Zandaux, a B2B e-commerce platform that connects sellers and buyers across Africa, officially launched its operations in Kenya yesterday. The company has been operational in Kenya for about a year but the official launch was yesterday. Zandaux has its headquarters in Johannesburg, South Africa, and operates in four key African markets: Kenya, Nigeria, Egypt, and South Africa.
“Zandaux aims to connect African suppliers to the entire African market to nurture and grow businesses in the continent.” Franck Obambi Ngatse – Founder and CEO, Zandaux.
Zandaux is a digital marketplace that allows manufacturers, wholesalers, and distributors to sell their products online at wholesale prices to retailers and institutional buyers. Think of Zandaux like Alibaba where you get access to a wide range of products in large quantities at wholesale prices. Its aim is to be the most inclusive B2B platform in Africa by providing a one-stop trading platform for businesses to collaborate. A buyer in Nigeria will be able to easily buy products from a manufacturer in Kenya and have them shipped to him/her within days.
Zandaux hopes to have over 3,000 trade merchants in Kenya by the first quarter of 2024 offering a wide range of products from food, fashion, electronics, and more. Zandaux only provides the platform to facilitate transactions between third Party Sellers and Zandaux customers. Kenya is a key market for Zandaux, as it is the hub of East Africa in business and technological advancement. Zandaux hopes to tap into the growing demand for online shopping among Kenyan businesses.
With the launch in Kenya, Zandaux will also launch its operations in Nigeria and Egypt soon.
What They Said:
Franck Obambi Ngatse, the CEO of Zandaux, “On Zandaux, you can buy something from a factory in Mombasa and have it shipped to Kinshasa. The payment is only released to the seller after the product has arrived, and we have a robust tracking system in place for products from seller to buyer. Zandaux is more than a platform; it’s our formula to end poverty in Africa. Together, we are not just trading; we are transforming live “
Matano Ndaro- Director, Postal and Telecom Services, Communications Authority of Kenya (CAK, expressed his optimism, stating, “The future of B2C e-commerce is bright on the continent. I would like to encourage Zandaux to continue this dream.”
Ishmail Bett, CEO, Association of Kenya Suppliers (AKS), extended his gratitude to Zandaux, saying, “I would like to thank Zandaux for coming to explore the Kenyan market. Most businesses will not be able to make it if they do not move to e-commerce.”
Addressing the role of smartphones in driving e-commerce adoption, Esther Wamae, Head of Business Development, Kenya Trade Network Agency (KenTrade), highlighted the significance of data protection measures, stating, “Because of smartphones, we see a lot of adoption in e-commerce. We now have intentional measures being put in place to ensure that data is protected.”
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