NCBA Group's digital financial services subsidiary, LOOP DFS, has launched LOOP BIZ+, a single platform for small and medium-sized enterprises. According to The Star, the launch took place in Nairobi on October 29. Merchants can take payments, track stock, market products and get financing through one system instead of several.
Merchants can accept Visa cards, NFC contactless payments, mobile money and LOOP payments through a point-of-sale device. The same payment features are available on the LOOP BIZ mobile app and a web portal. TechMoran compared the service to US payments firm Square. It reported that merchants will pay KSh 1,500 a month to use it.
The platform also links merchants to LOOP Discover, a marketplace inside the LOOP consumer app. The company says the marketplace reaches more than 500,000 consumers. AI-powered inventory tools monitor stock, forecast demand, recommend restocking and flag slow-moving products. According to TechMoran, the system flags slow-moving stock each morning.
On financing, LOOP will use merchants' transaction histories to help assess their creditworthiness. The products include quick loans and overdrafts against the LOOP Payment Account. They also include supplier credit lines paid directly to suppliers and a digital route to longer-term loans. All lending depends on eligibility and credit approval. The credit comes through the wider NCBA ecosystem, with NCBA Bank backing the credit relationship.
Sheila Kimani, chief commercial officer at LOOP DFS, said many entrepreneurs still handle payments, records, stock, marketing and financing through separate channels. She said the platform brings these needs together, so merchants can spend more time running their businesses. John Njoroge, Visa's country manager for Kenya, said the service broadens payment choice by combining Visa card acceptance with other digital payment options.
For now, the inventory feature works only on the web platform. LOOP DFS plans to bring it to the mobile app in 2027. The app already has a credit-tracking feature that lets merchants set borrowing goals. It is due to reach the web platform later. The Star noted that the platform's success will depend on how many merchants adopt it and how affordable it is.