Barclays Africa Supply Chain Challenge Finalists Announced

Four Kenyan teams have made it to the list of five finalists of the Barclays Africa Supply Chain Challenge a Pan African challenge seeking fintech innovations that will potentially change the way supply chain operates in Africa.

The five apps are: Freshmart app for Provenance an online platform that directly connects rural farmers to retailers and consumers; Catch Counterfeits a blockchain solution for the pharmaceutical industry and Farm Inputs Authentication which will track the distribution of seeds and fertiliser from the factory to the farm.

Markit Opportunity an agribusiness app that will leverage mobile technology and Solutech Distribution Application a mobile and web based application that will enable manufacturers to track their products from the warehouse to the retail outlet complete the list.

“We were delighted with the response to the challenge and the quality of submissions. The concept adjudged to be the Barclays Africa Supply Chain Challenge champion will indeed be a worthy recipient of the $10 000 funding. In addition Barclays will facilitate mentorship to help guide the growth of their concept over the coming months,” says Ashley Veasey, CIO, Barclays Africa.

Barclays Bank of Kenya Director of Marketing and Corporate Relations Caroline Ndung’u noted that the performance of Kenyans in the competition is a great demonstration that the country remains the home of innovation in Africa.

“Kenya has a proud tradition of innovation especially in financial technology. With this challenge, our young people have sustained that legacy with world-beating ideas that could potentially change the way the supply chain works – in Africa and across the globe,” said Ms. Ndungu.

Barclays Africa Group Limited (Barclays Africa) selected the five finalists from a strong field of competition that featured teams from more than 15 countries across the globe participate. The final judging will take place at Bandwidth Barn, Cape Town on 3^rd November 2015.

The judging panel will comprise of renowned industry experts including Erik Hersman, CEO of BRCK, Teju Ajani, regional content partnerships lead for YouTube, Ian Merrington, CEO of the Cape Innovation and Technology Initiative, and Andrew Baker, CIO for Corporate Investment Banking and Payments at Barclays Africa.

2015 Barclays Africa Supply Chain Challenge final projects profiles:

1. Freshmart App for Provenance (SA)

Freshmart is an online platform that directly connects rural farmers to food produce retailers and consumers. The Freshmart App for Provenance is an accompanying application that, through information recorded using blockchain, enables customers to research or review the conditions in which the produce they want to purchase was grown, sourced, handled, packaged and transported.

2. Catch Counterfeits (Kenya)

The Catch Counterfeits solution uses RFID and blockchain technology to ensure a seamless and transparent flow of pharmaceutical products from production to the customer, blocking all potential loopholes and negating the potential for resale or the introduction of faux medicines.

3. Farm Inputs Authentication (Kenya)

Farm Inputs Authentication uses smart contracts to track the distribution of fertiliser and seeds from source to farmer with added authentication upon receipt. When fertiliser is introduced at factory level, it is assigned a unique identifier, which is published on the blockchain ledger. Whenever it changes hands or shape, this identifier is updated via a mobile application that validates and tracks the journey (even broadcasting the current contract and GPS coordinates to the networked users).

4. Markit Opportunity (Kenya)

Markit Opportunity is a social enterprise that improves the incomes of smallholder farmers in the East African community and incentivises regional trade by leveraging mobile technology and logistics innovation to create trusted, transparent and efficient supply chains.

5. Solutech Distribution Application (Kenya)

Solutech Distribution App is a mobile and web-based application that enables manufacturers to track their products from the warehouse to the shop front, replacing manual processes and helping achieve visibility in the distribution process for manufacturing companies.

The Barclays Africa Supply Chain Challenge, which closed on 26 September 2015, was the first of several initiatives being extended into Africa with the aim to spark ideas to drive the digital evolution on the continent. Interested parties are invited to follow @ThinkRiseAfrica and visit http://www.thinkrise.com for information on this and other Barclays’ initiatives.