MarketForce is a digital commerce and fintech platform empowering neighbourhood merchants across Africa to source, order, and pay for inventory conveniently, while also providing access to financial services. MarketForce enables over 200,000 small retailers to digitize their operations, manage inventory, process payments, and offer additional financial products to their communities.
The company, founded in 2019 and headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, operates across five markets in Sub-Saharan Africa. Its asset-light business model connects merchants with more than 180 consumer brands, allowing for streamlined inventory sourcing, digital payments, and embedded financial services. Through the platform, merchants can also access a banking wallet with credit facilities and earn extra income by reselling digital services like airtime, bill payments, and electricity tokens.
What technology enables MarketForce's platform?
MarketForce leverages mobile and cloud-based technology to bridge Africa’s fragmented retail supply chain. By digitizing traditionally manual processes, the platform allows neighborhood shops—often unbanked or underbanked—to manage inventory, access working capital, and transact electronically. The integration of agency banking and digital payment capabilities distinguishes MarketForce from traditional inventory management tools, making it a one-stop solution for merchant financial empowerment.
Who uses MarketForce?
The primary users of MarketForce are small and neighborhood merchants across Sub-Saharan Africa, including general retail shops, kiosks, and convenience stores. These merchants benefit from:
- Digital ordering and inventory management
- Access to credit and a digital wallet
- The ability to offer value-added financial services (such as bill payments, airtime, and agency banking) to their local communities
By serving these merchants, MarketForce impacts last-mile distribution and financial inclusion for millions of consumers.
Who are MarketForce's competitors?
MarketForce operates in the African B2B merchant digital ordering and payments space, which is rapidly evolving with several notable players:
- Mekka - Digital Africa: Focuses on electronic payments and digital ordering between African businesses.
- BigMerchant: Offers order handling and kitchen operations management for merchants.
- Logidoo/Afridoo: Combines e-commerce, warehouse management, and logistics tools for African merchants.
- ACI Worldwide: Provides secure eCommerce and merchant payment gateways with advanced fraud prevention.
- Orda Africa: Delivers digital ordering, payments, and logistics integration for African food businesses.
- OpenWay: Supports global merchant acquiring and instant payments.
- Foo Mobi: Offers a digital merchant platform for acquirers and service providers.
- Digital Virgo: Connects merchants to e-wallets and payment hubs across Africa.
- Boom: Provides blockchain-powered payment platforms for Africa’s unbanked merchants.
Each of these platforms addresses segments of merchant digitization, payments, or financial services, but MarketForce stands out for its holistic approach to both inventory sourcing and embedded financial products for neighborhood retailers.
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