AliExpress is a popular ecommerce platform that rivals Amazon. The China-based online retailer has been popularizing its trade in the Kenyan market for some time now. The need to appeal to Kenyan customers was pursued when it partnered with telco Safaricom to aid payments.
See, a substantial number of Kenyans rely on mobile money services in place of other solutions such as card or online payments. This has made it challenging for foreign ecommerce sites to grow in the local scene, although options to use local payment systems are rapidly taking effect.
Besides sealing a partnership with Safaricom (which allows shoppers to get access to product prices in local currency too), AliExpress has concluded another deal with Choice International Forwarding to augment the logistics industry in the country.
The firm says it has been in the African market for the last twenty or so years. Its local presence and the new partnership, which is supported by two storage facilities, will see faster delivery of products at reasonable prices.
While delivery of products from the eCommerce platform is yet to be honed (some deliveries take longer than promised, and picking products is not a smooth exercise at local postal offices for a variety of reasons), some improvements have been seen lately based on the influx of international ecommerce firms that promise faster deliveries.
Now, AliExpress merchants will deliver goods to their customers within Nairobi in under 10 days (and under 20 days for other towns) by leveraging China International’s expertise.
