By MKHOKHELI ZIBENGWA
A new digital platform, LOKO, is positioning itself to reshape Africa's rapidly growing e-commerce and on-demand services sector with the launch of an all-in-one "super app" that combines shopping, food ordering, deliveries and other everyday services into a single mobile application.
The platform, which is currently onboarding businesses, restaurants and delivery drivers ahead of its official launch, aims to simplify how consumers access essential services while creating new opportunities for entrepreneurs and gig workers across the continent.
Unlike traditional apps that focus on a single service, LOKO seeks to bring multiple services under one digital ecosystem, allowing users to shop for products, order meals, arrange deliveries and access other lifestyle services without switching between different applications.
The company has opened early registration for businesses seeking to establish an online presence on the platform. Restaurant owners are also being invited to list their outlets and receive orders directly through the app, while delivery drivers will form the logistics backbone of the service, offering last-mile delivery to customers.
The move comes at a time when Africa's digital economy is experiencing significant growth, driven by increasing smartphone adoption, improved internet connectivity and rising consumer demand for convenient online services. Super apps have already transformed markets in Asia by integrating multiple services into a single platform, and LOKO hopes to replicate that success within the African market.
Industry observers say platforms such as LOKO could help bridge the gap between consumers and small businesses by giving enterprises access to wider markets while creating flexible income opportunities for delivery partners.
As anticipation builds ahead of the platform's rollout, LOKO has launched a dedicated WhatsApp community where prospective business owners, restaurant operators and drivers can receive updates, complete registration and learn more about the opportunities available on the platform.
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