Local Business & Service Directory
AkatsiMarket
A local information and vendor-connection pilot created from real enquiries about trusted businesses, accommodation, directions, prices and services in Akatsi.
Project status: Local Directory Pilot
akatsimarket.com (opens in a new tab)Project Overview
AkatsiMarket is being developed as a local discovery platform for businesses, accommodation, services and community information in Akatsi.
What It Is
AkatsiMarket is a local information and vendor-connection pilot created in response to real enquiries from people searching for trusted businesses, accommodation, directions, prices, and services in Akatsi.
Its initial categories include guest houses, electricians, plumbers, mechanics, phone repairers, cleaners and appliance technicians.
Problem Identified
Local businesses are largely invisible online. Residents and visitors rely on asking around to find a shop, artisan, room or service, and good businesses lose customers simply because they cannot be found.
Proposed Solution
A simple, searchable local directory and information platform that gives every business a usable digital presence and gives residents one place to look.
Target Users
- Local shops, vendors and artisans
- Guesthouses and accommodation providers
- Residents looking for services
- Visitors and returning community members
Product Thinking
- A directory only works if the listings are accurate and maintained.
- Most local businesses will never manage a website — the platform must do that job for them.
- Low-bandwidth performance is a product requirement, not a technical detail.
Key Features
- Verified business profiles
- Prices or price ranges
- Business photographs and directions
- Availability and WhatsApp contact
- Business reporting
Technology & Product Approach
- Lightweight, fast-loading pages designed for mobile data
- Structured listing data so categories and search can grow
- Simple onboarding paths for businesses with no digital presence
Lessons Learned
- Data collection and maintenance is the hard part of local platforms.
- Businesses respond to visibility they can see and share, not abstract features.
- Community trust grows faster than traffic — and it should.
Skills Demonstrated
- Local market research
- Directory & search design
- Low-bandwidth web performance
- SME onboarding
- Community engagement
- Content structuring
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