Independent marketplace intelligence
The stories behind South African e-commerce
Original investigations, seller experience and practical analysis of Takealot, Amazon and the systems shaping online retail in South Africa.
Read the latest investigation ↓Our focus
Marketplace integrity, seller operations, search visibility, advertising, APIs, automation and the realities of competing online.
Latest investigation
From Marketplace Insider
Marketplace Operations
When algorithms
block supply.
Is Takealot's Replenishment Algorithm Costing It Millions in Lost Revenue?
How Takealot's replenishment system may be creating a self-reinforcing loop that prevents sellers from restocking, potentially costing the platform millions in lost revenue.
Read the full investigation →Coverage
Intelligence for people who sell online
Marketplace integrity
Reviews, catalogue abuse, seller conduct and platform accountability.
Seller operations
Stock, fulfilment, product data and the realities behind marketplace growth.
Data and automation
APIs, monitoring, software and practical tools built from seller experience.
Advertising and search
CPC trends, ranking behaviour, product visibility and competitive dynamics.
About the publication
Built from experience, backed by data
Marketplace Insider is an independent South African e-commerce publication founded a software developer turned marketplace seller.
It combines nearly three decades of technical experience with first-hand knowledge of selling online since 2017. The goal is simple: investigate what matters, explain how marketplace systems work and help create a fairer environment for consumers and sellers.