Kenyan Sales Force Automation tool SokoJumla catalysing retail ecosystem

Sokojumla, the brainchild of Nyabuto Obwoni, is a Sales Force Automation (SFA) and Route-to-Market (RTM) tool that connects producers, distributors and retailers, as it looks to change the retail environment in Kenya.

According to M-Zawadi Loyalty Group (the parent company of SokoJumla) Head of Business Development Winnie Ongori, SokoJumla seeks to transform the route to markets for small and medium-sized manufacturers, and help them directly monitor channel partners, gain visibility of the routes and their teams, and have the ability to know and interact with their customers.

"By giving small merchants the resources and knowledge they need to run more profitably and competitively, SokoJumla levels the playing field. Small merchants can now access a wider selection of products directly from producers, often at a lower cost," Ongori said.

"Kenya is a traditional market, and general trade consists of over 80% of the trade. This means manufacturers must use a long chain of channel partners for goods to reach the end consumer. With that comes the challenge of visibility, high logistical costs, lack of transparency, high business costs, and chain wastage. SokoJumla allows manufacturers to directly interact with retailers, monitor all activities of their sales teams, analyse trade activities, create direct promotions and incentives for consumers, among other benefits," she added.

SokoJumla aims to breathe life into distribution efficiency and promises to reduce distribution costs, at the same time saving consumers from high costs.

On his part, Obwoni described the tool as a B2B omni-channel solution that helps manufacturers access markets more easily, interact with channel partners from one dashboard, pass incentives and engage directly with consumers.

"This is transformative and game-changing. Our goal is to level the ground and allow small and medium manufacturers to access markets while also creating efficiency in managing inventory, orders and sales teams," Obwoni said.

For distributors, SokoJumla simplifies logistical operations by reducing the need for central order processing and communication. Scheduled deliveries will likely result in fewer damages, expirations and returns.

By doing this, they not only increase operational effectiveness but also fortify ties with merchants by providing reliable product availability.

"Value chain and route-to-market are main points for any business, whether it's FMCGs or the service industry. We have insurance firms, Saccos and banks using SokoJumla to monitor sales teams, automate onboarding and analyse data for better decision-making," Obwoni further said.

To be more effective, SokoJumla has integrated AI solutions into its operations to achieve functionalities like recommendations, data analytics, customer profiling, campaign and promotions, and sales analysis.

The tool uses software as service approach, which makes it easy for any venture to use it. 

SokoJumla looks to impact the retail environment in Kenya as its founders aim to scale up to the East Africa region and beyond. By establishing a connection among producers, distributors, and retailers, the tool promotes an integrated, effective and fair retail environment in Kenya.