IntelliCrowds

SMEs are the life-blood of the African economy as these small and growing businesses create about 80% of the continent’s employment. In the Southern Africa region, SMEs often struggle with the hurdles of receiving payments and making procurements which are key elements of trade, whether online or offline. More than 17 million small businesses in Africa operated in fragmented markets with limited access to communication channels and information. Intra-African trade stands at about 16% compared to over 50% in Europe and North America. 

With an easy-to-use interface, IntelliCrowds is the central place for small businesses to get new products from suppliers, promote products to customers and share information within team members, and most importantly to get new customers and suppliers.

Our platform hopes to strengthen the region’s small businesses and act as a channel through which they can advance beyond their localities especially in the wake of AfCFTA.

The current share of consumer e-commerce by African enterprises, for example, is below 2%, and has enormous potential. Field experience in developing countries confirms that to realize this potential, additional support is required to help SMEs overcome the barriers to trading through online channels and marketplaces. More than 17 million small businesses in Africa are operating in highly fragmented and localized markets although internet penetration and smartphone adoption are rising.

 In a more recent report, McKinsey found that Africa’s iGDP was just 1.1% in 2012, or about half the level seen in other emerging economies. This has very positive implications for the potential growth of e-commerce in the continent.These barriers are not new, but take on greater importance when transactions become digital.  

In places where sound internet connectivity is utilized in Africa, business running costs are dramatically reduced. This means it is right to say that the internet presents e-commerce ventures in the continent with unique opportunities to profer solutions that solve actual business problems. However, these ventures are few in number and the huge potentials inherent in Africa are still untapped.

IntelliCrowds is an easy-to-use dual customer online marketplace with all payments methods including mobile money which is ubiquitous in Africa. All transactions are done via an escrow to protect suppliers, retailers as well as consumers.

IntelliCrowds As A Supplier Platform

The IntelliCrowds supplier platform will offer suppliers, wholesalers of goods and services the opportunity to sell in bulk to the retailers that use our platform. With IntelliCrowds, suppliers can easily set up contact points that will be made accessible to all potential buyers of their products. When suppliers upload products into the IntelliCrowds network, their products will be visible to every retail store on our platform.

IntelliCrowds As A Retailer Platform

Retailers on the IntelliCrowds platform are entitled to a web store that best showcases their products. Thousands of products from a wide range of categories can be sold on our platform. A typical webstore comes with the domain yourstorename.intellicrowds.com. The web store displays only the retailer’s products and gives them full control of the web store. 

IntelliCrowds as A Consumer Platform

Consumers choose from various products on our platform. Using predictive analysis (AI), most relevant goods are recommended to the consumers based on their searches and preferences.

Value Proposition For Suppliers

1.Your Product On Multiple Web Stores

Web stores on our platform do not only enhance the image of a brand, but they also bring in droves of customers to the supplier’s product. IntelliCrowds will provide suppliers with a direct channel through which retailers can access their products and begin selling them in their own stores.

2. Extra Revenue with No Additional Cost

IntelliCrowds can give any supplier an increase in revenue through exposure and improved sales of products without any advertising costs on our platform. 

Value Proposition For Retailers

1. Extra Revenue with No Additional Cost

Retailers profit from the sales on their stores without costs of maintenance, referrals, inventory and order handling.

2. Bring Convenience to Your Customer

With IntelliCrowds, it is easier for the customer to find the desired products of the retailer by searching from the web store. Also, the customer gets the benefit of convenience compared to driving out to the mall. Goods can be delivered at home or picked at the local retail shop.

3. Enhance The Relationship With The Customer

With repeat purchases from a particular web store, retailers can build long-lasting customer relationships on our platform.

IntelliCrowds helps informal, micro and small business owners in Africa build sustainable businesses by offering services and technology aimed at growth and inclusiveness. We aim to to build an ecosystem where micro and small businesses not only survive but thrive in this era of connectedness. Since small and medium businesses are the lifeblood of Africa, supporting them through innovation proves to be springboard to prosperity.