Hardware

Kenya: Countertop, IoT device dispenses washing powder

Image: Adobe Stock.

June 6, 2023

Shopkeepers in Kibera, a Kenya settlement near Nairobi, are using a countertop, Internet-connected machine to dispense washing powder into reusable containers, thanks to a technology developed by Novek, a London-based technology firm.

The retailers are able to charge as if the product were being sold in bulk, according to the Mastercard news site.

The machines are equipped with software and sensors so that product manufacturers can track product from the factory to the retail customer.

The customers place their containers under the dispensing mechanisms and enter the amount of product on the keypad. The customers then pay at the cashier for their purchase.

Novek received a grant from the Stive Community Innovation Fund last year, which awarded $1 million to eight enterprises focused on digital capabilities. Strive Coummunity is supported by the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth with Caribou Digital.