Are you looking for the best eCommerce platforms in Kenya? You are in the right place. In this article, we will go through the leading platforms you can build an online store and start selling.
Additionally, we will reveal the criteria you can use to pick the best one for your business.
What is an eCommerce platform?
Ecommerce platforms are online marketplaces where buyers and sellers meet.
This platform is a place where people can buy, sell or trade goods, services, information, or digital items. It also includes the venues of buying and selling such as auction sites and classified ads websites.
The term e-commerce is typically used to describe the buying and selling of products or services over the Internet with the use of electronic transactions.
Online retail has become the most preferred choice for small businesses. However, the options available in this market are overwhelming and it is difficult to determine the best platform for your business.
Ecommerce platforms are categorized into three types – B2B, B2C, and C2C. The first type is used by large companies and corporations to sell their products online to other companies or individuals. The second type is used by individual customers who want to buy products online from a seller. The third type can be used by anyone who wants to sell their product or offer services online without having a website of their own.
In Kenya, most eCommerce platforms fall under the C2C and B2C categories. Although, as you will find out in this guide about the best eCommerce platforms in Kenya, some of them actually try to serve the B2B market as well.
With that said, here is a list of the best eCommerce platforms in Kenya;
1). Jumia.co.ke
Jumia is an online marketplace and e-commerce company with a focus on Africa. The company was founded in 2012 by Sacha Poignonnec, Jeremy Hodara, Raphael Kofi Afaedor, Tunde Kehinde who saw a large gap in the market to provide consumers with affordable and quality products.
In fact, Jumia is one of the fastest-growing e-commerce companies in Kenya, boosting 5M+ products on their platform. It has grown from being a start-up to one of the most recognized brands in Africa over the years.
Jumia has been able to achieve this success by providing consumers with quality products at affordable prices, making it possible for them to have access to these items that they need without breaking their bank accounts.
And with over 15M monthly visits, Jumia is the perfect eCommerce platform to start selling online in Kenya. In fact, Jumia has won a number of awards including;
- Success Digest – Innovative business of the year 2013.
- Customer Service Excellence Awards 2015
- Orange Academy brand wall of Fame – Jumia Kenya.
- Rima Awards – Best use of Mobile App – Jumia App.
Is it worth selling on Jumia Kenya?
Well, according to the company, at least 40% of our Sellers make more than KSH 50,000 a month. This is the reason enough to join this eCommerce platform in Kenya.
2). Kilimall
Kilimall was founded by Yang Tao in July 2014. Currently, Kilimall is one of the best eCommerce platforms in Kenya, with at least 200K customers.
In fact, Kilimall operates three e-commerce models, through online shopping, namely;
- FBK where both local and global sellers are allowed to store their products at Kilimall warehouses with no charges
- D.S (drop shipping) where local merchants stores their products at their own premises while selling on the platform and
- G.S (global shipping)
Inside, you will find products from various categories including phones, computers, clothing, shoes, home appliances, books, healthcare, and much more.
What is attractive about Kilimall is the fact that it provides some of the cheapest products in Kenya. Inside you can find deals from as low as Ksh 1 pop. And then there are flash sales.
Kilimall serves both B2C, where businesses open stores to sell products to consumers.
4). Avechi
Avechi is an online shopping marketplace that has a certain dedicated focus on selling a wide variety of in-demand products to its customers mainly in Kenya and other African countries. It is known to offer products from the top brands in the world with guaranteed authenticity, which makes it incredibly popular among shoppers across Africa.
They have a large variety of smartphones and other electronics and superfast 24-hour delivery service in Kenya.
Here is a list of the top product categories on Avechi Kenya;
- Smartphones such as Xiaomi, Samsung, Tecno, Nokia, Huawei among others
- TVs including Sony, LG, Samsung, etc
- Audio products which include Sony Home Theaters, Samsung, LG, Hisense, among others
- Laptops and Computers. Here, you can buy laptops such as HP Laptops in Kenya, Asus, among others.
5). Sky Garden Kenya
SkyGarden is another one of the best eCommerce platforms in Kenya built for African businesses. Business owners who want to use the platform will have to download the SkyGarden Merchant app from the Google Play Store or the App Store and set up an account.
All they need to provide are their personal details, a unique name of their shop, and some other shop details such as opening hours, location, and mobile money (MPESA) phone number.
And once you have the app, you can upload your inventory, specify how many of each are in stock, adjust prices, change photos and even add product variations.
Furthermore, Sky.Garden assures you that with every sale, your product will be picked up & delivered within 24hrs, and your payment will be sent directly to your MPesa account immediately after the customer accepts the delivery.
At the moment, SkyGarden only gathers for Kenyan businesses, and there are plans to expand the operations to the neighboring countries.
The 5 Steps to Choosing an E-Commerce Platform For Your Website
Choosing the right e-commerce platform for your website is a difficult decision. It can be made easier with the help of these 5 steps:
1. Find out what type of e-commerce you want to build on your website
2. Research the different platforms and their features
3. Check if they are compatible with your business goals
4. Compare pricing and see which one offers better value
5. Choose based on user experience, usability, and other factors
What is the Correct Way of Building a Shop on a New E-Commerce Platform?
There are many platforms that allow you to build your own shop from scratch. Some of them may be more suitable for your business than others.
When building your shop, it is important to consider the following:
- The size of the platform.
- The amount of traffic it gets.
- The cost to use the platform and any other expenses that you may incur.
- How easy it is for you to add content and customize your store with a custom theme.
- Whether or not you have access to a lot of advertising opportunities that allow you to promote your business.
A good example is Shopify.
Shopify is a platform that allows you to build your own online store from scratch. It has been designed with the entrepreneur in mind and comes with an easy-to-use interface, which means that creating your website is a quick and simple process.
Shopify also provides a bulk of different products for the owner to sell within their store, as opposed to some of its competitors who have a limited number of products that you can sell.
Frequently Asked Questions About eCommerce Platforms in Kenya
Is E-commerce profitable in Kenya?
Yes, eCommerce is profitable in Kenya. Kenya’s e-commerce industry has experienced exponential growth in the recent past. The number of people using eCommerce platforms in Kenya has also increased by 20% over the last year.
In fact, Kenya’s e-commerce industry is making steady progress and it is expected to grow even more in the future. It is predicted that by 2020, Kenya will be home to 3,000 online retailers and this will increase to 6,000 retailers by 2025.
E-commerce has been a lucrative business for many companies in Kenya. However, there are still challenges that need to be overcome before it can become a sustainable way of doing business for everyone.
How do I start an eCommerce website in Kenya?
Ecommerce websites are a great way to start your business. They require a lot of work, but the payoff is big if you do it right.
Ecommerce is an exciting opportunity for those who want to start their own business and sell products online. It requires a lot of work, but the payoff is big if you do it right.
To get started with e-commerce in Kenya, you need to know what kind of products you want to sell and how much they cost. You also need to know how much time and money it takes to run an eCommerce website that sells those products.
Is Jumia a dropshipping?
Yes, Jumia is dropshipping in Kenya. Here, online marketplace sellers upload images of their products on Jumia and when an order is made, a rider will collect the item from the seller, take it to the customer’s location and deliver it.
