Digital Mobility Offers New Business Opportunities for Namibia’s Economy

Booking a ride on a smartphone could create business opportunities beyond the driver behind the wheel, supporting businesses such as vehicle repair shops, tyre suppliers and insurance providers.

This was highlighted by Yango Country Manager Alex Mungai at the 9th National ICT Summit this week, where he discussed how technology-based transport services could help local entrepreneurs participate in Namibia’s growing digital economy.

When a passenger requests a ride through an app, the technology connects them with a driver, calculates the fare and helps determine the route. Behind this simple process is a digital system that links passengers, drivers and other service providers.

Mungai said digital mobility platforms create opportunities for driver-partners and fleet owners, while supporting related businesses such as vehicle mechanics, tyre shops, service centres and insurance providers.

Under Yango’s asset-light model, the company provides the technology platform, while local driver-partners and fleet owners own and maintain the vehicles. This enables entrepreneurs to use the platform to run transport businesses without the company itself owning the vehicles.

Beyond connecting passengers with drivers, these platforms rely on information and communication technology (ICT) to match rides, optimise routes, calculate fares, process payments and support safety monitoring.

The model illustrates how digital technology can facilitate business activity across the transport value chain, potentially creating opportunities for more local businesses to participate in the digital economy.

However, Mungai said realising this potential will depend on reliable network connectivity, accessible digital payment systems and compliance with transport licensing and safety requirements.

Accordingly to him, cooperation between technology platforms, regulators and local authorities will also be important in ensuring that digital mobility services operate within Namibia’s regulatory framework.

Organised by the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, the summit brought together stakeholders to explore how digital solutions can support economic development, entrepreneurship and employment.

For Namibia, the focus is on ensuring that the growth of digital services translates into meaningful opportunities for local entrepreneurs and small businesses, while strengthening the transport sector and broader digital economy.