Revolutionizing E-Commerce in Kenya with WhatsApp: The Flowcart Story
The e-commerce landscape in Kenya is transforming with the introduction of Flowcart, a digital solution by a Kenyan startup. Flowcart enables businesses to streamline their sales process through WhatsApp, revolutionizing the way commerce is conducted in the country.
Originally established as Sukhiba in 2021 by Ananth Raj Gudipati and Abhinav Reddy, Flowcart secured a significant $1.55 million funding in 2024 to expand its services continent-wide. The platform’s growth is driven by cutting-edge automation technology coupled with data analysis, ensuring personalized and scalable services for businesses.
Ananth Gudipati, co-founder of Flowcart, highlighted the evolution of their vision from just enabling commerce on WhatsApp to providing comprehensive automation, seamless customer experiences, and conversion-focused tools. This refined and powerful approach is tailored for the future of chat-based commerce.
Flowcart’s user-friendly interface integrates various functions such as product catalogs, payments, orders, and customer communications, simplifying online sales for SMEs and informal traders. By leveraging WhatsApp, Flowcart bridges the gap between traditional retail practices and digital commerce, setting a trend for conversational e-commerce in Africa.
This unique model, which mirrors local habits and preferences, has the potential to redefine digital trade in developing markets, emphasizing simplicity and accessibility.
