WIDNet

E-commerce: Can businesses, entrepreneurs and individuals in Zambia take advantage of the benefits of e-business?

E-commerce is the conducting of business transactions through computers via networks. E-commerce is also understood as the purchasing and exchanging of goods and services, and the transfer of finances, through digital communications without the constraints of time or geographical barriers.

Information technologies are still evolving at a very fast rate and developing countries are just learning of e-commerce and the challenges that it presents. E-commerce has been recognised as one of the factors contributing to the rapid development of information technologies.

Lack of some of the basic technologies, lack of awareness on e-commerce, low income, absence of trust; only to mention but a few are some of the reasons why developing nations such as Zambia are not fully realising and utilising the benefits of e-commerce. This evolution is changing the way business is conducted and the technological transformation is also bringing down both time and geographical barriers.

A Zambian lady was a bit apprehensive the first time she tried purchasing something online. She had made an order for an American magazine called “Good Housekeeping.” Before she knew it, the mail man was outside her door delivering the magazine. She actually confirmed that the online purchase she had made was much cheaper than buying the magazine off the shelf. All in all, e-commerce is very slowly being used in Zambia but still has a long and hard way before it can surely take its place. Students in higher learning institutions are actually paying for their examinations’ subscriptions via e-commerce. And for those who are travelling either on holiday or business; it is becoming more popular especially in the industrialised nations that hotel customers pay for their accommodation by using credit cards and that no cash payments are acceptable.

On the other hand, people intending on making use of e-commerce/ online payments are urged to have caution by checking for security company seals which to some extent show authenticity or by checking for disclaimers on websites. She further advises that it is better to deal with those companies you already know, those that others have used before especially if you intend to send large sums of money.