Afrikrea Launches ANKA To Power Global African E-Commerce
Afrikrea Launches ANKA To Power Global African E-Commerce
Afrikrea is launching ANKA – an all-in-one SaaS solution that will provide a seamless eCommerce, payment, and global shipping online service to thousands of businesses on the continent and around the world, as it continues to power Africa's e-commerce.
ANKA (meaning "Ours" in Bambara and Djoula) was launched to commemorate Afrikrea's fifth anniversary of operations. It enables merchants to easily:
• Sell products online through a customized online storefront (such as Shopify), social media platforms, or links on Gumroad and the Afrikrea marketplace.
• International shipping is available with just two clicks at the best rates and through the best partners.
• Facilitate and centralize global and local payments through a secure online wallet, and receive payouts in the merchant's preferred currency. Additionally, an Afrikrea-specific VISA card is available.
E-Commerce Aggregator in Africa
ANKA is a first-of-its-kind global e-commerce aggregator of services for African micro retailers. It was created to reduce the friction associated with global sales for the Afrikrea platform's 7,000+ sellers and provide new routes to market for sellers.
Moulaye Taboure, co-founder and CEO of Afrikrea, comments on the launch of ANKA; he said, "Afrikrea serves as a link between Africa and other continents in the world, empowering thousands of micro retailers and their customers worldwide. These entrepreneurs are currently wasting time and energy managing multiple channels of sales, as well as money due to the multiple intermediaries required to ship orders and obtain funds. ANKA enables them to sell and be paid anywhere – seamlessly and from a single location.”
To power and support the entire sales lifecycle, from the point of sale to receipt of goods, Afrikrea partnered with leading global logistics provider DHL in 2019 to ensure its vendors receive world-class delivery service. Since then, ANKA has grown to become the continent's largest e-commerce exporter, with over 10 tons of cargo shipped out of Africa each month. Vendors can use the ANKA service to find competitive shipping rates; this service is not limited to sales on the Afrikrea platform. Dropshippers looking to create jobs, manufacture goods, and ship from the continent will also use the platform to manage their business flow and get paid globally.
Pricing and Market Value
ANKA is priced at EUR10 [approximately $12] per month and will integrate with MPesa, Orange, and MTN, allowing customers to pay merchants via mobile money, mobile banking, PayPal, and various international payment cards. Additionally, merchants will transfer funds from their wallets using any method, including their dedicated physical VISA card. They can then pay instantly or withdraw funds at an ATM whenever they want.
The African technology platform is leading a shift in the commerce sector by leveraging technology to create localized customer experiences without global storefronts. Euromonitor recently estimated the African fashion and apparel market at $31 billion. Africa estimates that its major markets spend $12.5 billion annually. The African diaspora in Europe ($1 billion), America and the Caribbean ($9 billion), and non-Africans with ties to the continent ($2.5 billion) are all worth billions of dollars. By establishing a technological infrastructure for global African culture and enabling its merchants to reach the global market through proprietary technology, Afrikrea expects to power and empower tens of thousands more independent businesses inspired by African fashion and artisan goods.
Afrikrea, which launched in 2016 as a marketplace for selling and buying African-inspired clothing, accessories, arts, and crafts, has grown to over $15 million in transactions in 170 countries, with sellers from 47 of 54 African countries. Currently, the platform receives over 500,000 monthly visits, with most customers based in Europe and North America.
Taboure concludes, "Much like international technology companies like Shopify and Alibaba have been instrumental in powering a new wave of online retailers, and in creating wealth for thousands of entrepreneurs, our plan is to do the same thing for Africa's growing and dynamic market." By ensuring a secure and seamless process for our vendors – sales, payments, and shipping – we hope to grow alongside them and power commerce for thousands of additional online marketplaces and sellers with a passion for Africa”.
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