Influence of e-commerce on the working capital requirements of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in Guinea

Abstract

The development of e-commerce by SMEs in Guinea in the context of the gradual digitisation of the economy raises important issues in terms of working capital management, particularly due to cash flow constraints related to collection periods, inventory financing and logistics costs.The main objective of this research is to analyse the influence of e-commerce on the working capital requirements of SMEs in Guinea. To achieve this objective, we used a questionnaire to collect quantitative data over a period from November 2025 to February 2026 from a sample of 135 SMEs identified by the quota method in the database of the National Directorate of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises of Guinea that sell their goods via digital platforms. The results show, on the one hand, that e-commerce has a significant negative influence on inventory and receivables turnover times and, on the other hand, that e-commerce has a positive influence on supplier payment times for SMEs in Guinea. This research further encourages SME managers to turn to e-commerce, which is a strategic lever for reducing working capital requirements through the gradual restructuring of financial and logistical practices. SME managers must align their e-commerce strategy with their financial capacity while integrating WCR management into their digitalisation strategy.

JEL Classification: G30

Paper type: Applied research