• Schneider Electric East Africa has announced that it has launched an ecommerce platform in the region.
• It says the platform aims to enhance the procurement process for its entire product range.
• The brand will also look to increase its visibility in Kenya, with a website going live next year.

Schneider Electric East Africa wants to engage more with customers online.

We’re not talking here about a social media presence, but rather an ecommerce one, with the East Africa arm of the electric equipment manufacturer and manager launching an ecommerce platform in the region.

Here Schneider explains that the platform is aimed at enhancing the procurement process for its entire product range and is designed to cater to a diverse target market.

“The target market includes tier 2 channels (resellers, indirect panel builder and indirect system integrators, Industry maintenance teams, building managers, end-users and retails customers delivering the products at their doorstep,” it highlights in a press release to Hypertext.

As for the wide product range, the company says its ecommerce portal lists options under Home and Building, Power Products, Industry Business, Digital Energy, and the Access to Energy portfolio. It will also primarily target customers in the residential market, and specifically those who would often have to travel far to a distributor or commercial customers.

“With the eCommerce platform, customers can access the required products locally, conveniently, faster and at their desired location without intermediary intervention,” says Geraldine Sande, Channel Sales leader for Schneider Electric East Africa.

She adds that Kenya in particular is a key market for the company. “We noticed a gap in the market in terms of brand visibility in Kenya. Many people would ask if Schneider Electric was present in Kenya because we did not have a website (the website will go live in 2025) or any formal digital footprint. Instead, customers would find our partners on other Schneider Electric subsidiary platforms. The customer would also need to have a list of partners online and thus have insight about which solution is found from which channel partner.”

“Given this, we felt there was a need to utilise another vehicle to be in front of the customer whenever someone is searching for a product and ensure the product is easily accessible, aside from going through our existing distribution channels,” she continues.

With access to power solutions a concern for all nations across the African continent, having built a strong presence in Southern Africa, it looks like Schneider is turning its attention to East Africa now.