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"Wal-Mart's supply chain skills are unmatchable. One the one hand there's the competition aspect, but if they [local retailers] open their eyes there's a lot they can pick up," an analyst told I-Net Bridge/BusinessLIVE.

Almost eight months after the retail giant's official offer last year, Wal-Mart on Monday announced that its 51% purchase of Massmart, the owner of Dion Wired, Builders Warehouse, Game and others was done and dusted.

The Competition Tribunal gave its nod on the mega-deal last month, adding a few conditions for good measure - the bulk of which the merging companies had already agreed on.

Much to the dismay of government and labour unions, who remain concerned that the acquisition will lead to job losses and hurt local procurement, the tribunal shied away from local procurement targets.

The tribunal is set to issue reasons for its approval by June 29.

Apart from the consumer benefit of lower prices on a wider range of products, job creation and SA being thrust into the spotlight as a good investment destination, the deal is being seen as a major game-changer for the South African retail landscape.

Natalie Berg, global research director at Planet Retail, said South African retailers and suppliers needed to be ready for a major efficiency drive and should brace themselves for a new era of retailing as Wal-Mart's impact was expected to be colossal and far-reaching.

"The very first thing South African retailers should be doing is centralising distribution in order to get rid of duplication in the supply chain. They should also take a leaf from European and American retailers' books by reviewing the validity of their product assortment and rationalising underperforming stock-keeping units," she said in a report titled "Wal-Mart in SA: The Beginning of a New Age".

According to economist Mike Schussler, transport companies in SA believe that Wal-Mart could bring logistics costs down.

"In SA, one of our biggest challenges is on the logistics side, and it's where we're doing badly. Wal-Mart's global logistic savvy would be something that local players could learn from," he told I-Net Bridge/BusinessLIVE.

Similarly, Johan van Zyl, manufacturing director of Kraft Foods for sub-Saharan Africa, said dealing with Wal-Mart would give companies an "in" into sales and distribution opportunities that might not have existed otherwise.

"Wal-Mart will bring purchasing muscle and insight into sales and distribution opportunities to SA," he said.

Whether or not local retailers will embrace the learning curve remains to be seen. One thing is for sure, though, the beast of Bentonville, where Wal-Mart is headquartered, has arrived.