We placed two identical orders one minute apart through the SPAR2U app and Uber Eats app to compare the purchase experiences. Using the same SPAR store (SUPERSPAR Sunninghill), basket and delivery location, we compared everything from the final price to live updates, fulfilment and delivery times to see how each platform performed.

App Testing: The Order and Price

To keep the test as fair as possible, we made sure that none of the ordered items were on special – in order to keep the comparison in price as close as possible.

The basket contained a mix of everyday household and baking essentials:

Items	SPAR2U	Uber Eats	Substitutes
Brown Bread	R16.59	R23.00
Butter 500g	R99.99		Butter 250g: R144.40
Peppermint Crisp	R61.99	R68.00
Heavy Cream	R59.99	R68.99
Tennis Biscuits x2	R59.98	R69.00
Caramel	R46.99		Condensed milk: R49.80
Dish Washing Liquid 750ml	R39.99		Dish washing liquid refill 750ml: R37.00
Dog Treats	R29.99	R34.50
Total:	R415.51	R494.69
Service Fee		R15.90
Driver Tip	R10.00	R10.00
Delivery Fee	R37.00	R25.00
Total Purchase Order:	R462.51	545.59

Final Price: Uber Eats vs SPAR2U

The SPAR2U order came to R462.51 and the Uber Eats order cost R545.59. This left us with a difference of R83.08, making the Uber Eats order 18% more expensive than the SPAR2U order.

Real-Time Updates and Communication

After placing both orders, the apps provided live updates throughout the shopping and delivery process; from when the shopping started through to the final delivery time and driver tracking.

SPAR2U sent shopping updates and updated invoices showing the items being picked, packed, and eventually dispatched via email. On the other hand, Uber Eats sent push notifications to keep us updated on the progress of the order.

Both apps kept us in the loop throughout the shopping experience.

Delivery Times

With both orders placed, we began tracking the progress of the deliveries.

The following times were recorded:

Stage	SPAR2U	Uber Eats
Order time	09:30	09:31
Time the shopper started	10:06	09:33
Time the shop was completed	10:13	09:45
Time order was dispatched	10:30	09:54
Delivery time	10:50	10:07

Both orders were placed practically at the same time, just one minute apart, but Uber Eats started shopping way faster – their shopper started picking items just two minutes after the 09:31 order went through. SPAR2U took 36 minutes just to get started at 10:06.

Interestingly, SPAR2U was actually faster once they were in the aisles, taking only seven minutes to finish shopping compared to Uber’s 12 minutes.

The real gap opened up during dispatch and delivery, though. Uber Eats had the items out the door nine minutes after picking (09:54) and delivered them in 13 minutes flat at 10:07. SPAR2U sat waiting 17 minutes for dispatch, followed by a 20-minute drive.

All in all, Uber Eats crushed it: total time was 36 minutes end-to-end, while SPAR2U took 80 minutes. Uber beat SPAR2U to the doorstep by 44 minutes.

Final Time Comparison: SPAR2U vs Uber Eats

Overall, Uber Eats completed the order-to-door process in 55% less time than SPAR2U.

Order Fulfilment

When both deliveries arrived, we unpacked everything and compared the orders with our shopping list. The SPAR2U order was completed to a T, with all eight items delivered as ordered.

The Uber Eats order was a little different. We specifically ordered the same 500g butter from both apps, yet the Uber Eats order arrived with a 250g pack from a different brand instead and was more expensive. The same happened with the 750ml dishwashing liquid, which was suitably substituted with a 750ml refill bag.

Finally, the caramel, which wasn’t available on the Uber Eats app, was replaced with condensed milk.

SPAR2U Order                                                             Uber Eats Order

Usually, the Uber Eats shopper is meant to contact you before making a substitution or replacement, but for this order they did not do so. So we only saw the replacements when the order arrived.

Our Final Take

Now that the groceries have been unpacked, here’s what we took away.

1. Shopping Time

The first big difference was how long it took for each order to get moving. The Uber Eats shopper started picking the order just two minutes after it was placed while the SPAR2U shopper only started 36 minutes later.

Interestingly, once shopping began, SPAR2U had the edge. The shopper completed the SPAR2U order in 7 minutes, compared with 12 minutes for Uber Eats.

2. Order Completion Time

The biggest difference came down to the overall delivery time. The Uber Eats order arrived 36 minutes after it was placed, while the SPAR2U order took 80 minutes to reach the door, but was still delivered within the allocated time 10 –11a.m. time slot.

The Uber Eats order arrived 44 minutes before the SPAR2U order.

3. Speed Isn’t Everything

Getting your groceries to the door quickly is great, but it’s not the only thing that matters. Price, product availability, substitutions, and updates from the app and shopper all play a massive role in the overall experience.

The Verdict Is In: Which Ordering Experience is Better?

After testing both ordering experiences, the choice of which delivery app to use for your next order ultimately comes down to your personal preference.

If speed is your priority, Uber Eats takes the cake for a quick and convenient shopping and delivery experience.

Or, if you are a bit more savvy about specials, price, promotions and combo deals, SPAR2U is your go-to platform.

What the test did show us is that the ordering experience is about much more than getting groceries to your door. From finding products and spotting promotions to watching an order move from confirmed to shopping to dispatched and finally delivered, every step contributes to the experience.

The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) will bring leaders from Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe together at Automechanika Johannesburg for its Regional Conference 2026, taking place at Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand on 28 and 29 October 2026.

Held under the theme ‘Driving Innovation, Bridging Borders for an African Future’, the conference will examine how transport, logistics and automotive ecosystems can support connected economies across the continent. The programme places collaboration at the centre of discussions on trade corridors, harmonised systems, safety, skills and the changing mobility landscape.

Elvin Harris: President – CILT South Africa

Elvin Harris, President of CILT South Africa, says the conference offers a meeting point for sectors whose success increasingly depends on coordinated action. “Transport and logistics connect every part of the economy. This gathering will create space for discussion on the infrastructure, standards, technology and people needed to move goods and opportunities efficiently across the region.”

Connecting Corridors and Enabling Trade

A central conference focus will be the future of Africa’s strategic road and rail corridors. Delegates will explore ways to reduce border delays and non-tariff barriers, strengthen one-stop border posts, and improve links between ports, dry ports and inland terminals.

Discussions will also consider investment approaches for corridor infrastructure, including public-private partnerships and blended finance, alongside the relationship between transport networks, the African Continental Free Trade Area and regional industrialisation.

Dr. Tapiwa Mujakachi: President – CILT Zimbabwe

Dr Tapiwa Mujakachi, President of CILT Zimbabwe, states that efficient cross-border systems are essential to prosperity. “Regional trade depends on reliable routes, predictable processes and a commitment to solving operational challenges. The conference will bring attention to the work required to make corridors serve businesses, communities and national development priorities.”

The agenda will further address harmonisation across borders, including vehicle standards, roadworthiness, weights and dimensions, customs documentation, permits and professional qualifications. Delegates will consider the development of common regulatory frameworks for new vehicle technologies, as well as the importance of aligning systems across regional economic communities.

Innovation, Safety and the Workforce of the Future

The conference will also examine the safety and security of people, cargo and freight corridors. Key themes include reducing road fatalities, promoting driver wellbeing on long-haul routes, countering cargo crime, strengthening fleet compliance, and using technology for tracking, monitoring and incident response. Cooperation among operators, regulators and law-enforcement agencies will feature as a foundation for safer regional supply chains.

Conversations will cover electric and new-energy vehicles, supporting infrastructure, local manufacturing opportunities, digital freight and last-mile platforms, smart logistics, data and artificial intelligence. Attention will also be given to policy support, funding and incubation for start-ups and small enterprises, together with the role of special economic zones in automotive and component innovation.

Dr. Tapiwa Mujakachi: President – CILT Zimbabwe

Prisca Mayumbelo, President of CILT Namibia, says the programme recognises regional opportunities. “Africa’s mobility future will be shaped by innovation that is relevant to local conditions and supported by capable institutions. Sharing experience across countries can help turn promising ideas into practical improvements for industry and society.”

Education, training and skills development will complete the programme’s core themes. Sessions will consider new-energy vehicle and digital logistics careers, technical and vocational pathways, industry-academia partnerships, work-integrated learning and professional development. The agenda will also highlight approaches to attracting young people and women into transport, logistics and automotive careers, while addressing funding for scarce-skills training.

Formal conference sessions will be followed each day by opportunities for delegates to visit the Automechanika expo floor and engage with exhibitors. CILT expects the event to encourage durable regional relationships and help shape solutions that support an African future built on connected African systems.

More information can be found at: https://www.ciltsa.events/cilt-conference-at-automechanika-johannesburg/

South Africa’s e-commerce sector is booming. The market is on track to surpass R130 billion in turnover this year. Local online sales are growing at roughly 20% and the sector handles over 100 million shipments annually. According to World Wide Worx, online shopping now represents 8% to 10% of total national retail – expanding at nearly ten times the rate of traditional brick-and-mortar stores.

But the uncomfortable truth is that while revenue is rising, profit margins are shrinking.

The problem isn’t marketing

When profits come under pressure, most merchants reach for the same playbook. They spend more on ads, push harder on sales, or negotiate lower product costs, rarely looking in the right place. The real profit drain doesn’t happen in marketing. It happens silently in fulfilment and last mile delivery. Margin loss is a death by a thousand cuts, from small, hidden inefficiencies spread across delivery networks, fuel surcharges, poor courier choices, and unexamined invoices.

If you want to protect your margins, you need to stop these seven main profit leaks.

1.      Unchecked Last-Mile Costs

Globally, last-mile delivery accounts for up to 53% of total logistics costs, and South Africa is no exception. As customer expectations around free or discounted shipping rise, unmanaged delivery fees quickly erode profit per order. Smart merchants constantly benchmark courier rates and avoid relying on a single provider.

By testing multiple options based on price, location and delivery requirements, you can protect margins without sacrificing speed and reliability. Or choose a platform that offers multiple courier partners.

2.      Unpredictable Fuel Surcharges

Fuel is one of the largest cost variables in local transport. Couriers adjust their fuel levies monthly, making shipping expenses unpredictable. If you only look at your base shipping rates without tracking fluctuating landed costs, your margins will take a hit.

Shipping platforms that provide transparent, up-to-date rates and factor fuel surcharges into the total costs give you a clearer picture of actual spending. This can help you spot the most cost-effective options.

3.      Poor Courier Allocation

No single courier performs equally across the entire country. A provider with great coverage and pricing in Cape Town might deliver poor service or higher rates in Durban or Johannesburg. Assigning orders based on rigid rules leads to higher costs and slower delivery times.

Solutions to this issue do exist, and a good place to start is by matching the courier you’re going with to your specific delivery zone based on real-time cost and success rates.

Shipping solutions can enable your business to connect with multiple courier partners. These platforms support teams in dynamically selecting the best carrier for each delivery area. This is based on current rates, coverage, and delivery performance data. The right partnership should lead to lower shipping costs while improving delivery reliability across provinces.

4.      The Cost of Failed Deliveries

Every failed delivery attempt hits your bottom line. Every return-to-origin attempt results in extra fuel, customer support time, and re-routing. Simple fixes like automated address validation and proactive delivery tracking notifications can significantly reduce these unnecessary attempts, keeping customers informed at every step.

5.      Reverse Logistics Escalation

Returns are a double penalty. Processing a return creates a second fulfilment journey, with extra transport costs, inventory hold-ups, and double handling. Track which products and locations generate the most returns. Understanding your return hotspots helps you spot delivery exceptions early and prevent items from heading back unnecessarily.

6.      Unaudited Billing Discrepancies

Small invoice errors quickly multiply when you’re moving thousands of monthly dispatches. Volumetric weight adjustments, incorrect service charges, and system mismatches are just some of the typical suspects. Without regular invoice audits and automated reconciliation, you are likely overpaying. The right tools match courier invoices against actual shipment details. This assists in identifying billing discrepancies and overcharges before they accumulate across thousands of orders.

7.      Operating in the Dark

You cannot fix what you do not measure. Most e-commerce teams closely track sales, web traffic, and conversion rates, but few have clear visibility over their true fulfilment cost per order or individual courier performance.

Real time logistics dashboards are the only way to catch operational leaks early. They provide visibility and actionable insights from one place, giving you the data you need to make smarter decisions.

Moving Beyond Cheaper Rates

Protecting your margins is not simply about demanding cheaper shipping rates. It requires a shift toward intelligent, data-driven fulfilment.

By adopting multi-courier management strategies, dynamically routing packages based on regional performance, and automated invoice auditing, South African merchants can safeguard their bottom line. In a competitive market, sustainable growth belongs to the merchants who manage their operational details as tightly as their sales funnels.

The profit leaks are there. You just need to find them. 

Written by: Angus LePine Williams, Head of Operations at Shiprazor