Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Kenya are set to benefit from a new integrated digital business management platform following the launch of LOOP BIZ+ by LOOP Digital Financial Services (LOOP DFS), a subsidiary of NCBA Group.

The platform seeks to transform how businesses manage their daily operations by bringing together digital payment solutions, customer discovery, inventory management, artificial intelligence (AI)-powered business intelligence and flexible financing options under one digital ecosystem.

LOOP BIZ+ is designed to address some of the major challenges facing Kenyan entrepreneurs, particularly the fragmentation of business operations, where merchants are forced to use different systems to manage sales, payments, stock records, customer engagement and access to credit.

By consolidating these services into one platform, LOOP DFS aims to help businesses reduce administrative workloads, improve efficiency, monitor performance and identify new opportunities for growth.

The platform comes at a time when digital technology is increasingly shaping the way businesses operate, with merchants seeking convenient and reliable solutions to manage transactions, reach customers and remain competitive in an evolving business environment.

At the centre of LOOP BIZ+ is the LOOP Point of Sale (POS) device, which enables merchants to accept different forms of payment, including Visa cards, NFC contactless payments, mobile money and LOOP payments.

In addition to the POS device, businesses can access payment acceptance services through the LOOP BIZ mobile application and web portal, providing merchants with multiple channels to receive payments and manage their operations.

The integrated payment system is expected to simplify transactions, improve payment reconciliation and give business owners better visibility of their sales activities.

For many small businesses, managing payments through separate channels can create administrative challenges and make it difficult to maintain accurate business records. LOOP BIZ+ seeks to address these challenges by providing merchants with a centralised platform through which they can access essential business management tools.

Speaking during the launch, LOOP DFS Chief Commercial Officer Sheila Kimani said the platform was developed in response to the operational challenges experienced by entrepreneurs who often manage different aspects of their businesses through disconnected systems.

"Small businesses are the backbone of Kenya's economy, yet many entrepreneurs still manage payments, records, stock, marketing and financing through separate channels. This can take valuable time away from running and growing their businesses," said Kimani.

She explained that LOOP BIZ+ brings these business needs together in one platform, helping merchants streamline operations, make better-informed decisions and access support as their enterprises evolve.

Kimani added that through LOOP DFS's relationship with NCBA Bank, eligible merchants would also have access to financing solutions designed to support their business needs and growth ambitions.

Digital Marketplace to Expand Customer Reach

Beyond payment processing, LOOP BIZ+ introduces a digital product discovery feature through LOOP Discover, a marketplace that allows merchants to list their products and promote them to a wider customer base.

Through the marketplace, businesses can showcase their products to more than 500,000 LOOP consumers using the LOOP consumer application.

The feature is expected to create additional opportunities for merchants to connect with potential customers beyond their traditional physical locations, giving small businesses access to a wider digital market.

For entrepreneurs who may not have the resources to establish independent online shopping platforms or invest heavily in digital marketing, the marketplace provides an additional channel through which they can display their products and attract customers.

The initiative also reflects the growing importance of digital commerce in helping businesses expand their market presence and connect with consumers who increasingly rely on digital platforms to discover products and services.

AI Technology to Improve Inventory Management

Another major component of LOOP BIZ+ is its artificial intelligence-powered inventory intelligence feature, which is designed to help merchants make smarter decisions regarding stock management.

The feature provides inventory monitoring, demand forecasting, restocking recommendations and the identification of slow-moving products.

By using these capabilities, merchants can gain better insights into their stock levels, anticipate product demand and make more informed purchasing decisions.

Effective inventory management remains an important challenge for many businesses, particularly SMEs that operate with limited working capital and cannot afford to tie up significant resources in products that take too long to sell.

Through AI-powered insights, LOOP BIZ+ seeks to help merchants identify products that require replenishment while reducing the risk of overstocking items with slower demand.

The inventory intelligence feature is currently available to merchants accessing the platform through the web portal, with a rollout to the LOOP BIZ mobile application planned for 2027.

The planned expansion is expected to make the technology more accessible to merchants who prefer managing their businesses through mobile devices.

New Financing Opportunities for Small Businesses

Access to affordable and flexible financing is another key area addressed by LOOP BIZ+.

The platform offers a range of financing solutions intended to respond to different business requirements, including quick loans, overdrafts, supplier credit lines and a digital pathway to longer-term financing.

Through the integration of business transaction information, merchant sales histories can help inform credit assessments, potentially making it easier for eligible businesses to access financing based on their business activities.

However, access to the financing facilities remains subject to applicable eligibility requirements and credit approval.

The platform also incorporates a credit gamification feature through the LOOP BIZ mobile application, allowing merchants to establish credit goals and monitor their progress towards targeted credit limits.

The feature is intended to encourage merchants to track their financial progress while developing a better understanding of their borrowing potential.

Through its relationship with NCBA Bank, LOOP DFS aims to connect merchants to financial solutions that can support working capital requirements, business expansion and other operational needs.

Visa Backs Expansion of Digital Payments

The launch also brings together LOOP DFS and global payments technology company Visa in efforts to expand digital payment acceptance among Kenyan businesses.

Visa Kenya Country Manager John Njoroge said Kenya had developed one of the world's most dynamic digital payments ecosystems, creating opportunities for more businesses to participate in digital commerce.

He noted that expanding payment choices would help merchants serve customers more conveniently while supporting the continued growth of digital transactions.

"Kenya has built one of the world's most dynamic digital payments ecosystems, and the next opportunity is ensuring more businesses can participate fully in it," said Njoroge.

He added that LOOP POS broadens payment options for merchants and consumers by combining Visa card acceptance with other digital payment methods.

"Through partnerships like this, we can help more businesses participate confidently in digital commerce and create new opportunities for growth," he said.

The partnership is expected to contribute to the wider adoption of digital payment solutions by giving merchants access to payment infrastructure that supports different customer preferences.

A New Digital Business Ecosystem for Kenyan Entrepreneurs

The introduction of LOOP BIZ+ reflects the growing role of financial technology in supporting businesses, particularly SMEs that form an important part of Kenya's economic activity.

By combining payment acceptance, digital product discovery, inventory intelligence and financing, LOOP DFS is seeking to provide merchants with more than just a payment processing solution.

The platform is designed to support businesses throughout different stages of their operations, from receiving customer payments and monitoring stock to reaching new markets and accessing financial support.

For merchants, the integration of these services could help reduce the time spent managing routine administrative tasks while providing useful information for planning and making business decisions.

The initiative also strengthens LOOP DFS's position in the digital financial services sector by connecting commerce and financial services through the wider NCBA Group ecosystem.

As more businesses embrace digital solutions, platforms such as LOOP BIZ+ are expected to play an increasingly important role in helping entrepreneurs improve operational efficiency, respond to changing customer demands and pursue sustainable growth.

Through the new platform, LOOP DFS is positioning itself as a partner in business growth, providing Kenyan merchants with digital tools intended to simplify operations, expand customer reach and improve access to financial opportunities.