- Suplias offers a seamless digital platform connecting retail outlets directly with consumer goods manufacturers, streamlining the procurement process.
- The app, Obtainly provides retailers with a convenient way to access a wide range of products at competitive prices, improving their stock management and profitability.
- By reducing intermediaries and enhancing communication between manufacturers and retailers, Suplias aims to optimize the supply chain, benefiting both parties with cost-effective solutions.
As businesses thrive worldwide, their success and failure can be determined by the efficacy of supply chains. Inflated costs, inconsistent product availability, or even unreliable suppliers are a few drawbacks of traditional supply chain management.
Retailers strive to minimize operational costs while optimizing their inventory management; they are constantly seeking innovative solutions to overcome such challenges.
Suplias is on a mission to bypass these obstacles and revolutionize the way retail outlets source consumer goods.
Building Bridges, One Retailer at a Time
By building bridges between retail stores and manufacturers of consumer goods, Suplias is offering an effective digital solution.
Historically, the African retail market has witnessed significant challenges in sourcing inventory as it is often accompanied by inconsistent product availability and unreliable suppliers.
Inflated costs and inventory tracking have only made the problem worse.
Suplias aims to address these pain points by offering an app-based marketplace where retailers can browse, order and manage their inventory directly from the manufacturers.
The aim is to reduce costs, ensure a steady supply of goods, and empower retailers to better serve their customers.
Designed specifically to cater to the unique needs of the African retail market, Obtainly is equipped with an intuitive user interface and a comprehensive archive of products.
By offering competitive prices, Suplias enables small and medium-sized retailers to access a wider variety of goods. This becomes crucial in regions where the growth of local businesses is obstructed due to logistical challenges.
Obtainly assists the retailers in optimizing operations and driving profits by simplifying the logistical procurement.
The Empire of Growth
Suplias was founded by Stephen Igwue, Michael Adesanya, and Sefa Ikyaator, in 2019, this Nigerian-based company unifies sales, payment, and credit for consumer goods companies.
With its platform, Obtainly, Suplias helps consumer goods manufacturers to receive orders, receive payments, and finance their customers and vendors.
“Having spent 25 years building our expertise within the African retail space, combined with growing internet and smartphone penetration in Africa, we saw the unique opportunity to build a technology solution with 10 times faster ordering time and five times cheaper delivery cost for store owners,” Ikyaator told Disrupt Africa.
By offering unique features like low interest rates, fast approval, and zero collateral to access credit, the platform is helping individuals and organizations in inventory purchases and LPOs.
“Seventy per cent of our customers are women who are the primary source of income for their families. At scale, Suplias will help to generate huge economic gains for small business owners and improve the living standards of many families in Africa.” Ikyaator added.
The initial idea for Suplias came from their experience at Procter & Gamble in Nigeria, where Adesanya and Ikyaator observed that mom-and-pop store owners have to close their stores in the middle of the day to travel miles to visit multiple wholesalers to buy inventory.
A stressful buying process as it was, that cost them 15% of their revenue. This was what inspired them to conceive Obtainly.
The Vision that Exceeds Expectations
Suplias is not just stopping at connecting retailers and manufacturers; the company envisions a future where every small business in Africa has the tools and resources to thrive.
The company has already secured significant funding from notable investors such as Soma Capital, Hustle Fund, and others. This funding will be instrumental in scaling its operations and enhancing its platform capabilities.
Suplias has also raised $125,000 through a seed round from Asymmetry Ventures and other investors.
The company stands out as a transformative force in the African retail sector, leveraging technology to solve critical supply chain challenges and create value for both retailers and manufacturers.
With its innovative approach, robust platform, and commitment to empowering local businesses, Suplias is well-positioned to redefine the future of retail in Africa and beyond.
Edited By Annette George
