The app will give consumers and small businesses access to services without needing to download multiple apps to order various goods.
By JULIE OWINO, NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 4 – Kenyans can now do their shopping directly from local merchants and have their goods delivered to them in less than one hour through a newly launched e-commerce platform GoBeba.
The GoBeba app will support the distribution of goods to micro-retailers in small urban centers across the country.
GoBEBA’s co-founder Lesley Mbogo said the app will give consumers and small businesses access to services without needing to download multiple apps to order various goods.
“By sending in a shopping list of items you would like to purchase, GoBEBA also allows customers who do not own smartphones to make orders by calling or sending an SMS directly through the platform. The experts, called GoBEBA Pros, will then find and shop the items on behalf of the customer, and then deliver them in less than an hour,” said Lesley.
GoBEBA’s co-founder and former OLX Country Manager Peter Ndiang’ui said Africa’s growing young population and middle class presents an opportunity for e-commerce and logistics companies.
“In Sub-Saharan Africa, consumption of goods is rising fast and is estimated to reach Sh200 trillion by 2025, as incomes grow and more people move into urban centers. However, these urban consumers face a growing challenge of highly trafficked and crowded cities in a highly fragmented retail environment, making it difficult to access goods conveniently,” he said.
The new e-commerce platform has partnered with various merchants to offer localized services including gas delivery and shopping services at the local farmers markets such as City Market, Marikiti, and Ngara market.
They have also partnered with hundreds of Tuk-Tuk, Bodaboda, and Pickup owners to help deliver to its growing customer base.
The Kenyan technology startup with continental ambitions is targeting to expand to other African countries such as Nigeria, Egypt, South Africa, Ethiopia, Ghana and Ivory Coast over the next five years.
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