Get Guardian on GoogleNigerian tech startup Oneway has officially launched its AI-powered “smart retailer” platform at Lami Spot Restaurant, Mararaba, on the outskirts of Abuja. The platform integrates mobile self-checkout, AI-driven inventory management, and point-of-sale tools to streamline shopping and store operations.
The founders, Ogbonna Vitalis and Kenechukwu Arionye, said the system was designed to address common challenges in retail, including long queues, stockouts, and manual reconciliation delays.
“For years, queues have swallowed time, inventory has been a guessing game, stockouts have left shelves looking like mouths with missing teeth, and manual reconciliation has dragged on long after closing hours. Shoppers lose patience; retailers lose money,” the company said in a weekend statement.
Vitalis explained the platform’s functionality: “Our system saves shoppers time and gives businesses the tools to operate more efficiently.” Customers can scan items as they shop, track totals in real time, and pay instantly without waiting in lines. Retailers can monitor inventory live, track sales trends, and manage multiple branches from a single dashboard, with analytics converting raw data into actionable decisions.
Arionye said the deployment at Lami Spot is the first step toward a wider rollout. “Our aim is to bring world-class retail management tools to African businesses without the complexity or cost barriers that often come with foreign solutions,” he stated.
Onyekachi Eze, Oneway’s CISSP-certified Head of Cybersecurity, highlighted the platform’s security measures.
“Trust is as important as technology. We designed Oneway to meet high security standards so that customers and retailers can use it with confidence,” he said.
The platform incorporates advanced encryption, real-time threat monitoring, and strict access controls to safeguard transactions, personal data, and business operations.
Oneway’s founders said the company’s goal is to help African retailers operate at global standards and provide faster, more secure, and more efficient shopping experiences.
