Vceela

Connecting digitally illiterate artisans to the global market.

Past and Current Partners

NICL Lahore (Pakistan), Capital Factory (Austin Texas, USA), GSMA Ecosystem Accelerator.

Active Countries
Pakistan
Thematic area(s)
Inclusive Growth, Gender
Technology
SaaS
Organisation Name
Vceela Private Limited
READ MORE ON THEIR WEBSITE

The Problem

The target problem that Vceela is solving is that more than 80% of the artisans in the handmade industry are either digitally illiterate, live in villages or small cities away from the major markets in their respective countries, and hence are not connected directly to the market. This leaves them vulnerable at the hands of middlemen who exploit them by extracting more than 80% of the profits themselves. This has forced many artisans to leave their craft and look for other jobs, which endangers the very craft and culture they are associated with.

The Solution

Vceela creates an ecosystem that connects even the digitally illiterate and unconnected artisans directly to local and international markets, therefore cutting out the middlemen and enabling artisans to realize actual profits. Artisans get more profit out of their products and customers get the same product at a cheaper rate.

How it works?

  • Step 1: Once clusters are created within a region, each cluster is assigned a coordinator that is sent into the field to train and assist artists and artisans on how to use the marketplace platform.
  • Step 2: Training is continuous and enables artisans to become self-sufficient. Via the mobile app, sellers can receive income directly via a mobile e-wallet.
Digital X Solution Vceela

Bridging the digital divide

​​Vceela was created for digitally unconnected artists and artisans by identifying specific villages and cities then dividing them into clusters and training artisans to use technology to empower themselves. The system is built so that digital intervention becomes an enabler rather than a burden.

Impact and highlights

  • Working with more than 50,000 artisans from 344 villages and cities in Pakistan.
  • Increased the average income of artisans by 41% (81% of artisans are home-based women artisans).
  • 921% increase in the volume of exports from the platform since the beginning of 2021.

Plans for expansion

Vceela plans to implement their solution in African regions (starting in Uganda).