Case Study

Soug App

Empowering local businesses with a social commerce platform

In Algeria, over 80% of small businesses struggled to harness the power of digital platforms, leaving them unable to capitalize on the growing e-commerce market. These merchants lacked the technical skills and tools necessary to engage with online sales channels effectively.

Problem: Struggles of Small Businesses in Algeria

After extensive conversations with local business owners in community forums, especially within Facebook groups, a common frustration became evident. Merchants faced the following challenges:

• Managing Inventory Across Platforms: Most small businesses used multiple channels—such as social media and in-store sales—without efficient tools for synchronizing inventory.
• Limited Digital Visibility: Lacking the resources or know-how to manage online visibility, businesses struggled to convert social media engagement into sales.
• Disconnected Sales Channels: With no integration between social media posts and e-commerce, many potential sales opportunities were lost.

Recognizing these issues, Soug set out to create solutions that could transform these merchants' digital journey.

Research Phase: Understanding Merchant Challenges

To develop a solution that truly addressed these pain points, we conducted in-depth research:

• Interviews & Surveys: We spoke with hundreds of small business owners, uncovering common challenges in logistics, online presence, and product management.
• Observational Studies: Watching merchants sell via Instagram and TikTok revealed pain points in user interaction and product discovery, highlighting the need for more intuitive e-commerce tools.
• Competitor Analysis: Existing e-commerce platforms lacked the flexibility and user-friendliness small businesses with minimal digital experience needed. These platforms also failed to effectively integrate social media with direct sales.

Key Insights:

• Merchants needed simple and intuitive tools for setting up and managing online stores.
• Social media was critical for sales, but there was a clear gap in turning social engagement into direct purchases.
• Efficient inventory and order management across multiple sales platforms was essential for smooth operations.

Soug.link – A Personalized Link-in-bio for Shopping

Soug.link was created to provide merchants with a powerful yet easy-to-use solution for their e-commerce needs. It allowed them to share a single, customizable link-in-bio across social media that acted as a shoppable storefront. Customers could browse and purchase products directly from merchants' social feeds, creating a seamless path from engagement to sale.

Soug.link made everything so much simpler. The ease of setting up our store and sharing products through a single link has boosted our engagement across social media.

Glorious Luxury

Key Features:

• Shipping Information Display: Upfront shipping rates and delivery options, tailored to different regions, helped reduce cart abandonment by eliminating surprises during checkout.
• Customizable Product Listings: Merchants had the freedom to organize and display their products to best suit their target audience, whether it was by best-sellers, seasonal items, or special collections.
• Shoppable Social Media Links: By sharing their Soug.link on platforms like Instagram and Facebook, merchants transformed their social media presence into a direct sales channel, increasing engagement and conversions.

The Soug App: A Comprehensive Social Commerce Platform

While Soug.link served as an individual storefront, Soug.app acted as a centralized marketplace where all merchant products were displayed for discovery by customers. This platform simplified the shopping experience, making it easy for users to browse and buy from multiple stores.

Key Features:

• Easy Storefront Setup: Even merchants with no prior e-commerce experience could quickly set up fully functional online stores, upload product catalogs, and manage pricing.
• Real-Time Inventory Management: Merchants were equipped to track stock levels accurately, preventing overselling and maintaining a reliable shopping experience.
• Social Commerce and Live Shopping: Soug.app’s live shopping and in-app chat features were the first of their kind in the region, revolutionizing how merchants engaged with customers online. This allowed merchants to replicate the personalized, interactive experience of a physical store, fostering trust and real-time engagement.
• Store Locations & Pickup Options: For merchants with physical stores, the ability to display store locations and offer pickup options ensured a seamless omnichannel experience.

Soug.app modernized our operations without needing technical expertise. Inventory management is now seamless, and our customers love the pickup option

Le Jardin d'Aloe Vera

User Experience Improvements: How Soug Transformed the Shopping Journey

Soug.link and Soug.app were designed with both merchants and customers in mind, making their experiences easier, faster, and more enjoyable:

• Easy Store Setup for Merchants: Even those without technical expertise could have a professional online storefront running in minutes, saving countless hours in store management.
• Seamless Social Commerce Integration: By transforming social media posts into shoppable moments, Soug allowed merchants to capitalize on every social interaction, turning followers into customers without adding complexity to the process.
• Transparency & Efficiency: With features like real-time inventory updates and upfront shipping information, merchants provided customers with a reliable and frustration-free shopping experience.
• Interactive Shopping Experience: Live shopping and in-app chat features allowed merchants to replicate the personal interaction found in physical stores, making customers feel valued and improving satisfaction rates.

Impact & Success Metrics: Driving Growth for Small Businesses

Since its launch, Soug.link and Soug.app have had a profound impact on merchants across Algeria, with the introduction of the first-ever live shopping and in-app chat features in the region, Soug brought the personal touch of physical shopping into the digital realm. This innovation allowed merchants to build stronger relationships with customers, leading to improved satisfaction and increased conversions.

The app's live shopping feature helped us build a personal connection with our customers. We've seen satisfaction rates soar since using Soug.app.

Mastura DZ

• 3x Increase in Revenue: Merchants using Soug’s tools saw their revenue triple, especially during and after the COVID-19 pandemic as they shifted focus to online sales.
• 50% Increase in Customer Retention: User-friendly product pages, real-time inventory management, and transparent shipping information boosted repeat purchases and improved customer loyalty.
• 20% Higher Social Commerce Conversion: By integrating shoppable links into social media posts, merchants experienced a 20% rise in conversion rates, transforming social media engagement into direct sales.
• Time Savings: Real-time inventory management saved merchants an average of 5 hours per week, allowing them to focus more on customer relationships and less on manual tasks.

Conclusion: A Game-Changer for Small and Medium Businesses

Soug.link and Soug.app have fundamentally transformed how small businesses in Algeria operate in the digital space. By providing easy-to-use tools that integrate seamlessly with social media, Soug has enabled merchants to:

• Increase revenue by 3x.
• Boost customer retention by 50%.
• Achieve 20% higher conversion rates on social media.

With its innovative solutions, Soug helped businesses bridge the gap between social engagement and e-commerce, creating lasting customer relationships while driving growth.