Africa is part and parcel of the digital revolution that is taking place all over the world. Although the impact of technology may be lower than other developed continents, its residents are quickly adapting to the use of technology in their daily lives. Online shopping is one of the fastest growing industries in Africa with many people buying products on websites instead of traditional brick and mortar stores. Additionally, the rise in shopping over the internet has resulted in an increase in online payment options which is a win-win situation for buyers and sellers in Africa.
Types of online payment options in Africa
Apart from looking for sites like https://www.bestdeals.today/ that offer a wide variety of products at fair prices, online shoppers in Africa also consider the payment option available on various websites. Thankfully, there are many options available depending on one’s needs making shopping online much safer for clients. Some of the payment options for online shoppers in the continent are highlighted below.
Mobile paymentsMobile payments have been embraced by the majority of Africans that use e-commerce sites to buy items for personal and commercial use. Payments made through mobile phones are quite popular because the steps involved are few and easy to learn, no matter one’s age or level of education. All you need is a mobile phone and an active number to shop online regardless of your location. In most cases, the e-commerce sites provide the option on their landing page or at the last step of the shopping cart making it easy for customers to pay and have then later have their goods dropped off at home or the office.
Direct depositShopping in bulk on a variety of sites may require large payments that can be paid straight from one’s bank account. This is another payment option that Africans have adopted especially when buying items from countries overseas. Most times, customers give instructions to their bank on the amount of money to be remitted and the schedule to guide such payments. Also, paying by direct deposit is popular with people in Africa that have signed up for subscription services and products.
Prepaid cardsOnline shopping has no restrictions on age making the internet an open market for minors as well as adults. It is common to find young people using prepaid cards to purchase various types of items depending on the value of the card. The payment option is also ideal for people that have not signed up for a bank account yet need to make purchases online. Typically, the card is sold preloaded, but in some cases, they need to be loaded before any shopping can be done online.
Bank transfersInternet banking has gained a lot of traction over the years with many Africans accessing their funds online and making online purchases when necessary. Online shoppers only need to initiate the transfer from their bank to the e-commerce site for payment to be made. For a bank transfer to be approved, it has to be authenticated by the customer using credentials that are shared with them in advance. The verification process ensures that the funds in the account are safe at all times.
CashPaying for goods bought online by cash is also popular in Africa, with most companies having a rider drop off the purchased items before getting paid. Most times, the customer browses through the site and selects their preferred items for shipping to their current location. The overall cost includes the shipping costs and can also be cleared using mobile money as well.
Best ways to stay safe when making online payments in Africa
Even as online shopping continues to grow in Africa, it is important to stay safe when using various online payment options. Some of the ways to ensure that your shopping experience and payment goes as expected are highlighted below.
1) Shop on trusted e-commerce sitesE-commerce sites that offer various products to online shoppers are quite many, but not all are genuine. It is therefore vital to find legitimate sites and use them for all your shopping needs without worrying about being conned. Ensure that you bookmark the shopping sites to make it easier to find them from time to time.
2) Ignore suspicious e-mailsIt is common to get e-mails concerning your purchases whenever you buy items from shopping sites. Most times, the e-mails provide information on the transactions done on various websites and often highlights the money spent. However, not all e-mails are genuine and should be scrutinized before being opened to avoid getting attacked by viruses or getting scammed. If you receive an offer from a shopping site that sounds fishy that requires your financial details, it is likely to be fraudulent.
3) Create strong passwordsMajority of online shopping sites that sell products to clients need a customer to set up an account with them. The account makes it easier to process payments quickly and often has your personal details which make the buying of items much faster. To protect your information online, you need to develop a strong password that cannot be easily cracked by hackers. The best passwords are those that have a mix of letters, numbers and even symbols to decrease chances of getting hacked when shopping online in Africa.
4) Monitor your bank statementsIf the majority of payments when buying online are made through the bank, it is advisable to keep track of statements. Make sure you check for irregular transactions and hidden charges on the statement and address any discrepancies immediately. Additionally, payments made through other methods such as mobile phones should also be recorded for accountability purposes and safety online as well.
Overall, buying items on a variety of online shopping sites in Africa is growing and can only get better in the future. It is essential to learn as much as possible about existing payment options and test them out before deciding on the most suitable one for you.