Online classifieds OLX has launched a new mobile app, with added security features and a unique chat function where buyers and sellers can chat directly and securely.
The launch of the new app follows extensive growth in mobile shopping in South Africa. OLX recently reported that over 65% of traffic to their platform is now via mobile devices. This growth has been experienced across the board in the mobile shopping category.
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Comments OLX Country Manager Stephen Ballot, ”Mobile penetration is at more than 100% at the moment with between 10 and 15 million South Africans using smartphones, and growing. If we look at desktop penetration, this is number is just 14% and declining.”
“With the bulk of users now accessing our platform via mobile devices we chose to invest a lot of time and effort into the new OLX app to make it more secure and user-friendly than ever before. As a global business OLX is able to leverage technology developed in tandem with teams all over the world. We were therefore able to create our new app with such technology but built around the needs of the local South African market.’’
Buyers and sellers can now communicate on OLX directly without having to store numbers, use Whatsapp or SMS. Each advert will feature a chat box linking buyers and sellers. The in-app chat also includes a ‘block user’ option allowing buyers and sellers the option to block unwanted contact from a particular user.
The new app also features added spammer detection technology and a report button on adverts which allows users to instantly flag potential spammers. OLX is then able to react immediately.
As a global business, available in over 106 countries, OLX is now the single largest online classifieds brand in the world. Adds Ballot, “The growth that OLX has seen in South Africa over recent months has been nothing short of remarkable, and the projections for 2016 are looking exciting for the entire online classifieds space.”
To download the new OLX app click here.
