Kenya-based customer experience intermediary Ajua has acquired WayaWaya, a local artificial intelligence and machine learning firm.
The financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.
Ajua, which assesses customer feedback, said in a statement the acquisition of WayaWaya will allow it to integrate Janja, a payments bot system, to automate much of their products such as allowing SMEs to automate responses to customers.
“The acquisition of WayaWaya is an important milestone for us, as we make a significant leap in ensuring the customer experience journey for businesses across the continent is seamless," said Ajua founder and CEO Kenfield Griffith.
WayaWaya currently helps both individuals and businesses with intelligent messaging, across a number of social platforms, including WhatsApp, Facebook messenger, Telegram, and others, and allows its users to automate customer support and take cross-border payments.
WayaWaya's customers and partners include I&M Bank, Interswitch and MTN. It offers a range of services, from digital banking and payment services to financial services APIs and payment bots.
Under the deal, WayaWaya founder and lead Janja product builder, Teddy Ogallo, joins Ajua as Vice President of Product APIs and Integrations.
Launched in 2012, current Ajua infrastructure partners and clients include MTN, GoodLife Pharmacy, Standard Chartered, FBNQuest, Safaricom, Total, Coca-Cola and Java House.
Mr Ogallo, WayaWaya’s technology will complement Ajua’s products and services, and help scale and monetise businesses.
"It is an exciting opportunity for us, and we are happy that our teams will be collaborating to build something unique for the continent,” he said.
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