Safeonline launches seamless payment platform for merchants

TO boost accountability that ecommerce merchants are struggling with in Nigeria, Safeonliine has launched a payment model that will cumulatively change the supply chain within the fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry, and save ecommerce in the country. Speaking about the innovation, Head of Product, Safeonline fintech, Abraham Ezeadiebuo, said the initial goal was to provide a seamless replenishment process for retail outlets selling basic amenities needed by the consumer populace.

“It was to ensure only entities responsible for the movement of goods were left as the sole middle men fostering direct relationship between Retailers and Manufacturers. However, our solution provides a robust system that could effectively manage splitting of funds across the numerous partners needed to ship goods and a trigger mechanism to confirm successful delivery to process compensation for the haulage operator in real- time.”

Speaking on the inspiration behind the innovation, he said: “we were triggered by internal data from a major FMCG shared with its partners on the work needed to be done to expand its distribution network.

“The data highlighted the fact that due to the uncontrolled dispersion of retail outlets within the country, well over 65 per cent of active retail outlets at the time data was presented independently restocked items and could not qualify for line of credit. From the FMCG perspective, this meant its own sales force had to get across to these retailers, and its haulage partners had to extend their coverage to areas where these retailers were located.” According to him, the implementation plan encompassed building a web based ERP solution that would effectively manage collections, disbursements, provide detailed reporting, support order tracking, and increase accountability of the haulage partners.