As Africa’s informal economy transitions into the digital age, a new class of tech platforms is stepping up to modernise how small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operate.
From Lagos to Johannesburg and to Lusaka, tech startups like Lumi Business, Yoco, Kazang, Bumpa, and TradeDepot are changing the narratives, and are becoming central to the way retail happens.
Techparley details what people are saying about the industry, and how these platforms are being received by the populace.
What Merchants Are Saying
For many small business owners, the transformation is tangible. Merchants point to the availability of POS terminals as game-changers.
“I can now sell airtime, electricity, and accept cards with one machine,” says Funmi Adisa, a POS merchant in Lagos. “And I earn something from every sale. That’s income I didn’t have before.”
Funmi’s experience is echoed by many who rely on platforms that were built with Africa’s infrastructure challenges in mind.
In places where power cuts and unstable connections are the norm, merchants appreciate tools that allow them to keep operating regardless of external disruptions.
“In the past, we couldn’t sell to customers with no cash. It was always a problem. Customers would leave, sales would drop,” says David Eze, who runs an electronics shop in Lagos. “Now, with the emergence of these platforms, we keep selling and we don’t even worry anymore.”
Both business owners agree on one thing: the platforms that will win are the ones that understand local realities—limited connectivity, tight margins, and the need for fast support.
Solving Pain Points or Creating New Ones?
According to Bimbo Ogumbi, a Lagos-based fintech analyst, the demand for integrated tools is only going to grow.
“African SMEs don’t have the luxury of time or staff to manage five different apps for payments, stock, loyalty, and customer data. The market is hungry for platforms that do it all, especially if they’re affordable and work offline,” Bimbo said.
However, she notes that user onboarding and education still lag behind the technology.
“A lot of these tools are feature-rich, but many merchants don’t fully understand them. That gap between functionality and adoption is where many platforms struggle,” she added.
Meanwhile, Moses Abraham, a retail analyst, says the ecosystem is still fragmented, with each platform solving a narrow piece of the puzzle.
“These platforms are doing great but no one has completely unified the retail experience for microbusinesses. Who builds the first truly complete, offline-resilient, and scalable operating system for African retail? That’s the race,” Moses said.
Moses adds that trust, pricing transparency, and regional adaptability will be the deciding factors in the next phase of growth.
A Room for Growth
For the average small business owner in Africa, these platforms offer something far more powerful than just dashboards and reports, they offer peace of mind.
Lumi Business, for example, has drawn attention for its Offline Mode, a feature that allows merchants to process transactions, issue receipts, and track stock even without internet access.
Yoco is also viewed as a standout, particularly for its laser focus on card payments and its strong brand among South African entrepreneurs, while Bumpa helps merchants set up an online store in less than five minutes, with no coding required.
But as the experts point out, the job isn’t finished. Adoption challenges, infrastructure gaps, and the need for localised support remain.
What’s clear, however, is that retail-tech is now a necessity. And in this race to digitise Africa’s commerce, the platforms that listen closest to the merchant’s voice are the ones most likely to lead.
