Over 860 firms join MTN’s digital supply platform

More than 860 companies have signed up for MTN Uganda’s digital supply chain platform for Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG), less than two years after its launch in 2023.

Dubbed the FMCG Digital Suite, the mobile-based platform digitises and automates key supply chain functions, including ordering, invoicing, payments, and returns in real-time.

MTN says the platform has gained traction among businesses dealing in beverages, dairy products, alcohol, and household essentials.

“The FMCG business suite represents a significant step in our mission to empower businesses, enhance operational efficiency, and enable cashless payments within the consumer goods ecosystem,” said Richard Yego, managing director of MTN Mobile Money Uganda.

Uganda’s FMCG sector has traditionally been characterised by fragmented supply chains and heavy reliance on cash transactions. MTN says the platform is now helping improve transparency and reduce fraud and theft in distribution by enabling businesses to place orders, reconcile deliveries, and make payments via MTN Mobile Money.

“We’ve created a smarter supply chain that empowers both manufacturers and last-mile sellers. It’s a win-win that improves liquidity, boosts trust in transactions, and supports business sustainability,” said MTN Uganda CEO Sylvia Mulinge.

In a related development, MTN Uganda has rolled out MoMo Coach, an AI-powered WhatsApp chatbot offering micro-learning modules to mobile money agents and merchants. The digital tool covers topics such as Start Your Business, Manage Your Money, and Grow Your Business, with the aim of improving financial and digital literacy.

As of December 2024, MTN Mobile Money had 85,900 MoMo merchants and over 213,000 agents across the country. MTN says the combined approach, providing access to digital tools and building digital skills, which is part of a broader strategy to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and enhance business resilience.

According to the International Trade Administration, Africa is projected to have over 500 million e-commerce users by 2025. Meanwhile, the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) estimates digital commerce could contribute up to $180 billion to Africa’s GDP this year.

“We are committed to supporting the FMCG industry’s evolution,” said Yego. “The success of this platform is just the beginning. As digital adoption deepens, we foresee broader ecosystem opportunities that support economic growth.” MTN says its FMCG Digital Suite is fast becoming a benchmark for digital transformation in Uganda’s retail and distribution sector.