E- commerce Adoption and Development in an African Context: A Literature Review of Botswana

Abstract

The aim of this study is to provide a comprehensive analysis of existing research on the acceptance and development of e-commerce in Botswana, with the intention of providing suggestions for future research areas. This study utilized Google Scholar's comprehensive coverage of journal databases to collect academic papers published between the years 2000 and 2023. A Boolean search was employed to analyze these publications. A total of 65 papers were reviewed. The authors identified a gap in the existing research on the implementation and progress of electronic commerce in Botswana, noting that the current studies were outdated. The study identified a range of factors that influence the development and adoption of e-commerce in Botswana. These factors include organizational aspects, internet pricing, security concerns, electricity interruptions, market suitability, innovation, management dedication, government policies, telecommunication infrastructure, e-commerce skills, credit card usage, slow internet connectivity, organization size, website design, gender, financing, and regulatory matters, among others. Subsequent research should ascertain the validity of the existing findings, embrace technology and innovation frameworks, and explore the adoption of e-commerce from the customer's standpoint. Though this review provides valuable insights into e-commerce development in Botswana and other developing economies, but its conclusions should be approached cautiously due to its limited selection of studies and reliance on past and existing research. Furthermore, it covers Botswana's e-commerce adoption, a topic understudied in the literature. It also discusses the factors affecting e-commerce uptake in developing nations and the policy implications for fostering it. E-commerce can boost economic diversification and inclusive growth in developing nations, according to the assessment. Future research should focus on e-commerce's impact on economic diversification and inclusive growth, particularly in emerging nations like Botswana.