Takealot has partnered with Cape Town-based technology company Touchfoundry to develop a mobile app and management dashboard for its Personal Shopper Programme, giving participating township entrepreneurs tools to track sales, commissions and business performance.
The platform is designed to help Personal Shoppers manage and grow the businesses they have built by helping customers access Takealot's online shopping service.
The programme enables entrepreneurs to use their existing relationships and standing in their communities to assist local customers with online purchases. As the network expanded, Takealot identified a need for better tools to help participants manage their day-to-day operations.
The new app brings key business information and workflows into one place, allowing Personal Shoppers to monitor sales, commissions, targets and their progression through programme tiers.
Digital tools for small businesses
Takealot said the platform was developed to make it easier for Personal Shoppers to manage their businesses and understand how they are performing.
The project included a mobile app for Personal Shoppers and a Community Manager dashboard. Touchfoundry worked with Takealot's product, technical, security and compliance teams, while Isoflow supported usability, design and user experience.
The development process took six months, from initial discovery to launch.
Touchfoundry chief executive and founder Fabio Longano said the challenge was to build a system for people who were helping others shop online while managing businesses of their own.
The platform had to accommodate users with different levels of familiarity with technology while meeting Takealot's security and integration requirements, he said.
Growing participation in online retail
The Personal Shopper Programme forms part of Takealot's efforts to extend access to online shopping through entrepreneurs operating in their communities.
The development comes as South Africa's online retail market continues to expand. Research by World Wide Worx forecasts that the market will reach R159bn in 2026.
By bringing sales information, commissions and business workflows into a single platform, Takealot aims to give Personal Shoppers greater visibility over their operations as they grow their businesses.
