A Naivas mobile app will be launched next October as the retailer shuts down its web portal for comprehensive upgrading.

After opening a new physical outlet in the Ciata Mall earlier this month and announcing seven new outlets by the end of the year, Kenyan retailer Naivas has announced it will launch a shopping application next October. According to the retailer’s business development manager, Willy Kimani, the Naivas mobile app will be launched to boost the growth of the business.

When it launches, the Naivas mobile app will be a first in Kenya and confirms the retailer’s investment in its digital platforms. Less than a year ago, it had already partnered with local transportation services in order to improve the efficiency of delivery of order from digital platforms. Naivas now hopes that these will be able to draw five per cent of its revenue, once they are fully functional.

Naivas hopes the new shopping platform will even do more than that and help the retailer monitor customer spending habits and behaviours while also allowing for an understanding of general sector trends. According to Mr. Kimani, digital platforms have already “enabled the company to take actions that have, to date, reduced pilferage by 35 per cent while also providing a platform for customer promotions.”

The Naivas mobile app is particularly important for the retailer to achieve this goal as the retailer has shut down its website for comprehensive maintenance and upgrading. Mr. Kimani confirmed the website had failed to deliver on expected results, mainly due to online fraud that could not be avoided by the current system. He additionally said the mobile shopping app will circumvent this issue as Naivas has “partnered with local banks that will directly approve transactions and help in mitigating online fraud”.