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RS launches e-commerce website for Sub-Saharan Africa

The company started as a supplier of parts to the burgeoning radio market that has evolved into a global distribution enterprise, with operations in Europe, North America, Asia and Africa. (Image Source: UNAMID/Flickr)

Global industrial distributor, RS South Africa has launched a new e-commerce website for Sub-Saharan African region, aiming to provide simplified customer experience for local people

The company started as a supplier of parts to the burgeoning radio market that has evolved into a global distribution enterprise, with operations in Europe, North America, Asia and Africa.

The new RS Africa website currently provides services to Angola, Botswana, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The company has also announced plans to expand in other parts of the continent.

“With the new website, customers receive their products much quicker and we can give additional markets in Africa access to our range through our e-commerce platform where they can pay via credit card,” said the company.

RS is globally renowned as one of the first industrial distributors to successfully transition into an e-commerce business within the B2B space and continues to win awards for innovation and supplier development.

Brian Andrew, managing director of RS South Africa, said, “Customers in Africa had access to our products prior to the website, however there were long lead times and higher freight costs depending on location. There is also an improved customer experience with our French and Portuguese speaking sales agents, so that customers can comfortably engage in their language of preference.”

RS is interested in STEM education and globally supports a number of initiatives to up-skilling the next generation of engineers and technicians in the region.

Started in 1996, the company has a 22 years of flagship operation in Africa with experience in distributing products and components to engineers around the continent.

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