New Mobile App Cuts Out Brokers, Connects SMEs to Customers

Individual and small businesses, estimated to generate up to 80% of Kenya’s employment, have a reason to smile with the launch of a new App, Taffuta, that enables customers to directly interact with entrepreneurs when transacting business.

This comes at a time when many small businesses offering quality products and services are struggling to attract customers either due to lack of exposure or ignorance. Taffuta mobile app focuses on providing information on various small and large businesses in Kenya.

According to Harsh Savalkar, the App developer based in Kisumu County, the app is expected to end the era of middlemen and commission agents suffocating SMEs out of business by making it more difficult to make profit from the already troubled sector.   

“If you are a carpenter or a farmer or small shopkeeper, regardless of your business size, you will able to register your business on TAFFUTA at no cost and upload photos of your products,” he said.

“Interestingly you will be able to get notifications every time someone is looking for the same products on the app, which will enable you to reach out to such customers spontaneously and execute business.”

The app, which has already attracted over 4,000 downloads since its inception, creates a similar eco-system for both customers and entrepreneurs to network directly and transact business across the country by a click of a button on their smartphones.

He said app users will find it easy to get any service or product in any town and also view reviews of other customers about the products which then gives them options of choosing from different businesses.

The app has attracted over 4k downloads since its inception

Currently, smartphone penetration in Kenya has grown tenfold to more than 60% of the population over the past five years and Taffuta App plans to tap into this rising population of smartphone users to build a robust brand in a bid to stay ahead of competition in the market.

TAFFUTA provides information on restaurants, hotels, doctors, electronics stores, taxi services, florists, airlines, resorts and real estate among others.