Maverick Research, a leading African market intelligence and technology company, has launched Mapela.io. This new AI-powered platform will transform how businesses gather information about retail sectors in emerging economies. Mapela.io uses technology from Lengo AI to quickly map, classify, and structure retail ecosystems.
The platform significantly improves the speed, scale, and accuracy of market intelligence. It can complete market mapping tasks in days, not months. This is crucial for businesses operating in informal and fragmented retail channels across Africa. These channels include kiosks, open market stalls, and small neighborhood shops.
Ghana’s economy, like many others in West Africa, heavily relies on informal trade. Understanding this sector is vital for growth in areas like Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG). Data from the Ghana Statistical Service shows that informal employment dominates the labour market. Platforms like Mapela.io can provide clearer insights into these often-unrecorded economic activities. This helps companies identify new opportunities and optimize their distribution networks.
Ato Micah, Managing Principal of Maverick Research, stated, “Mapela.io is a defining milestone in Maverick’s evolution into a technology-enabled intelligence platform.” He added, “We are fundamentally changing how markets are mapped and understood.” Micah highlighted that tasks that once took months of fieldwork can now be finished in days. This comes at a significantly lower cost and with greater accuracy.
Mapela.io offers several key benefits to businesses. It can accelerate retail census execution by up to 70% and reduce costs by up to 40%. The platform provides clearer visibility into informal and underserved markets. This helps businesses make better decisions for market entry and expansion strategies. It also integrates market mapping with outlet structure and performance data into one scalable solution.
This launch builds on Maverick Research’s established presence across West and Central Africa. The company already tracks over 60 FMCG categories and about 15,000 products each month per country. With Mapela.io, Maverick Research moves beyond just measuring markets to helping create and make them more visible. This will empower clients to find untapped market opportunities and improve their distribution. Businesses in sectors like telecommunications and financial services will particularly benefit from more efficient routes to market. Pilot projects are already in progress, indicating the platform's readiness for wider adoption.