Black Friday 2026: How AI and AEO are reshaping South African retail

The Media OnlineZaida Kamish & Malcolm Peters · 11 September 2026 at 06:16

AI is reshaping shopping as South Africans use conversational search to find deals and compare products. Black Friday is now a season, with promotions starting months earlier. Omnichannel retail matters, linking online discovery with physical stores. Fast fulfilment is expected, making same- or…
— The Media Online

Read the full story on The Media Online

This story was written and published by The Media Online. Business.co.za shows its headline and teaser from the publisher’s RSS feed and links to the original.

What business people are saying

No comments yet. Be the first.

More in Tech & telecoms

All →

The Media Online11 Sept

The signals shaping business, media, tech and consumer behaviour across Africa

[PRESS OFFICE] A weekly intelligence briefing tracking the signals shaping business, media, technology, and consumer behaviour across Africa. Created by dentsu Africa’s network of experts across the continent, Pulse helps organisations understand what is changing, why it matters and where…

Tech & telecoms Read on The Media Online ↗

The Media Online11 Sept

Talking in codes: Should emojis be considered a form of online harm?

Emojis can be weaponised to insult, threaten, sexualise, exclude or conceal harmful communication. Context determines meaning: an emoji that appears harmless can contribute to cyberbullying, harassment or grooming depending on how it is used. South African law focuses on harmful conduct, rather…

Tech & telecoms Read on The Media Online ↗

The Media Online11 Sept

9/11 transformed our relationship with news – and laid the groundwork for today’s crisis of trust

9/11 changed trust in news media: Patriotic reporting after the attacks contributed to a long-term decline in trust in mainstream journalism. The ‘war on terror’ shaped news narratives: Media in the US and abroad largely echoed government framing of terrorism, war and freedom. Reporting bias had…

Tech & telecoms Read on The Media Online ↗

The Citizen11 Sept

Telkom Towers part of R4.5bn Pretoria CBD revival plan

Project expected to create more than 12 700 construction jobs and drive Pretoria's inner city rejuvenation.

Tech & telecoms Read on The Citizen ↗

SME South Africa11 Sept

Why Small Businesses Need an AI Prompt Library

Artificial intelligence (AI) is quickly becoming a practical tool for small businesses, helping owners save time, streamline tasks and work smarter. But getting useful results…

Tech & telecoms Read on SME South Africa ↗

ITWeb10 Sept

A false sense of security

As ransomware evolves, backups have become the last line of defence, and the hardest to get right.

Tech & telecoms Read on ITWeb ↗