Zimbabwean Corporations Adapt to Online Platforms (However, Expansion Opportunities Remain)
In a significant shift towards digitalisation, the latest Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) Access and Use by Businesses Survey in Zimbabwe has revealed that a staggering 94.2% of institutions utilise the internet. The survey, conducted by the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz) and the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (Zimstats), aimed to determine the levels of access and use of ICTs by businesses in the country.
The manufacturing sector leads the way with 95.3% internet usage, followed closely by the construction industry at 98.6%. The Transport and Storage sector and the Utilities sector have a 99.4% and 100% internet usage rate, respectively, driven by the adoption of technologies like GPS, online booking systems, supply chain management tools, smart infrastructure management, and operational monitoring.
The Finance and Insurance industries, ICT companies, and the Utilities sector all report 100% internet usage, as the internet is the backbone of their operations. The Professional, Scientific, and Technical services sector and Support services and other activities are not far behind, with 97.1% and 93.4% internet usage, respectively.
The survey also highlights a shift towards e-commerce and digital sales channels, with more than half of businesses (62.1%) receiving orders online. However, slightly fewer businesses use the internet for placing orders, suggesting potential for growth in Business-to-Business (B2B) e-commerce platforms and the digitization of procurement processes.
The accommodation and food services sector has an 87.5% internet usage rate, while the real estate activities and mining and quarrying sectors report 88.5% and 81.8% internet usage, respectively.
The survey findings also indicate that the government is making progress in digitizing government services and public sector operations. Public Administration stands at 96.3% internet usage, driven by e-governance initiatives, online service delivery, and internal administrative efficiency.
The survey typically includes a range of business institutions such as small, medium, and large enterprises across different sectors. It often categorizes businesses by size to gauge ICT access and usage patterns, with particular attention to smaller businesses given their different challenges and capacities. However, the precise report details, including the types of institutions surveyed and the percentage of smaller businesses surveyed, are not available in the search results.
The survey results also show that 59.8% of institutions placed orders online, and 88.4% of institutions engaged in social media activities. The public still expresses apprehension about placing orders online, but the survey indicates that this trend is changing as more businesses embrace digital transformation.
In conclusion, the 2023/24 ICT survey reveals a compelling shift towards digitalisation among businesses in Zimbabwe. The survey findings provide valuable insights into the ICT adoption and usage patterns among various sectors, paving the way for further digital transformation and economic growth in the country. For more detailed findings, we encourage readers to refer to official publications by Zimbabwe's government agencies such as the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT) or communications from the Ministry of ICT.
The Finance and Insurance sectors, along with ICT companies, have fully integrated the internet into their business operations, indicating a significant role of technology in their lifestyle and financial practices. The survey also reveals a shift towards e-commerce and online sales channels in various sectors, with potential growth in Business-to-Business (B2B) digital transactions, suggesting the impact of technology on Zimbabwe's business landscape and lifestyle.
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