LOOP BIZ+ Launches to Support Kenyan Businesses

The new merchant platform combines digital payments, customer discovery, working capital and AI-powered inventory management in one place.

LOOP Digital Financial Services (LOOP DFS), a subsidiary of NCBA Group, has launched LOOP BIZ+, an integrated platform designed to help Kenyan businesses manage payments, stock, marketing and financing from one place.

The platform brings together payment acceptance, business management tools, access to customers and financing options. As a result, merchants can manage several business functions without relying on separate systems.

For many small businesses, daily operations involve juggling payment terminals, mobile money tills, stock records, accounting tools and loan applications. However, these systems often operate independently, making it harder to track transactions and manage business performance.

LOOP BIZ+ aims to address this challenge by bringing these services together through one platform, one onboarding process and a single business relationship.

LOOP BIZ+ Combines Multiple Payment Options

At the centre of the platform is the LOOP point-of-sale (POS) device. It accepts Visa and other card payments, NFC contactless payments, mobile money and LOOP payments.

Additionally, merchants can access the same payment experience through the LOOP BIZ app and web portal. This gives businesses flexibility to accept payments across different trading environments.

Speaking at the launch, Sheila Kimani, Chief Commercial Officer at LOOP DFS, said the platform would help entrepreneurs spend less time managing separate systems.

“Small businesses are the backbone of Kenya’s economy, yet many entrepreneurs still manage payments, records, stock, marketing and financing through separate channels, and end up being the ones holding it all together. LOOP BIZ+ brings these needs into one platform, so merchants can spend less time reconciling systems and more time running their business.

“Because the platform sees the business as a whole, we can offer the right kind of support at the right time, and with NCBA Bank behind the credit relationship, merchants can plan their growth with greater confidence,” she said.

LOOP BIZ+ also brings together financing options for businesses with different needs.

LOOP Discover Connects Merchants with More Customers

Beyond payments, LOOP BIZ+ gives merchants access to LOOP Discover, a digital marketplace within the LOOP consumer app.

Businesses onboarded on LOOP BIZ can list and market their products to more than 500,000 consumers through the platform. This creates an additional channel for businesses to increase visibility and attract customers.

Consequently, merchants can complement walk-in sales and referrals with digital product discovery. The feature also connects business owners with consumers already using the LOOP platform.

Flexible Financing Supports Business Growth

LOOP BIZ+ also brings together financing options for businesses with different needs. These include quick loans, overdrafts, supplier credit lines and a digital pathway to long-term financing.

For instance, quick loans can help eligible merchants address immediate cash needs. Meanwhile, overdrafts are available against the LOOP Payment Account, while supplier credit lines disburse funds directly to named suppliers.

The platform can also use transaction histories from LOOP POS to inform business credit scoring. This may help eligible merchants access financing based on their business activity, subject to eligibility criteria and credit approval.

In addition, LOOP has introduced a credit gamification feature on the LOOP BIZ app. Merchants can set credit goals and track their progress towards target limits. A similar feature for web-based merchants is expected to roll out later.

AI-Powered Inventory Tools Help Merchants Manage Stock

Another key feature is AI-powered inventory intelligence. The system helps merchants monitor stock, forecast demand and receive restocking recommendations.

It also identifies slow-moving products. For example, the system flags such stock each morning, helping merchants decide what to reorder and how much to invest in inventory.

As a result, businesses can make more informed stock decisions, reduce wastage and avoid tying up too much money in products that sell slowly. Better inventory planning can also help merchants anticipate customer demand and manage working capital.

The inventory management feature is currently available to merchants onboarded on the web platform. However, LOOP plans to introduce it on the LOOP BIZ app in phases during 2027.

Visa Partnership Supports Digital Payments

The launch also highlights LOOP DFS’s partnership with Visa, which supports card acceptance through the LOOP POS device.

John Njoroge, Visa’s Country Manager for Kenya, said expanding payment options could help more businesses participate in digital commerce.

“Kenya has built one of the world’s most dynamic digital payments ecosystems, and the next opportunity is ensuring more businesses can participate fully in it. LOOP POS broadens payment choice for merchants and consumers by bringing Visa card acceptance together with other digital payment options.

“Through partnerships like this, we can help more businesses participate confidently in digital commerce and create new opportunities for growth,” he said.

By combining digital tools with the backing of NCBA Bank, LOOP BIZ+ aims to give Kenyan businesses access to services that have traditionally been easier for larger companies to manage.

The launch builds on LOOP DFS’s wider focus on using technology to simplify business operations and expand access to financial services.

Businesses can sign up through the LOOP BIZ+ website.