Practical AI for African SMEs: Where to Start and What Actually Works

Practical AI for African SMEs: Where to Start and What Actually Works – Keynote session by Brian Murage – Sales Consultant, Odoo at Africa Tech Summit Nairobi 2026.

This session introduces the capabilities of Odoo’s latest AI-powered ERP system, designed to revolutionize how businesses, especially African SMEs, manage their daily workflows and operations. Brian highlights AI agents that act as personal assistants, automating tasks, providing instant insights, and enhancing decision-making across multiple business functions such as CRM, sales, finance, and inventory. The session also addresses the practical challenges African SMEs face, emphasizing the importance of embedded AI solutions that reduce errors, save time, and drive measurable business value by integrating smoothly with existing workflows and data.

Key Highlights Include:

• AI Agents and Automation: Learn how Odoo’s AI agents serve as customizable personal assistants that automate repetitive tasks, prioritize leads, provide instant data views, and help teams focus on growth by reducing manual work.
• Embedded AI for African SMEs: Discover why AI must be embedded within integrated business systems to be effective for African SMEs, overcoming challenges like scattered data, standalone tools, and manual processes.
• Comprehensive Business Impact: See practical applications of AI in improving sales conversion rates, automating finance tasks like invoice extraction and payment reminders, optimizing inventory with demand forecasting, and enhancing customer engagement through AI-powered live chat.

From keynotes to dynamic panel discussions, the summit explored groundbreaking topics across four flagship tracks: the Africa Money & DeFi Summit, Africa Climate Tech & Investment Summit, Africa Startup Summit, and Africa AI & Digital Summit. Attendees immersed themselves in the latest trends, shared ideas, and discovered cutting-edge innovations that are redefining Africa’s tech landscape.

But it wasn’t just about the talks – networking buzzed with energy, workshops sparked creativity, and exhibitions showcased the region’s tech solutions.

Africa Tech Summit Nairobi 2026 celebrated its 8th edition on February 11th and 12th at the Sarit Expo Centre in Nairobi. Bringing together leading industry players the summit explored the latest trends and insights in technology and business across Africa and beyond.