Tappi, an end-to-end digital commerce SaaS solution tailored for Africa’s MSMEs, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) to deliver digital services specifically geared towards bolstering online credibility and identity for KNCCI’s 30,000+ business members. With an additional focus on women-led businesses, the program marks the next phase of the startup‘s mission to drive online success for Kenya’s 7.4 million MSMEs.
For a monthly fee of KSH500, KNCCI members will have their business landing page on Tappi’s platform featuring a KNCCI Logo as well as access to 50 customer reviews via SMS, WhatsApp, and other additional channels, which will be integrated into their landing page. In addition, members will also be able to send 250 text marketing messages directly to their customers.
Leveraging Tappi’s SaaS and enterprise-grade solutions, KNCCI members will generate SEO-optimized websites in less than two minutes based on eight simple questions devised by an intuitive chat tool. Using a combination of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and algorithms, each business’ website copy and aesthetic will be automatically tailored to its target audience and core sector. KNCCI members will also be equipped with the capacity to seamlessly distribute Google, Facebook, and Instagram ads from Tappi’s platform as well as receive access to several additional digital services.
Tappi’s CEO and Co-founder, Kenfield Griffith said KNCCI being one of Kenya’s most trusted industry bodies with an extensive network of local businesses is an ideal partner for Tappi to accelerate its mission of empowering MSMEs to establish strong reputations effectively.
“For this initiative [dubbed “Sukuma Biz”] 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,” said Griffith in a press statement. He added, “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 drive Kenya’s economy forward significantly.”
Adding to Griffith’s remarks, Dr. James Mwaura, Nairobi County Chairman of KNCCI, said through this partnership KNCCI Nairobi Chamber is poised to significantly impact MSMEs across all sectors in Kenya by providing them with access to powerful digital tools that will streamline their online presence and enhance their visibility.
“As businesses establish strong online reputations and showcase their products and services through optimized websites and targeted advertising, they will attract the attention of potential international partners and investors,” said Mwaura. “This increased visibility and credibility will bring opportunities for collaboration, trade, and growth, ultimately driving Kenya’s economy forward and positioning our MSMEs for success in the global marketplace.”
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Since its inception in 2022, Tappi has been on a rapid growth journey capturing verified reviews on over USD$3 million (approx. KSH405 million) in consumer transactions and engaging with over 150,000+ consumers.
Tappi facilitates a seamless online business profile creation through an intuitive chat experience. Leveraging payments, messaging, and artificial intelligence (AI), the platform is rapidly emerging as the SEO backbone to boost revenue for MSMEs across Africa, helping businesses gain visibility, consolidate payments with verified reviews to build online trust, and pay for online Ads with mobile airtime.
Tappi has operations in Kenya, Nigeria, and now Côte d’Ivoire as the third African country where they expanded ton in March this year in partnership with MTN.
Notably, according to USAID, MSMEs in Kenya generate nearly a third of the country’s total GDP. But despite their significant economic impact, numerous businesses still face hurdles in establishing a trusted online presence. This is primarily due to current tools being too complex, the requirements for an international credit card, or the listing of websites in places where trust is difficult to gauge, establishing significant hurdles to access and convert new customers.
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