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2021 South African Township CX Report

The 2021 edition of the Township CX Report covers the significance of “Cash, Convenience, and Community”, offering insights into how cash remains a primary transaction method in townships, with local networks and familiarity playing crucial roles in purchasing decisions.

Despite increasing digitalisation, the report highlights that township residents still prefer face-to-face interactions for shopping and payments, placing significant value on trust and convenience within their community. This edition underscores the importance of tailored, hyper-localised marketing strategies for brands seeking meaningful engagement in township economies, setting the foundation for brands to build trust through culturally relevant connections.
 

Township consumers turn to social media as digital word-of-mouth

As digital adoption rises, township residents increasingly share product recommendations online. Despite limited internet access, word-of-mouth now thrives on social media, particularly WhatsApp and Facebook.

shop online during lockdown and social platforms drive product recommendations​
84%
intend to shop more online
60%
choose online shopping for better deals
79%
favour social media recommendations, which now rival traditional word-of-mouth
85%
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