Kenyan e-commerce startup tappi has recently partnered with the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) to launch digital services for 30,000 micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in the country.
This strategic partnership aims to equip these businesses with the necessary tools and resources to establish and strengthen their online presence, ultimately driving growth and supporting the nation’s economy.
Tappi’s Rapid Growth and Offerings
Founded in 2022, tappi has been on a rapid growth trajectory, capturing verified reviews on over US$3 million worth of consumer transactions and engaging with more than 150,000 consumers.
The startup’s innovative platform offers a range of services tailored to the needs of SMEs, including:
- Web Presence Creation: tappi enables businesses to build a simple website in just a few minutes through their app, providing them with an online address and legitimacy.
- Social Media Advertising: Businesses can create and run social media ads on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Google using mobile money or airtime credit, eliminating the need for credit cards and making advertising accessible to a broader range of enterprises.
- Customer Reviews and Reputation Management: tappi facilitates customer reviews and helps businesses leverage them to build trust and credibility, having reportedly captured over 3 million verified reviews on consumer transactions.
- Customer Engagement Tools: The platform allows businesses to build customer profiles and send bulk SMS or promotional offers to their client base.
Back in March of last year, we reported that the startup had expanded its operations to Ivory Coast, making it its third market after Kenya and Nigeria.
The Sukuma Biz Initiative
The startup has now announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the KNCCI to launch the Sukuma Biz initiative
Through this initiative, KNCCI members will gain access to a unique package of digital services designed to bolster their online credibility and identity.
For a monthly fee of KES 500, members will receive their own business landing page featuring the KNCCI logo, access to 50 customer reviews via SMS, WhatsApp, or additional channels, and the ability to send 250 text marketing messages directly to their customers.
Leveraging tappi’s SaaS and enterprise-grade solutions, KNCCI members will be able to generate SEO-optimized websites in less than two minutes by answering eight simple questions through an intuitive chat tool.
Utilizing AI, machine learning, and algorithms, each business’s website copy and aesthetic will be automatically tailored to its target audience and core sector.
Additionally, members will be equipped with the capacity to seamlessly distribute Google, Facebook, and Instagram ads from tappi’s platform and gain access to a range of additional digital services.
“KNCCI is one of Kenya’s most trusted industry bodies, and with its extensive network of local businesses, they’re an ideal partner to accelerate our mission of empowering MSMEs to effectively establish strong reputations of their own in an online setting,” said Kenfield Griffith, co-founder of tappi.
“In order for this initiative to be successful, it was vital we worked alongside a partner with not only a strong, in-depth understanding of the most critical pain points Kenyan businesses face, but also the demographics which are most heavily affected by them. With this in mind, we’re incredibly proud to be joined by KNCCI on what we believe is not only a crucial step for MSMEs, but specifically women-led businesses, in equipping them with the digital tools to significantly drive Kenya’s economy forward,” he added.
With its innovative solutions and strategic partnerships, tappi is paving the way for small and medium-sized enterprises in Kenya to thrive in the digital age, enabling them to reach new heights and contribute to the country’s economic growth.
