Shopaza, a new AI-powered e-commerce platform developed by Payaza, has officially launched with the aim of helping merchants across Africa and international markets expand their reach and conduct business without geographical limitations.
The platform, which is now available in 23 countries, seeks to address longstanding challenges faced by African businesses in accessing the global e-commerce market. According to Seyi Ebenezer, a fintech and commercial banking expert who announced the launch, Africa currently accounts for just 2% of the global e-commerce market valued at $3.88 trillion. He also noted that 56% of Nigerian micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) still rely primarily on social media platforms such as WhatsApp and Instagram, often managing sales and invoicing manually.
Shopaza is designed to provide merchants with a more structured digital commerce environment by combining verified merchant onboarding, secure payment processing, buyer protection, and real-time transaction confirmations. The platform is powered by Payaza’s payment infrastructure, enabling businesses to manage transactions more efficiently while building trust with customers.
The launch represents a strategic effort to strengthen digital commerce across Africa by providing businesses with tools that support scalability and cross-border trade. By leveraging artificial intelligence and integrated payment capabilities, Shopaza aims to simplify online selling and help merchants access customers beyond their immediate markets.
Speaking on the launch, Ebenezer described Shopaza as a long-term initiative built on strong foundational principles designed to create sustainable value for merchants. He said the platform was created to support entrepreneurs who have struggled to reach customers outside their local regions and to provide them with opportunities to participate more fully in the global digital economy.
The launch marks another step in Payaza’s broader mission to enhance digital payments and e-commerce infrastructure across Africa while enabling businesses to compete more effectively in an increasingly connected marketplace.
