Physical vs Digital vs Services
Sokobuni supports three product types. Choosing the right one affects how checkout, fulfillment, and delivery work for your customers.
At a glance
Physical Products
Physical products require shipping. After a customer purchases, you fulfill the order manually — pack it, ship it, add a tracking number.
Best for: Handmade goods, clothing, food, electronics, homeware, crafts.
Key features:
- Variants (size, color, material)
- Stock levels per variant
- Shipping profiles and rates
- Kenya county-based pricing (Mwanzo)
Digital Products
Digital products are files your customers download after purchase. The platform sends a secure, time-limited download link automatically after payment.
Best for: eBooks, music, design templates, presets, software, photography, courses.
Key features:
- Upload any file type (PDF, ZIP, MP3, etc.)
- Set max downloads per purchase (default: 3)
- Download links expire after 5 minutes for security
- No shipping required — instant delivery
You can sell the same "product" in both physical and digital variants. For example, a book available as a paperback (physical) or PDF (digital).
Services
Services are time-based offerings. Customers book a slot and you confirm or decline the booking.
Best for: Consultations, photography sessions, lessons, coaching, design work, beauty services.
Key features:
- Set your availability (days, hours)
- Buffer time between bookings
- Accept/decline bookings from the dashboard
- Customers receive booking confirmation by email
Making the choice
| I want to sell… | Use |
|---|---|
| A t-shirt, craft, or product that ships | Physical |
| An eBook, music track, or template | Digital |
| A 1-hour design consultation | Service |
| Online lessons or courses | Digital (or Service if live) |
| Photography session | Service |