Business
Can Motorbike Taxis Fix Africa's E-Commerce Problem? By Anne Kidmose
Motorcycle taxi service providers are beginning to branch out from ferrying passengers to delivering products, tapping into A f r i c a ’ s emerging e-commerce m a r k e t . Inadequate infrastructure
An Ampersand motorcyclist picks up a customer.
RUNNING LATE FOR A job interview or about to miss a flight? In many African cities, the solution is right around the corner, where readily available motorcycle taxis will take you almost anywhere in a matter of minutes. Prized for their efficiency — and dreaded for their overconfident drivers — these taxis are an essential part of mobility on the continent. Tech entrepreneurs have been taking note of the efficiency and popularity of the two-wheelers. In the past five years, motorcycle-hailing apps have sprung up across Africa, competing to be the most popular “Uber for motorcycles.” In Uganda, SafeBoda has made a name for itself as a hassle-free alternative to the informal motorcycle taxis, while in West Africa, Max.ng, a Nigerian company, is about to scale up operations. And in Rwanda, Ampersand is introducing a fleet of electric motorcycle taxis. 22
March-April 2021
SafeBoda has made a alternative to DAWN
www.africabusinessassociation.org
