Faced with the increasing digitalization of commerce, this solution can help small South African businesses become digital-ready.

South African startup BoxCommerce has developed a digital solution enabling small businesses to easily create online stores without requiring technical expertise. Launched in 2019 and headquartered in Johannesburg under the leadership of Craig Mcleod, BoxCommerce integrates essential e-commerce functionalities – hosting, design, inventory management, payments, and deliveries – into a user-friendly mobile interface.

The BoxCommerce solution features a mobile application available on the Android platform, where it has garnered over a thousand downloads via the Play Store. Users can create an account and access a comprehensive dashboard offering various features to build and manage their online storefront. The platform incorporates local payment systems, emphasizing simplicity to streamline the management of newly established online shops.

In May 2025, BoxCommerce announced its expansion into the United Arab Emirates (UAE), while reaffirming its ongoing commitment to the African continent. According to Craig Mcleod, "The UAE is a strategic market for BoxCommerce. With mobile commerce dominating and over 70% of the population shopping online, the country is projected to grow its e-commerce market size to AED 48 billion (approximately $13 billion) by 2028. Our platform is designed to help local businesses tap into this explosive growth."

This expansion underscores BoxCommerce's ambition to develop a versatile and accessible tool capable of supporting small businesses globally. While e-commerce remains a relatively small segment in many parts of Africa, this South African innovation highlights a significant trend: the emergence of homegrown solutions designed to address the continent's unique challenges.

By Adoni Conrad Quenum,

Editing by Feriol Bewa