By Dipo Olowookere
Former Group Managing Director/CEO of the defunct Diamond Bank Plc, Mr Uzoma Dozie, has announced the establishment of his new company called Sparkle, which is expected to fully commence operations before the end of 2019.
Mr Dozie exited the financial institution after the company completed its merger and acquisition transaction with Access Bank Plc in March 2019.
Since the deal, he has been off the scene only to announce on August 1, 2019 that he was floating a new company, retail startup firm hoping to disrupt the status quo in the sector.
According to Mr Dozie, “Sparkle is a product, a community, born out of necessity for Nigeria’s retail landscape.
“We will connect millions of retailers on a digital platform, provide a service they can trust, that is seamless, and that allows for frictionless transactions across all activities and business services.”
In his announcement, the former banker said Sparkle will leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning to help retailers achieve their daily objectives and scale their businesses.
He noted that this would be achieved through the platform’s suite of innovative lifestyle services. The platform will offer users support services, like inventory management, issuing invoice statements to foreign exchange services and a POS-via-mobile function.
He further said the firm will release plug-in APIs through which it will enhance convenience and service, allowing external developers the opportunity to contribute and build solutions.
Mr Dozie disclosed that when fully operational, Sparkle will influence its user’s purchasing decisions through user-generated behavioural purchase data, which will dynamically support retailers by guiding the exact consumers their way.
He said Sparkle will also provide access to mentorship and development to SMEs, adding that the firm was in partnership with Visa, Network International, PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PWC) and Microsoft.
Adedapo Adesanya