By Luminous Jannamike

ABUJA – In a bid to enhance the safety and reliability of online transactions, two young tech entrepreneurs from Abuja have developed an artificial intelligence-driven platform that aims to bridge the trust gap in e-commerce.

Justus Nwosu and Michael Nwankwo, the co-founders of Binnox, introduced an innovative solution that not only connects customers with local businesses but also ensures the integrity of online dealings.

During an interview, Justus Nwosu, the CEO of Binnox, shared their journey and the core issues their platform addresses.

While emphasizing the skepticism prevalent among consumers, he said, “Africans, we rarely have trusts to buy things online. So what we did was to build an AI that aside helping you shop, also help check the behavioural pattern of these businesses, their model, the riders to ensure they are perfect for delivering what you want.”

According to him, the platform provides a robust AI system that vets businesses and delivery personnel, thereby offering customers the confidence they need to make purchases online.

“Our AI actually vet businesses and vet riders to actually give you the trust you actually crave for as a customer before you get the product,” Nwosu added.

The platform also offers a significant advantage to local business owners who may not have an online presence.

He explained that Binnox provides them with an online shop within the app to manage inventories, finances, and customer interactions, effectively giving them a digital storefront and access to a broader market.

Addressing the platform’s reliability and security, Nwosu assured that Binnox boasts a strong engineering team that has developed robust software to prevent system downtimes and ensure secure transactions.

“We have efficient security also, that helps protect [customers] from hackers,” he elaborated.

Despite the current economic challenges, Nwosu remains optimistic about Binnox’s potential to scale, with plans to expand beyond Nigeria and into other major African cities.

He also acknowledged the challenges they have faced, particularly concerning funding and the need for supportive government policies.

Michael Nwankwo, the CTO, highlighted the technology that makes their service stand out: “One of the most interesting technologies that we’ve used on Binnox is a technology called socket.io,” he explained.

This tech allows for real-time communication between the customer, the business, and the riders, ensuring that orders are received and processed instantly, which is crucial for efficiency and customer satisfaction.

Nwosu and Nwankwo also revealed that Binnox has been instrumental in job creation, having provided employment for over 20 individuals and numerous riders who have joined the platform.

They have managed to add more financial value to businesses on the platform, while also contributing to the economy through taxes.

The co-founders called on the government to create a more conducive environment for startups, not just through infrastructure but also through economic policies.

They urged the government to provide more grants and investment opportunities for local businesses and stress the importance of youth involvement in shaping the future.