The Use Of IT Solutions in Inclusive Value Chains

Alice Schmidt, Isabel von Blomberg
Working Papers
The biggest leap for MSMEs in low-income countries comes from low-tech IT solutions. They facilitate access to finance and basic services, such as healthcare and energy. Together with Fundes, we published a report that scanned available IT solutions that enable MSMEs to grow and become more productive. This research identifies a range of technologies that help make value chains more inclusive. Most of the technology solutions can be grouped into three distinct categories: 1) online platforms, 2) SMS services (many of which work on feature phones) and 3) mobile applications (usually dependent on smartphones). They can all be applied even in low-resource settings, thus making them very attractive to companies operating in emerging markets, as well as their business partners.