As Kenyan enterprises navigate a complex economic landscape, technology has emerged as the critical differentiator between stagnation and expansion.
Three distinct Kenyan companies, Skyward Express, Freight-In-Time, and Nao Packaging Solutions, are leveraging digital ecosystems, including strategic solutions from Safaricom, to drive resilience and operational transformation.
From the aviation sector to logistics and sustainable manufacturing, these firms highlight how connectivity and digital financial tools are reshaping business models.
For Freight-In-Time, a logistics player operating within the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) premises, navigating policy changes and customs delays has traditionally posed significant hurdles. However, the company identifies its strategic partnership with Safaricom as a turning point in its regional operations.
The collaboration has overhauled the logistics firm’s internal and external processes. By adopting Safaricom’s solutions for enhanced communication and reliable email hosting, Freight-In-Time has streamlined its supply chain services. Additionally, the integration of better cash management systems has allowed the company to navigate financial operations more effectively, opening doors for future growth despite industry turbulence.
In downtown Nairobi, Nao Packaging Solutions represents the impact of technology on the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) sector. Launched in 2019 along Ladhies Road, the company has grown from a small startup to a distributor of eco-friendly packaging employing 25 people.
Founder David Mbugua Maina credits the company’s ability to overcome funding challenges and expand its market directly to Safaricom’s ecosystem. “Technology, especially M-PESA, Tills, and fibre internet, has aided us in overcoming funding challenges, expanding the market, and running a more efficient business,” Maina noted. The reliable connectivity and digital payment channels have allowed the firm to scale its distribution across Kenya efficiently.
The aviation sector is also witnessing a tech-led transformation. Skyward Express, which began operations in 2013 with a single plane, now boasts a fleet of 18 aircraft operating from Wilson Airport and JKIA. Serving over 30,000 passengers and connecting remote airstrips across East Africa, the airline is blending traditional aviation with modern innovation.
Skyward has adopted AI-driven predictive analytics to optimize operations—a move dependent on robust connectivity infrastructure. These tools assist the airline in navigating industry turbulence and managing its expanded footprint.
Collectively, the growth of these three entities underscores the pivotal role of technology partners like Safaricom in providing the digital backbone, from payments to connectivity, that Kenyan businesses require to scale.
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