Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic had a significant impact on business operations and consumer behaviour across the world. The South African online retail environment also encountered different opportunities and last-mile logistics challenges. However, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on online consumer behaviour has received limited attention. Furthermore, limited studies exist which have measured the online buying behaviour of young people, an important online market segment.Objectives: The primary purpose of this study was to determine whether the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic significantly influenced the online shopping behaviour of young people and to provide online retailers and consumer behaviour theorists with a better appreciation of young consumers’ online purchasing needs, which will assist them in developing and effecting appropriate last-mile logistics strategies.Methods: A quantitative research design was used, and empirical data were collected from two non-probability sampling surveys conducted in 2019 (before the COVID-19 pandemic) and in 2020 (during the COVID-19 pandemic) of 461 young people in the Johannesburg area. A self-administered online questionnaire was used to collect the research data.Results: The results indicate that online shopping behaviour either did not change or increased because of the COVID-19 pandemic for most respondents. Young online consumers consider order fulfilment aspects to be more important than the tangible considerations of online retailers.Conclusion: This research study provides a distinct perspective of young people’s perceptions of online shopping and makes a meaningful contribution by identifying the important fulfilment-related service quality expectations of young online customers in South Africa.

Skills requirements in South African supply chains: A higher education perspective

Background: Global supply chains have evolved from a traditional simple supply chain to one that is filled with complexities and uncertainties. The increase in road freight transportation has resulted in an escalation in the emission of greenhouse gases (GHG) into the atmosphere, impacting climate change.Objectives: The purpose of this article was to investigate the implementation of sustainable supply chain initiatives in reducing GHG emissions within the South African road freight transport industry.Method: This research utilised a case study approach and used primary data, obtained through self-administered questionnaires, to explore the adopting sustainable transport management practices.Results: The main drivers for implementing sustainable initiatives are pressure from consumer and brand protection, pressure from top management, and cost saving and revenue. Eco-driving, eco-routing and increasing vehicle carrying capacity are the most adopted sustainable supply chain initiatives implemented. The key benefits resulting from implementing sustainable initiatives were operational cost savings, improved competitive advantage and enhanced supplier relationships. Also, the lack of government support, lack of understanding of the cost and insufficient manpower were identified as the foremost challenges associated with the implementation of these sustainable initiatives.Conclusion: The results reveal that organisations are placed under enormous pressure to implement sustainable practices. This study identifies various sustainable initiatives to reduce GHG emissions and addresses the associated benefits and challenges when implementing these initiatives.

The remarkable global growth in the online retail market has resulted in many challenges for online grocery retailers. The emerging South African online grocery market is faced with unique last-mile logistical challenges. This article identifies the main service quality expectations of South African online grocery consumers and provides online grocery retailers with an improved understanding of their consumers’ service requirements and enables them to formulate and implement effective last-mile logistics strategies. This research utilises a quantitative research design and used primary data, obtained through self-administered online questionnaires. The research shows that attended home/work delivery was rated the consumers’ most preferred last-mile delivery option and that the delivery option does affect consumers’ final decision to purchase groceries online. Respondents clearly indicated delivery costs as the most important factor when selecting a delivery service. Although the research findings indicate that South African consumers are still not very confident about buying groceries online, the various factors identified provide opportunities for retailers to exploit possible market opportunities to build consumers’ confidence whilst increasing their market share.

Background: Supply chain operations in many organisations are becoming vulnerable to increasing supply chain risks because of unforeseen events that can disrupt the flow of goods and services across the value chain.Objectives: The primary objectives of this study were to determine the most significant supply chain risks in the South African manufacturing sector, to ascertain the effects of supply chain risks in the South African manufacturing sector and to determine the risk mitigation measures that the South African manufacturing sector employs to manage supply chain risks.Method: A quantitative research design was used, and the philosophical paradigm for this study was positivism, with empirical data collected using a self-administered online questionnaire. Exploratory factor analysis, correlation analysis and regression analysis were employed to analyse the research data.Results: The study’s findings revealed that supply chain risks have a significant relationship to supply chain operations. The correlation analysis revealed a positive correlation between logistics risk, supply risk, financial risk and supply chain operations. In contrast, the findings suggested a weak relationship between environmental and demand risk in supply chain operations.Contribution: Findings suggest that logistical, supply and financial risks are the most important supply chain risks affecting manufacturers in South Africa and should be prominently featured in risk mitigation strategies.Conclusion: The findings of this study provide supply chain managers with a better understanding of supply chain risk and its effects on organisational operations.