Technology is at the heart of Jumia’s mission to revolutionize e-commerce across Africa, driving innovation and creating seamless solutions that empower businesses and elevate the shopping experience for millions of customers and sellers across the continent.
The mission of the Porto Tech Centre (PTC) in Portugal is straightforward yet impactful: to fuel Jumia’s growth and enhance the experience for customers, sellers, and employees. This is achieved by developing scalable, user-centric solutions that drive efficiency and address the nuances of Africa’s e-commerce ecosystem. By focusing on innovation, the Centre ensures that Jumia not only meets its operational goals but also creates meaningful impacts for millions of users across the continent.
Evolving from a Development Hub to a Strategic Player
When PTC was first established in 2012, its primary role was to cater to the siloed needs of Jumia’s various verticals. Over time, it evolved into a unified force that bridges the gap between regional operations and centralized technological innovation. This alignment has been pivotal in driving Jumia’s roadmap while ensuring that local challenges and opportunities are addressed effectively.
By fostering closer collaboration between PTC and local teams, Jumia has enhanced its ability to create tailored solutions that resonate with the specific needs of each market.
Key Innovations Driving E-commerce Forward
Since 2022, PTC has introduced groundbreaking innovations that span all aspects of Jumia’s operations:
Scalability and User Experience: Enhanced platform scalability and improved customer experiences, particularly through the Jumia Mall interface and vendor-facing solutions.
Data-Driven Efficiency: Leveraged data science to optimize decision-making and streamline operations.
In-House Logistics Solutions: Supported the supply chain team in fulfilling Jumia’s customer promise by improving logistics management.
These advancements have been possible due to collaboration across Jumia’s tech hubs in Egypt, Kenya, and Nigeria. By integrating diverse perspectives, PTC has fostered a dynamic environment where innovation thrives. Engineers based in these key markets also conduct rigorous testing and gather direct feedback, ensuring that solutions are practical and effective.
Overcoming Challenges in Transformation
The journey of transformation was not without its hurdles. Shifting from siloed operations to a unified approach required a significant mindset change across teams. PTC worked diligently to break down barriers, fostering alignment between product, technology, and operations teams across regions.
This shift emphasized collaboration, clear prioritization, and consistent communication, enabling the Centre to deliver impactful solutions more efficiently and cohesively.
Impact on Customers and Operations
The innovations spearheaded by PTC have had a tangible impact on Jumia’s operations and customer experience. Highlights include:
Faster and Accurate Support: Enhanced customer support tools have reduced response times and increased service efficiency.
Improved Shopping Experiences: Streamlined interfaces and standardized features have elevated the overall user journey.
Cost-Effective Scalability: Modernized platforms provide stability and scalability while optimizing costs.
Through these improvements, Jumia has not only strengthened its operational backbone but also deepened trust and satisfaction among its customers and sellers.
The Road Ahead
The transformation of PTC underscores the importance of clarity, inclusivity, and collaboration. By aligning all teams around shared goals, Jumia has created an environment where innovation flourishes.
The adoption of a more inclusive roadmap planning process has empowered diverse ideas and ensured that overlooked areas receive attention. This shift fosters creativity and lays the groundwork for sustainable growth and continuous improvement.
As PTC continues its journey, it remains a critical driver of Jumia’s vision to transform e-commerce in Africa. By staying true to its mission and embracing innovation, the Centre is poised to make even greater contributions to the continent’s digital future.
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João Carvalhosa
VP Product, Jumia
João began his professional journey by designing and building wind turbines across Europe. He contributed his engineering expertise to companies such as EDP Renewables and ENERCON.
Later, he joined Jumia as a Product Manager in Logistics, where he commenced his ascent within the company, eventually rising to become the VP of Product for the group. This role marked a significant milestone in his career, as he played a pivotal role in Jumia's expansion, significantly increasing its workforce and leading it to become the first African company to list its shares on the New York Stock Exchange.
João is a seasoned VP of Product, boasting a career spanning over a decade in the development of top-notch software products, along with proficiency in market research, supply chain management, finance, and e-commerce, all underpinned by a solid engineering foundation with a focus on Product, Operations, and Strategy.
He enhanced his expertise with a specialization in Logistics and Supply Chain from the Porto Business School. He holds a Master's degree in Electrical and Computers Engineering from the Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto.
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