The Wave of the Future? Zimbabwean Businesses on the Rise

After years of enduring financial doldrums, the economy of Zimbabwe is said to be on the rise. President Emmerson Mnangagwa reiterated this sentiment in a recent statement; claiming the national economy may rise by as much as six per cent by the end of 2018. This is in direct contrast to growth of only 2.7 per cent in 2017 (1). There are now more opportunities for entrepreneurs than ever before and an increasing number of individuals are realising their potential. The online retail sector is expected to perform extremely well due to its ability to reach far beyond the borders of Zimbabwe. The main question is how start-up businesses can leverage this power through the use of online sales platforms. What do industry leaders have to say?

Enacting Real-Time E-Commerce Solutions

Selling a product online is much more difficult than it may initially appear. Not only will you require a dedicated website and a targeted marketing campaign, but you need to know what appeals to your audience. This is just as much of a fact whether referring to local Zimbabwean enterprises or global corporations. Some of the variables which should always be accounted for include:

• How much the average shopper is willing to spend.
• The most popular products on your website.
• The best time to send out timely email remainders.
• The profit margins that you expect to make.
• How much your business requires to break even in terms of ROI.

Even seasoned business experts can encounter difficulties when determining these metrics. This is often why it is wise to use the services of a third-party e-commerce platform. These user-friendly software applications will provide you with clear answers from the very beginning. Such oversight is critical if you ever hope to be able to make the most appropriate decisions when the time is right.

Still, not all of these services are created equally and as the saying goes, you get what you pay for. It is therefore wise to invest more in a quality e-commerce specialist so that you can experience results at a much quicker pace. User-friendly checkout services, superior levels of customer support and built-in branding solutions are only three of the amenities that you can expect to enjoy. However, what about the physical shipping process? Are there any ways to streamline this concern and why might wholesale drop shippers represent the perfect option for your business?

Addressing Local and Global Shipping Requirements

While the infrastructure of Zimbabwe is improving, it is still a fact that domestic delivery services are not always reliable. However, using major providers such as UPS could prove to be extremely expensive for a start-up firm. The answer to this conundrum lies in a concept known as drop shipping.

Drop shipping wholesalers deal with two major concerns: stocking a product and sending it to a client once a purchase has been completed. Why is this important? There are a few answers to this understandable question:

• You will no longer have to keep your business stocked with physical inventory.
• You will not need a large warehouse or similar facility.
• The shipping process is dramatically streamlined.
• You may be able to offer discounts to the end user.

Furthermore, modern drop shipping companies are built off of the fact that your product will be delivered on schedule and in a timely fashion. Your customers will remain satisfied and they are more likely to use your company in the future if they require additional purchases.

The question now involves how you can find a trustworthy drop shipping firm, as some are naturally better than others. One of the best ways is to utilise the services of a third-party portal which provides verified listings of suppliers relevant to your needs. Not only will this offer a superior level of insight, but you will be able to analyse other features such as:

• The status of the warehouses.
• Whether or not the parcels will be branded.
• How often disputes occur.
• The percentage of orders that are shipped and delivered according to schedule.

Without appreciating these and other variables, it can often be difficult to make an informed choice. Nonetheless, teaming up with respected drop shipping wholesalers could be one of the best business decisions that you will ever make. These platforms will add a dynamic edge to your existing website and your customers will thank you for such increased levels of reliability.

Zimbabwe is continuing to show economic improvement and if all predictions come to pass, this trend should pick up pace in the years to come. Aspiring online entrepreneurs therefore need to appreciate the roles that e-commerce and drop shipping play within the modern world. Success is much closer than you may believe!