- Cases
- Ghana
Enhancing visibility for SMEs in Ghana through the design of an online market place.
01 Situation
As a result of COVID-19, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Ghana encountered difficulties such as reduced visibility and limited access to markets. Many local businesses, unable to afford websites or lacking the resources and expertise to manage social media accounts, experienced persistent low sales, leading to eventual closure.
02 Assignment
GIZ Ghana’s digital transformation program aimed to create a new solution tailored to local SMEs and digital startups. The goal was to link them with investment opportunities both locally and internationally while boosting their sales. This initiative prioritized a user-centric approach to ensure the solution effectively met the needs of its target audience.
03 Approach
Ahmed’s team mapped Ghana’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, identifying key stakeholders supporting local businesses. They then researched SMEs’ needs, barriers, and motivations related to sales, investments, and digital adoption. A design sprint session followed, uniting innovation hubs, government officials, and SMEs to develop and prototype solutions.
04 Result
Daani, an online marketplace, was launched for businesses to showcase products and services digitally, including pricing. Customers can order and pay via mobile wallets, and a chat feature enables SME interaction with clients and investors. Local innovation hubs help SMEs join Daani for a fee, supporting order fulfillment and product updates. Continuous testing and improvements aimed to enhance user experience.
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