By the time John\u2019s secondment to South Africa ended in November 2023, Massmart had overhauled its Makro, Game, and Builders websites and launched a Makro shopping app.<\/p>\n
During his tenure, Massmart also acquired OneCart and Wumdrop, helping the company implement a next-day pickup option and reduce Makro and Game delivery lead times.<\/p>\n
In May 2023, Massmart also announced that it had started using Walmart\u2019s Global Integrated Fulfillment (GIF) Store Assist software across all Makro stores<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n The company said it believes the software would allow it to offer guaranteed same and next-day order fulfilment soon.<\/p>\n Also in May last year, Massmart appointed Thembani Biyam<\/strong><\/a> as its e-commerce vice president for consumer platforms.<\/p>\n Biyam said over 80% of Makro and Builders orders were delivered in two days or less with high on-time delivery rates during the first quarter of 2023.<\/p>\n Srividya Pandya replaced Sylvester John as Massmart\u2019s head of e-commerce on 1 November 2023.<\/p>\n Pandya was also seconded from Walmart US<\/strong><\/a>, where she is vice president of strategic integration. She also previously worked at Amazon.<\/p>\n Makro\u2019s competitors have not been resting on their laurels, though.<\/p>\n Takealot has continued expanding and is leaning into its leadership position in logistics to offer services like same-day delivery through TakealotNow.<\/p>\n It also started offering Pick n Pay grocery deliveries<\/strong><\/a> in 2022 and launched pickup counters<\/strong><\/a> in the retailer\u2019s stores in 2023.<\/p>\n Bob Group launched its R30 standard shipping service<\/strong><\/a> last year and started testing smart locker pickup points called Bob Box<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n Srividya Pandya, Massmart head of e-commerce<\/p><\/div>\n Earlier this month, Amazon launched its South African marketplace<\/strong><\/a>, setting a cat amongst the pigeons in the local e-commerce sector.<\/p>\n Amazon and Walmart are fierce rivals in the US and around the world.<\/p>\n Although the company didn\u2019t launch a full-strength service, with Amazon\u2019s own electronic devices and Prime subscription service notably absent, industry experts say<\/strong><\/a> these will come in time.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Srividya-Pandya.jpg\")
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