// PREDICTIVE INTELLIGENCE //

THE GLOBAL E-COMMERCE ECOSYSTEM REQUIRES INFRASTRUCTURE LIKE SECURE PAYMENT GATEWAYS , DEEP INTERNET PENETRATION AND EXTENSIVE LOGISTICS NETWORKS TO SUCCEED .

2 . Digital literacy and skills : E-commerce , however , requires not just funding but technology . Most SMEs have reported challenges not just with setting up and managing their online presence but also with utilising digital marketing tools and analysing data . The International Finance Corporation ’ s Digital Technologies Are a Useful Yet Underutilized Tool for African Microenterprises report published in April 2023 indicates that 60 % of SMEs in Africa and the Middle East cited digital skills shortages as their top challenges .

3 . Infrastructure and logistics : The global e-commerce ecosystem requires infrastructure like secure payment gateways , deep Internet penetration and extensive logistics networks to succeed . While these systems may be somewhat ubiquitous in Europe , they are fraught with inefficiencies in the Middle East and Africa . This is evidenced by the World Bank ’ s Logistics Performance Index , which indicates that countries such as Nigeria lack delivery efficiency , which creates additional barriers for these SMEs .

Case studies : Lessons from Nigeria , UAE and Europe

Moniepoint , Nigeria : Moniepoint , a Nigerian FinTech company , has been a gamechanger for Nigerian enterprises through affordable loans and payment systems . By providing the means to acquire working capital and payment processing tools , Moniepoint has facilitated the funding of inventory , upgrades to digital shops and focused advertisements . This strategy is consistent with wider developments in the FinTech sector where growth in SMEs is often growth financed .

Dubai SME , UAE : In the UAE , we can demonstrate the influence of policy-driven support in fast-tracking the adoption of e-commerce . A government-backed initiative , Dubai SME , offers training , financial support and access to online platforms like Amazon and Noon . The 2022 Dubai Economy and Tourism report indicates that 45 % of SMEs in the region grew their income by approximately 30 % after adopting these e-commerce solutions . This further strengthens the role of the public sector in driving e-commerce adoption .

SumUp , Europe : As for the west where consumer credit systems are more mature ,

26 Intelligent SME . tech