Copia in Uganda: Mobile commerce platform Copia Global has expanded operations to Uganda, riding on the company’s success in Kenya where it serves more than one million customers and growing. The expansion will bring high-quality and affordable products to millions of middle class Ugandans, regardless of location, technology access or connection status.
According to a 2016/17 study by the Economic Policy Research Centre, Uganda has experienced an upsurge in the middle class. A comparison of previous data revealed that the population doubled from 3.7 million to 8.3 million between 2013 and 2017.
Despite this population growth and the expected increase in purchasing power, the country’s retail sector is still majorly supported by the informal retail sector, similar to most of Sub-Saharan Africa. Copia’s mobile commerce provides the needed convenient access to formal retail shopping for the middle- to low-income population.
Copia’s mobile commerce service is deemed an essential business that can operate day and night despite the pandemic. People can access all the goods they need to run their households while remaining safe and healthy, away from large towns and markets. A 2020 report by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on the socio-economic impact of COVID-19 in Uganda shows a 50% decline in physical visits to retail stores and a 36% decline in visits to groceries and pharmacies due to restricted in-person business operations.
While nearly 20 million Ugandans have mobile subscriptions (44% out of a total population of 47 million) only 12 million use the internet, which leaves a large gap in the number of people enabled for the digital economy. While Copia is a technology enabled company, it does not require customers to be tech-savvy. The system is flexible to allow people to order anything through phone call, text message, app or through a local agent.
“Uganda has one of the fastest growing middle classes in the world with a hard-working population and a dynamic entrepreneurial culture. Copia is designed specifically to serve this high growth but underserved consumer base who want access to high-quality products at the best prices,” said Tracey Turner, Copia Global Founder and Chair.
“Harnessing mobile technologies, a network of local agents and logistics technology, Copia can transform middle class and emerging middle class Africans into empowered global customers.”
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Established in 2013, Copia’s model leverages a network of digitally-enabled, locally based agents who operate as order and delivery points. Copia agents are trusted shopkeepers like a local grocer or butcher, where customers can select and pay for products chosen from a Copia catalogue.
After the order is placed, Copia sends an SMS order confirmation to both the agent and the customer and in two days. Copia delivers the products to the agent for customer pick-up. Through the creation of its agent network, Copia supports the resilience of thousands of small and medium enterprises in Uganda.
“We are mindful of the challenges facing consumers in remote areas and we aim to be part of the solution to connect them to quality and affordable products,” says Mr Tim Steel, Copia Global CEO. “Over the last seven years, we have completed more than five million deliveries and served more than one million customers in Kenya and we are eager to expand our success story to the Uganda market.”
