Impact of Digitized Platforms on Entrepreneurs

Best Practices and Lessons Learnt for African Women’s Economic Empowerment

Abstract

Digital platforms offer significant opportunities for enterprises, yet women entrepreneurs face persistent challenges in fully benefiting from the digital economy. Limited access to affordable, reliable internet, low digital literacy, and unfamiliarity with online tools hinder engagement. Without targeted interventions, these barriers risk deepening inequities in entrepreneurial success. This article examines the impact of online platforms on entrepreneurship, focusing on best practices and lessons learned for African women’s economic empowerment. It enhances understanding of digital opportunities and challenges faced by African women entrepreneurs and critically reviews existing literature to offer globally and regionally relevant strategies. The study also addresses a conceptual gap in African Feminist Epistemological methodologies, emphasizing women’s knowledge and lived experiences in digital entrepreneurship and bridging gaps in feminist research frameworks. Guided by opportunity creation theory, a systematic literature review was conducted, drawing on global, regional, and local studies to assess how women use online platforms for income generation and business development. Studies from Africa, Europe, and Australia were analysed to identify trends, methodologies, and documentation gaps. Key themes include barriers to access, lessons from best practices, and the effectiveness of digital tools in enhancing women’s enterprises. Data analysis was conducted using Microsoft Excel for categorization and interpretation. Findings show that digital platforms significantly enhance financial inclusion, business growth, and independence for women entrepreneurs. Platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn offer spaces for learning and experience-sharing, informing global best practice frameworks. Social media also helps overcome socio-cultural barriers, boost entrepreneurial participation, and provide essential education and tools for empowerment. To bridge the digital gender divide, governments must improve infrastructure such as internet access. Collaboration among governments and organisations is vital for skill development, networking, and market diversification, addressing socio-economic barriers and fostering inclusive digital entrepreneurship.