The clues to whether businesses are making the right investments now to ensure that they can provide the right experiences across the channels that consumers will come to expect is held in the data from the Wunderman Thompson Future Shopper Report 2023.

The future of retail is steadfastly being shaped by digital, as shoppers envision a future where nearly two-thirds (64%) of their shopping will be online in the next ten years. As the landscape shifts, successful businesses consciously adapt to the new era of digital technologies and economies, according to the extensive Future Shopper Report 2023 by Wunderman Thompson, which surveyed over 31,000 consumers worldwide, online shopping continues its dominance, accounting for 58% of all spending today.

In South Africa, the survey findings are equally illuminating, with nearly 90% of respondents indicating their increased comfort with various digital technologies, including utilising apps to their full advantage, attending video-conferencing meetings, and seeking information on websites. This significant digital adoption aligns seamlessly with the growth of e-commerce in the region.

Prior to the Covid pandemic, South Africans were gradually embracing online shopping for essential commodities, groceries, fashion items, and ever-increasingly for financial transactions. However, the lockdown measures expedited this process exponentially, with profound implications for businesses, branders, and marketers. Working from home (WFH) may also be impacting purchase behaviours, with 71% of South African respondents saying they have shopped more online due to WFH, and 76% stating they have discovered new brands and retailers due to WFH. As distribution and supply chain strategies are reimagined to accommodate the new marketplace, investments in appropriate technologies become crucial, marketing models must evolve to compete effectively, making e-commerce and digital communication strategies pivotal to success.

Nevertheless, the e-commerce strategy in South Africa is influenced by traditional shopping habits. The convenience of browsing in shopping hubs and shopping malls, comparing goods and prices in physical stores, has shaped consumer behaviour. Recognising this, successful brands and marketers embrace omnichannel strategies to align with South Africans' blended online and brick-and-mortar shopping preferences. Perhaps predictably, 40% of consumers still prefer to browse physical stores for inspiration and comparison, but online adoption and behaviours are undeniably on the rise. Approximately one-third of shoppers now seek inspiration from retail store apps, while marketplace online sites such as Takealot, Amazon, and Makro capture the attention of nearly 50% of consumers.

In this shifting landscape, retailers that offer a seamless shopping experience, delivering a comparable or superior shopping basket with greater cost-effectiveness and speed, have become favoured by customers. They have set a new standard of service excellence, making South African shoppers aware that exceptional service should be an expectation across all their favourite brands.

The empowered South African shopper now demands better prices, free delivery, and fast and convenient experiences from online marketplaces. Moreover, marketplaces that have proven themselves with a track record of offering “cheaper, faster, better” options have gained the trust of 70% of respondents. Additionally, consumer purchase decisions are increasingly influenced by recommendations, highlighting the importance of integrated communication strategies and relevant social and digital support for e-commerce platforms. The power of social media platforms, particularly live shopping events on platforms like Instagram and TikTok, has significantly accelerated online shopping behaviour.

To thrive in today's omnichannel retail landscape, brands, marketplaces, social media platforms, search engines, and physical retailers must adopt a winning formula. This formula requires balancing the right price, delivering exceptional service, and providing a seamless shopping experience across every channel and device. Brands and marketers must embrace this digital revolution, incorporating e-commerce and digital communication strategies into their core practices.

Parusha Partab, Group strategy director at Wunderman Thompson South Africa, says "The case for marketers needing to quickly adapt to an ever-evolving shopper landscape has long been strong. However, the next question is: How do we embrace the change and triumph? The value of the Future Shopper Report lies in our ability to harness cutting-edge global research while infusing it with unique South African specific insights. By embracing this fusion marketers gain a powerful advantage, enabling them to navigate the dynamic terrain of today's market with unparalleled agility and foresight. It is through this synergy of global knowledge and local context that we unlock a new realm of possibilities, propelling brands towards innovation, relevance, and success in an ever-changing world."

Click here to download the full report: https://www.wundermanthompson.com/insight/the-future-shopper-report-2023

Survey Methodology

The research was conducted by Censuswide, with 31,040 online shoppers who shop online at least once a month in the following markets: 1,000 respondents in each of the following markets: Germany, South Africa, UAE, Netherlands, Thailand and Indonesia, and 2,000 respondents in each of the following markets: UK, US, France, China, Japan, Australia, Argentina, Colombia, Spain, Brazil, Mexico and India. The research was run between 25 March 2022 and 7^th April 2022. Censuswide abide by and employ members of the Market Research Society, which is based on the ESOMAR principles.

About Wunderman Thompson South Africa

Wunderman Thompson South Africa is born out of the country’s oldest digital, social media, technology and advertising agencies.

Part creative agency, part tech firm and part consultancy, services extend from creative and conceptual marketing work through to data, technology and commerce solutions. Wunderman Thompson offers Level 1 BBBEE credentials, a team of 500+ talented professionals, four office locations across South Africa and 90 in other markets.

Wunderman Thompson is a WPP agency (NYSE: WPP).

For more information, please visit us at www.wundermanthompson.com/southafrica and follow Wunderman Thompson on our social channels via Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

For more information, please contact:

Michelle Cavé: PR Consultant

Cell: 082 821 9050 | Email: [email protected]

Or Miles Murphy Cell: 076 191 2444