This archive report was first published on 13 July 2021.
Women's Fear of Electronic Business ¶
According to a recent study, nearly 79% of Kenyan consumers have increased their online shopping since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
On July 13, 2021, a virtual knowledge exchange session on Cross-Sector Partnerships in East Africa to advance women's economic resilience through digital platforms was organized by New Faces New Voices (NFNV) – Kenya in partnership with Women Win.
During the session, guest speakers discussed the challenges women in business face when embracing technology. They noted that women often lack the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively use online platforms, leading to hesitation in engaging in electronic business activities.
Wandia Gichuru, CEO and Co-Founder of Vivo Woman, emphasized the importance of building trust with the online community. She stated that customers tend to research products or services on social networks before making a purchase, but e-business activities that lack consistency can limit reliability and trust.
Patricia Okelo, Founder of Kayana Creative, highlighted the need for women in business to acquire technology-know-how in developing e-commerce models. She noted that many educational programs are available to equip women with essential knowledge on how to sell their products online.
Asha Mweru, Co-Founder of WomenWork Kenya, stressed the importance of building internal and external partnerships to drive innovation and solve technology challenges. She emphasized that content is critical when selling products and services online.
As the digital landscape continues to evolve, it is essential for women in business to overcome their fears and embrace technology to increase their access to sales and improve their economic resilience.
