E-commerce and Retail Business in Nigeria: Challenges and Prospects
CHAPTER ONE
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The following are the objectives of this study:
- To examine the challenges of e-commerce in retail business in Nigeria.
- To examine the prospects of e-commerce in retail business in Nigeria
- To identify the approaches to e-commerce in retail business in Nigeria.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
INTRODUCTION
It is important to elaborate on the definitions of e-commerce as that will help determine the scope of the technology. E-commerce has been simply defined as conducting business on-line. The organization for economic cooperation and development (OECD) defines electronic commerce as a new way of conducting business, qualifying it as business occurring over network which use nonproprietary protocols that are established through an open standard setting process such as the internet [5]. This definition distinguishes it from electronic data interchanges (EDI) type proprietary based networks or intranets that were not based on an open (and therefore, not cost effective information infrastructure) like the internet. In the WTO work programme on electronic commerce, it is understood to mean the production, distribution, marketing, sales or delivery of goods and services by electronic means. A commercial transaction can be divided into three main stages; the advertising and searching stage, the ordering and payment stage and the delivery stage. Any or all of these may be carried out electronically and may, therefore, be covered by the concept of electronic commerce. Broadly defines electronic commerce encompasses all kinds of commercial transaction that are concluded over an electronic medium or network, essentially, the internet. Ecommerce covers three main type of transactions, i.e business to consumer (B2C) business to business (B2B) and business to government (B2G). E-commerce is not limited to the purchase of a product, it include, beside e-mail and other communication plate form, all information or services that a company may offer to its customers over the Net, from prepurchase information to after sale service and support. These are essentially two major uses of e-commerce. The first is to use it to reduce transaction cost by increasing efficiency in the use of both time and procedure [6], and thus lowing cost. The other is to use it both as a marketing tool to increase sales (and customer services) as well as to create new business through it for example, information technology enabled business, call-centers, software maintenance services etc. It is thus a tool for both existing business as well as an opportunity for new business, both for existing companies as well as for new entrants. E commerce provides consumers the ability to bank, invest, purchase, distribute, communicate, explore, and research from virtually anywhere an Internet connection can be obtained.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research design
The researcher used descriptive research survey design in building up this project work the choice of this research design was considered appropriate because of its advantages of identifying attributes of a large population from a group of individuals. The design was suitable for the study as the study sought to examine e-commerce and retail business in Nigeria: challenges and prospects.
CHAPTER FOUR
ANALYSIS AND PRESENTATION OF DATA
One hundred and sixty (160) questionnaires were distributed and one hundred and forty (133) were returned. This figure was the sample size. Out of the one hundred and thirty-three, only one hundred and twenty (120) were properly responded to. As a result, the researcher used one hundred and twenty for this study when more than 50% of the respondents agree to the questions, the answer is taken as valid for the purpose of this study. In analyzing the data, the approach that will be adopted is to find out the percentage and positive and negative answers to the question posed.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was on e-commerce and retail business in Nigeria: challenges and prospects. In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing the challenges of e-commerce and retail business in Nigeria: challenges and prospects
Summary
This study was on e-commerce and retail business in Nigeria: challenges and prospects. Three objectives were raised which included: To examine the challenges of e-commerce in retail business in Nigeria, to examine the prospects of e-commerce in retail business in Nigeria, to identify the approaches to e-commerce in retail business in Nigeria. In line with these objectives, two research question were formulated and answered. The total population for the study is 200 staff of jumia, Lagos state. The researcher used questionnaires as the instrument for the data collection. Descriptive Survey research design was adopted for this study. A total of 133 respondents made sales reps, customer care officers, marketers and HRMs was used for the study. The data collected were presented in tables and analyzed using simple percentages and frequencies
Conclusion
Many companies, organizations and communities in Nigeria are beginning to take advantages of the opportunities offered by e – commerce, critical challenges remain to be overcome before e – commerce would become an asset for a common man in Nigeria. Challenges like, consumer’s confusion, apprehension and risk need to be identified, understood and alleviated. E – Commerce provides tremendous opportunities in different areas but it requires careful application for consumer issue
Recommendation
It is recommended that government and private initiatives be encouraged to improve this sector of the economy. There is need for improved national image on the international arena and an appropriate legislation put in place to guide the operations of e- commerce within the context our legal system.
References
- The Guardian, Monday, July 7, 2014: Multiplity of taxes in Nigeria: addressing the impediments. The Nations, Tuesday, July 8, 2014:
- FIRS collaborates with GTB and Stanbic IBTC Banks to deploy e-tax pay. Leadership, Sunday, July 6, 2014:
- Thrills, Challenges As Nigeria Goes Cashless. National Mirror, Monday, July 28, 2014: Cybercrime threatens cashless project, pg.A2. 18-A3. 19
- International Labour Organization (1999), Human Resource Implication Of Globalization and Restructuring in Commerce, ILO, Geneva. [2]
- Elizabeth Goldsmith and Sue L. T. McGregor (2000); E- Commerce: consumer protection issues and implementations for research and education; J Consumer Studies & Home Economics, Vol. (24)2, 2000, pp 124 – 127
- Farooq Ahmed (2001); Electronic Commerce: An Indian Perspective; International Journal of Law and Information Technology; Vol. (9)2, 2001, pp 133 – 170 [4]
- OECD (1999), The economic and Social Impacts of Electronic Commerce: Preliminary Findings and Research Agenda, OECD, Paris. [5]
- Dr. Zeinab Mohamed El Gawady International Conference of Globalization , Technology and Sustainable Development , United Arab Emirates University, World Association for sustainable Development , Al Ain , UAE, 21-32 November 2005. [6]
- TillaberiMobile 2011 [7] ALLEY, VIVIAN M. September 2010 The University Of Sheffield [8]
