KCB Group in partnership with telecommunications company Safaricom have established a one-stop solution platform to enable SMEs scale up their growth while nurturing enterprise health through smart tips on cost management, loyalty programmes and preferential business opportunities.

The two firms seek to address common challenges faced by SMEs through bespoke solutions. SMEs which contribute to 92% of the new jobs contributed annually will enjoy Biashara smart's proposition meant to help run a business efficiently and professionally while offering them tools and financial access that will help them achieve their business goals.

KCB Group brings to the table flexible products and services among them advisory services, KCB SME Banking, competitively-priced KCB SME Loans, insurance, online banking registration, pre-paid cards and credit cards which will help unlock the potential of the entrepreneurs in the rural and urban areas to scale up and grow.

"Biashar@ Smart is the Safaricom Business and KCB Group's brand promise which seeks to identify with, empower, connect and grow SMEs in Kenya, through partnerships, befitting propositions and empowerment," said Safaricom's Chief Executive Officer, Bob Collymore, during the launch.

Safaricom's propositions that will be offered to the SMEs include Zidisha Biashara, Biashara Smart Classifieds, Biashara Tips and OneConnect Express. They will complement the existing offerings such as Cloud Software as a Service (Cloud SaaS) which offers human resources, accounting and payroll applications online to SME's, saving them the cost of buying the software, as well as domain hosting and professional email services.

Cabinet Secretary for Industrialization and Trade, Adan Mohamed  who graced the launch acknowledged the importance of Biashara Smart to the industry which employs 80% of the people living in Kenya saying it will be of great benefit to government and corporate institutions who look upon SMEs to continue providing them with products, services and propositions.