Beyond Credit: Delivering on the Promise of Online Retail for Africa's MSMEs Using AI-Enabled Solutions

Few providers and fewer MSMEs have been able to capitalize on the promise of ecommerce-led (cheaper) credit and more convenient value-added services at scale. MSMEs face fundamental barriers that inhibit them from participating in, and properly leveraging online marketplaces and platforms to grow their businesses sustainably. AI-powered tools can ease the transition for MSMEs and help service providers build trust, improve fraud detection and security measures, gain actionable insights to inform business decisions, and leverage data to improve credit assessments and offerings. This session convenes marketplace leaders across Africa to explore the innovative strategies and solutions that platforms and marketplaces are implementing to deliver better outcomes for small merchants.