As many companies continue to devise better means for their business to generate more revenue, Sokowatch, a Kenya-based e-commerce firm, has decided to add electric tuk-tuks to its existing delivery fleet in Uganda.

The new development makes the company the first in Africa to use electric automobiles for commercial purposes.

The startup began operations in 2016, and it has the vision to reinvent and change the perception behind retail in Africa. Sokowatch aims to actualize its vision by providing real-time delivery services, financing for development, and data for effective business management to informal clients.

Sokowatch’s services enable informal retailers to order for products through SMS, voice call, or mobile app, and they get free delivery of the goods on the same day.

The firm offers its retailers with a customized line of credit, and presently, Sokowatch has a network of over 16,000 shop owners who make use of its services to order for desired products.

The company’s thoughtful initiative of free same-day delivery is simplifying the access to essential products and services in nine major East African cities, especially in this COVID-19 era.

To further increase efficiency and productivity, the startup has now added electric delivery tuk-tuks to its delivery automobiles.

The new vehicles, which were built and assembled by the head mechanic at Sokowatch, Mary NanKinga, aligns with the firm’s plan to promote a cleaner and more sustainable environment on operating markets.

According to the company, it takes three hours for the vehicles to charge fully, and a full charge can power each tuk-tuk for two to three days.

Also, the electric tuk-tuks can make deliveries to approximately 35 shops in a day, and they can carry products weighing 500kg respectively.

Since the beginning of the year 2020, Telkom has been making quite some impressive additions to its services. The latest one was the TelkomOne streaming service, which arrived sometime last month.

Now, the South African startup has gone back to its work table to develop a payment service for residents of the country.

Telkom has officially introduced its mobile payment solution service in South Africa. The service is called Telkom Pay Digital Wallet.

The new payment service is designed to allow customers to pay and also get paid on their mobile devices through WhatsApp. The platform enables the user to send money directly to anyone on their contact list, and it also functions as a cashless Point of Sale payment channel for businesses.

‘’We are introducing a financial service that caters to everyone and one that is easy to access at all times via mobile devices,’’ said Sibusiso Ngwwnya, Managing Executive for financial services at Telkom.

‘’This year, we have successfully launched funeral cover and our foray into payment services further deepen our strategic intent to play a prominent role in providing solutions that meet our customers need and one that will propel the economic inclusion of South Africa,’’

To use the service, users with the Telkom Pay app can add it to their respective WhatsApp accounts. After completing the registration process, users can then send or receive money by sharing a ‘’Please pay me’’ with any of their contacts.

For individuals who enjoy cashless transactions, the Telkom digital wallet allows for easy payment for goods and services by scanning payment QR codes at the point of purchase.

The service also allows users to perform other transactions like the purchase of airtime, mobile data, and electricity.

For continuous use of the payment service, users must top up their digital wallets through Nedbank ATMs, EFT, or at any Pick ‘n Pay store.

Following the ban of Huawei and other affiliated companies by the US government, the Chinese smartphone maker has decided to come up with its services to avoid dependence on any firm, especially in the United States.

Meanwhile, the firm has been introducing a few of its products in Africa since the beginning of the year. This year alone, South Africa has witnessed the launch of some Huawei smartphones, smartwatches and other Huawei services.

Now, the Chinese firm has taken yet another step as it joins forces with Zapper to launch Huawei Pay – a mobile payment service.

Like other brands such as Apple and Samsung that have mobile payment services, Huawei is also gearing up to introduce its payment platform to ease mobile transactions for its smartphone users.

“We are excited about the collaboration with Zapper in launching Huawei Pay in South Africa,” said Zhao Likun, Vice President, Huawei Consumer Business Group for Southern Africa.

Users of Huawei pay have the liberty to add their bank card to the service and make payments in stores by simply scanning the Zapper QR payment code on the bill.

“Huawei Pay supports all local credit and debit cards. It’s a simple, stress-free, and convenient payment service that will make payments easier for the consumer.”

Commenting, CEO of Zapper, Brett White, said “Huawei smartphones constitutes a large porting of the smartphones used in South Africa. Equipping Huawei devices with the Zapper scan-to-pay service will encourage users of the phone brand to make swift and secure payments from their mobile devices,”

For security, users of the Huawei Pay will have to authenticate transactions by fingerprint or use of a passcode to ensure the safety of funds.

Seso Global is a one-stop medium for property management and transactions. Last June, the startup launched and began its operations in Nigeria.

After a few months of success in Nigeria, Seso Global is looking to present a taste of goof property management services to other African countries.

The firm has extended its services to Ghana and South Africa for a start, and it is looking to reach further to address the challenge of bad property management in Africa.

The startup, which launched in 2019, has successfully built a customer relationship management channel that allows not property developers alone, but also agents, and government bodies to manage their properties, documentations, and transactions through a secure blockchain database.

‘’Only verified properties get listed on the Seso marketplace. On the platform, clients can browse different properties and engage with other services such as reaching banks for mortgage and law firms for title registration to perfect purchases,’’ said Daniel Bloch, CEO of Seso Global.

For a business that started little over a year ago, it is pretty much doing well to have expanded to other countries within a short while.

It launched its first project in South Africa last year November when it introduced a government-certified registry portal with funding from the Oppenheimer Foundation and Mastercard.

Similarly, in May of 2020, Seso Global debuted its platform in Ghana.

However, Seso provides its clients with a one-stop-shop to find properties and close transactions securely.

The startup charges a fee for transactions completed on its platform, although it is free to join and list properties on the Seso online marketplace.

Recently, One of Africa’s leading integration and consulting company, Digital Encode Limited, received the ‘’Cybersecurity Diversity Company of the Year’’ Award.

The firm was given the award at the 2020 edition of the Women in Cybersecurity Awards Africa (WICA Africa).

Digital Encode was honoured with the award for its excellent role in promoting cybersecurity and teaching women about that aspect of ICT.

In case you didn’t know, Digital Encode Specializes in the construction, maintenance, and security of business-critical networks, telecom spaces, and related Information Technology facilities.

Cephas Okoth, founder and editor of Cyber in Africa, did the honour of presenting the award to the prestigious firm. On presenting, Cephas said, ‘’The award is a means to appreciate Digital Encode as a company that values and integrates diversity in her security team.’’

On receiving the award, Dr, Peter Adewale Obadare, Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer at Digital Encode expressed his gratitude to the organizers for acknowledging the firm’s unending effort to help other companies attain their data protection feat.

Further, he stated that Digital Encode remains dedicated in her quest to promote the women in the cybersecurity space as 40% of the entire workforce comprises women who are professionals and competent.

3elagi, an Egyptian startup that provides an easy means for people to order beauty and health products from the nearest pharmacy, has been acquired by a pharmaceutical company called Ibnsina Pharma.

Through a dedicated mobile app, 3elagni has simplified the purchase and delivery of health and beauty-related products to its users.

The mobile application works by pairing patients willing to purchase medication or cosmetics online with the pharmacy closest to them. It allows the user to search, compare products, and order online from their mobile phones.

As of now, the startup has recorded over 600,000 users of its services. Unfortunately, the firm has been sold to another company.

For EGP 25 million, 3elagi has disposed 75% stake of its business to Ibnsina Pharma. However, the remaining 25% stake will be with the founders of the start, who intend to keep working for 3elagi.

Ibnsina Pharma, which started operations in 2001, happens to be the second-largest pharmaceutical company by market share in Egypt. Over the years, the firm has climed to the top steadily as it now distributes pharmaceutical products to over 42,000 customers, including wholesalers and medical facilities.

Ibnsina’s acquisition of 3elagi aligns with its digital transformation vision. Meanwhile, in July, Ibnsina unveiled its online ordering platform to ease the purchase of pharmaceutical products.

“The acquisition was triggered by the growing importance of e-commerce, especially during this COVID-19 era. The lockdown that was initiated by most nations of the world revealed the need to give patients access to buy their pharmaceutical needs without leaving their respective homes,” said Mohsen Mahgoub, Chairman at Ibnsina Pharma.