Covid-19 has brought about a change in how consumers shop. There has been a dramatic move to buying online. Given the convenience e-commerce offers and the fear of contracting Covid-19 in public spaces, people may not venture out for shopping at malls once the lockdown ends. Even malls may limit entry of people to maintain social distancing. Thus, this lockdown will bring about a behavioural change and increase the acceptability of buying groceries and daily essentials online.
Retailers are working to tap into the 400 million connected internet users in Africa, a market second only to China. According to McKinsey, African e-commerce has projected annual sales of $75 billion by 2025. Global analysts maintain that e-commerce sales growth will continue even in a tough economy, driving a need for logistics fulfilment and warehousing to serve the supply chain.
E-commerce has created demand for a new type of warehouse with different dimensions, locations and capabilities. Ecommerce warehousing is the storage of physical goods before they are sold online. Warehousing includes safely and securely storing products, as well as tracking where items are located, when they arrived, how long they’ve been in stock, and the quantity on hand at any given time.
There are different types of warehouses available and the one you choose for your business depends largely on what is affordable. Amazon has set the standard in terms of delivery times which most consumers now expect. Amazon makes use of a smart warehouse. These warehouses take the efficiency of a distribution centre to another level. They use artificial intelligence to streamline the entire eCommerce warehouse process and automate as much of it as possible. This can be done by using drones and software for eCommerce packaging, shipping, and storing. One-third of warehouses are already using smart technology, or planning to in the near future.
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AFRICA’S LOGISTICS AND WAREHOUSING SECTOR TO WEATHER PANDEMIC STORM
We were asked if we can order from TOPS and how alcohol deliveries work on the SPAR2U app. Below are some answers on your TOPS orders and your alcohol deliveries and how it works on the SPAR2U app.
Which Grocery Delivery Apps Work With TOPS Stores?
You can order beverages from participating TOPS stores from the SPAR2U app.
Are Alcohol Deliveries Available From Participating TOPS Stores?
Yes. We deliver alcohol from TOPS stores through the SPAR2U app.
You can find our full list of participating TOPS stores on our where we deliver page.
What Alcohol Delivery Options Are Available on SPAR2U?
You can order beer, wine, spirits and other available products from participating TOPS at SPAR stores through SPAR2U.
Does SPAR2U Deliver Beer, Wine and Spirits on the Same Day?
Yes. We offer same-day alcohol delivery. This is, however, subject to delivery times and legal trading hours.
We were asked about how driver tips work on the SPAR2U app. Below are some answers about driver tips and who gets the money on the SPAR2U app.
Can I Add a Tip for My Driver?
Yes, tips help support drivers and ensures they are rewarded for their effort and service. You can add a tip during the checkout process by selecting the tip amount you desire.
Is Tipping Mandatory?
Tipping is optional but highly appreciated by the drivers for their service.
How is the Tip Amount Charged?
The tip amount is added to your total order amount and charged to your selected payment method.
Do Drivers Receive the Full Tip Amount?
Yes, drivers receive 100% of the tips given by customers. Tips go directly to the driver and are not subject to any fees.
Smarter infrastructure, better connected transport systems and airport experiences that reflect African creativity were at the centre of Runway to Railway: Project Maverick, held at the Vineyard Hotel in Cape Town on 22 October 2026. The gathering brought aviation, technology and creative perspectives into a discussion about how innovation can improve infrastructure and the experience of the people who use it.
Held under the theme Simply Connect Africa, the event forms part of the Runway to Railway vision conceived by Anna K Hecart, founder and director of Connected Group. The platform brings different sectors together to explore connections between infrastructure, business and opportunity across the continent.
Raising the Bar for African Infrastructure. Panel participants: Dirk Ackerman, moderator; Nicholas Ferguson, Executive Managing Director, RSA Aero; Hasnain Motlekar, Acting Chief Executive Officer, BCX; and York Ning, Director, ICT Marketing & Solution Sales Department, Huawei South Africa.
“Runway to Railway began with a belief that Africa’s progress depends on the connections we make between people, industries and ideas,” said Hecart. “We are pleased to announce the Runway to Railway Expo for November 2027. Our ambition is to bring the people shaping transport, infrastructure and technology together with investors and creative businesses to explore practical solutions and build partnerships that move Africa forward.”
The Expo is being developed as a meeting place for aviation, rail, logistics, infrastructure, technology, tourism and design professionals, alongside investors and public-sector stakeholders. Partners can expect opportunities to showcase their capabilities and connect with potential collaborators. Attendees can look forward to discovering innovations, exchanging ideas and exploring how better connected infrastructure can support African business and communities.
Anna K Hecart, Founder and Director of Connected Group and visionary behind Runway to Railway, addresses the gathering.
The infrastructure conversation brought the airport development perspective together with the technology expertise of BCX and Huawei. It considered how closer collaboration can support better passenger experiences, reliable operations and the practical delivery of connected infrastructure.
“The decisions that shape a passenger’s journey are made across many different organisations,” said Ackerman. “Bringing developers, operators and technology partners together early helps us see how those decisions fit together and where collaboration can make infrastructure work better.”
“An airport is part of a much wider economic network,” said Ferguson. “Its development needs to consider how people arrive, how businesses connect and how the surrounding region benefits. Innovation should support that wider purpose while making the everyday experience more efficient and welcoming.”
“The value of connected infrastructure lies in what it enables people and businesses to do,” said Motlekar. “Reliable networks, secure systems and useful information need to work together. Planning these capabilities from the outset helps organisations improve services and respond as demand changes.”
Gavin Rajah delivered the closing remarks, extending the conversation to the quality and character of retail experiences at African airports. He highlighted the opportunity to bring greater creativity and a stronger expression of African identity into spaces that shape travellers’ first and last impressions of a destination.
“An African airport should give travellers a real sense of place,” said Rajah. “Our retail spaces can do far more to showcase the continent’s design, fashion, food and craft. We have the talent and the stories. The opportunity is to present them with imagination and the quality they deserve, while creating space for African creative businesses to grow.”
Gavin Rajah, closing speaker, addresses creativity and African identity in the airport experience.
Event photographs
The Raising the Bar for African Infrastructure panel at Runway to Railway: Project Maverick.
An exchange during the infrastructure panel discussion.
A panellist contributes to the infrastructure discussion.
An on-stage presentation during Runway to Railway: Project Maverick.
Guests exchange ideas during the luncheon at the Vineyard Hotel.
Guests follow the programme at Runway to Railway: Project Maverick.
Guests seated during the event programme.
A guest listens during the luncheon.
Guests in conversation during the event.
Networking at Runway to Railway: Project Maverick.
Guests gather for a photograph at the Vineyard Hotel.
Guests connect outside the event venue.
Conversations continue between programme sessions.
A conversation during the event reception.
A conversation at Runway to Railway: Project Maverick.
*All photographs featured in this article were captured by: Elvis Nyelenzi