and is free of charge. Interested attendees can register online.

According to PayFast, last year’s event hosted over 10 500 participants and made it one of the biggest local eCommerce summits to take place. 

Warrick Kernes, Founder of The Insaka eCommerce Academy, a community-driven learning organisation for entrepreneurs comments on this year’s summit and its aims.

“Due to the wide adoption of eCommerce platforms since the start of the pandemic, the barriers to entry for the industry are the lowest they’ve ever been. We want the Summit to encourage anyone who has considered starting an online store to take the leap of faith, while the industry is as established as it currently is.”

The summit will assist SME merchants and big company merchants by covering a range of integral topics required to grow and scale eCommerce businesses from marketing, customer service to product development, logistics, and more.

Smit will be a keynote speaker at the event and will shed light on the trends and opportunities in the eCommerce sector.

“We’ve seen many local retailers – big and small – launching successful digital platforms and eCommerce models over the past year. We want to encourage and support attendees to continue driving innovation in eCommerce and meet the increasing demand for local online businesses,” adds Smit.

Other key speakers at the Summit include Lauren Dallas, Founder of the business network, Future Females; Prof Adheesh Budree from the University of Cape Town; Craig Lubbe, CEO of BidorBuy; Jaco Roux, Co-founder and Technical Director from uAfrica and Donald Valoyi, Founder of Zulzi.

Read more: PayFast reports 412% increase in QR code payments
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Featured image: Jonathan Smit, Managing Director and Founder of PayFast (Supplied)