Crack the Code to High Online Sales with ShipShap’s Cost-Efficient Tools

Africa's e-commerce scene is booming, with more consumers coming online and eager to explore new products. For business owners on the continent, there has never been a better time to build a thriving e-commerce business.

However, one of the biggest hurdles has been the lack of tailored solutions that address local needs, particularly around payments, logistics, and regional market accessibility. 

Enter ShipShap, Africa’s newly launched e-commerce infrastructure, which has developed a solution to bridge this gap.

Our comprehensive suite of plugins, specifically designed for WooCommerce, Shopify, and Etsy, are the first of their kind, built with the African merchant in mind. These tools offer more than just standard integrations; they bring customized functionalities that resolve pain points in payments, logistics, and order management that African merchants face daily.

Why WooCommerce, Shopify, and Etsy Plugins Matter

1. WooCommerce Plugin: Empowering Local Business Owners

WooCommerce, the most popular open-source e-commerce platform for WordPress, is used by many African merchants for its flexibility. WooCommerce powers 28% of all e-commerce websites in the world and there are in fact over 5 million WooCommerce stores globally, however, traditional plugins often fail to integrate with local payment gateways and courier services especially on the African continent. Our WooCommerce plugin provides a solution by integrating mobile money payments, a staple of financial transactions in many African countries. Additionally, it syncs with local and international courier companies, allowing merchants to book and track shipments and offer real-time delivery updates to customers.

This integration not only simplifies transaction processes but also provides an opportunity for smaller merchants to scale without worrying about the logistical hurdles of international systems.

2. Shopify Plugin: Scaling African Startups Globally

Shopify is a leading platform for building online stores, but African businesses have faced challenges with high transaction fees, incompatible payment gateways, and inefficient delivery systems. The new Shopify plugin integrates local payment solutions like M-Pesa, and other regional gateways, which reduces transaction costs and enables smoother operations for African businesses.

Moreover, the plugin supports localized delivery options and last-mile delivery services, ensuring orders can be fulfilled efficiently, even in remote areas. By customizing Shopify to fit the African context, this plugin allows entrepreneurs to scale their business and access international customers, helping to put African products on the global map.

3. Etsy Plugin: Enabling African Artisans and Creatives

Etsy is known as the go-to platform for handmade and creative goods, which makes it an ideal platform for many African artisans. However, many have faced difficulty accessing global markets due to incompatible payment methods and the high cost or complete absence of shipping options.

The new Etsy plugin resolves these issues by offering localized payment integrations and providing merchants with affordable, reliable shipping options. By connecting to a network of local courier services, the plugin also streamlines the fulfillment process, helping African creators reach international customers with ease. This is a game-changer for artisans who depend on Etsy as a platform to showcase and sell their unique products globally.

Why These Plugins Are Essential for Africa

The introduction of these e-commerce plugins represents a significant step forward for African merchants. Here's why they are crucial:

1. Localized and Global Payments: African merchants can now access payment gateways that are popular within their regions, such as mobile money and regional fintech solutions. This makes transactions smoother for both businesses and customers, reducing reliance on international payment platforms that come with high fees and complexity. In addition to that many African merchants have not been able to get paid globally - We have partnered with the leading global payments providers to enable collection of payments globally for our merchants.
2. Optimized Logistics: Another big pain point with even fewer solutions in African e-commerce is logistics, particularly in last-mile delivery and tracking. These plugins integrate with local courier companies, ensuring that sellers can offer reliable, trackable delivery options, even in rural areas. This significantly enhances customer trust and satisfaction.
3. Affordability: By reducing the reliance on costly international payment and shipping methods, these plugins lower the barriers to entry for African entrepreneurs. This enables small businesses to thrive in a competitive market without being burdened by unnecessary costs.
4. Enabling Global Reach: By customizing global platforms like WooCommerce, Shopify, and Etsy for African needs, these plugins enable local merchants to reach international customers without friction. This is vital for African businesses looking to scale and participate in the global economy.

A Case for an e-commerce infrastructure for Africa; Why ShipShap?

We understand that building the plugins is only part of the story and that's why at ShipShap our plugins open up African merchants to a whole new world of offerings across our entire infrastructure. In a couple of clicks merchants are able to access:

• Competitive Rates: We partner with leading couriers to secure the best shipping rates, regardless of the size of your business.
• Seamless Customs Clearance: We help you navigate customs processes, so your shipments arrive without unnecessary delays.
• Real-time Tracking: You and your customers can track shipments at every stage, offering peace of mind.
• Local Delivery Options: Use local delivery services, like motorbike couriers, to reach customers faster, especially within urban centers. With ShipShap, you can effortlessly send a package from Kilimani to Los Angeles just as easily as you would to any neighborhood in Nairobi – all within a single, streamlined platform.
• Accurate Shipping Rates at Checkout: ShipShap offers real-time, accurate shipping costs at checkout, calculated based on the customer’s location and package details. By partnering with leading couriers, ShipShap provides discounted rates for both domestic and international shipping, ensuring full price transparency from the moment a customer places an order.
• Payment on Delivery Options:  ShipShap enables businesses to offer payment on delivery:a flexible and trusted option for African e-commerce. Customers can choose to pay upon receiving their goods or use local mobile money services, providing a convenient payment solution tailored to African consumers.

The launch of these innovative WooCommerce, Shopify, and Etsy plugins is a milestone for African e-commerce. By addressing key challenges around payments and logistics, ShipShap is helping to unlock new growth opportunities for African entrepreneurs and small businesses. With these tools, African merchants are no longer held back by systems that weren’t built for them; they are now empowered to take on the global market with confidence.

Are you looking to take your business to the next level? Curious to learn about how we can help your business sell globally? Sign up today https://shipshap.com/