InvoChatng: AIforSME brings invoicing, payments, and record-keeping to WhatsApp for Nigerian SMEs

Across Nigeria, millions of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) rely on WhatsApp as their primary business tool. From closing sales to confirming deliveries, the messaging app has quietly become the country’s most important commercial channel. Yet, despite its central role in daily trade, one critical part of business has remained stubbornly disconnected from these conversations: invoicing and payments.

For many business owners, issuing an invoice still means opening a laptop, searching for templates, calculating totals manually, generating a PDF, and then sending payment details separately. The process is time consuming, prone to errors, and often delayed until “later”, by which time customer interest may have faded. In an economy where cash flow is crucial, such delays can be costly.

A new product developed by AIforSME called InvoChatng aims to close that gap by bringing invoicing and payments directly into WhatsApp conversations. Built specifically for Nigerian businesses, the solution allows users to create professional invoices and receive payments without downloading any additional applications or learning complex software.

According to Olufemi Oluoje, Founder of AIforSME(InvoChatng), the idea was born from observing how informal yet effective WhatsApp-based commerce has become in Nigeria. “Most SMEs already run their businesses through WhatsApp,” Olufemi said. “Asking them to switch to another app or complicated system often creates friction. We wanted to meet them where they already work.”

InvoChatng functions as an AI-powered business assistant on WhatsApp. Business owners simply send a message describing a sale in plain language much like they would explain it to a colleague. For example, a message such as “Create invoice for Mrs Ebuka. Two bags of rice, for 90,00 naira each” is enough for the system to generate a structured invoice.

Within seconds, the user receives a draft invoice for review. Once confirmed, a branded PDF invoice is created alongside a secure payment link, ready to be sent to the customer. The entire process typically takes less than a minute.

For many SMEs, this speed is more than a convenience; it directly affects revenue. Sending an invoice immediately while a customer is ready to pay reduces the likelihood of delayed or forgotten payments. “We found that businesses often lose money simply because invoicing happens too late,” Olufemi explained. “By reducing that delay, payments happen faster.”

Beyond speed, professionalism is another factor driving adoption. Small businesses that operate from phones or market stalls often struggle to present themselves as established organisations. Clean, branded invoices help to bridge that perception gap. Several early users report that customers respond more quickly when invoices look formal and well-structured.

The system also addresses a growing need for record keeping. As Nigeria continues to strengthen tax administration and encourage business formalisation, clearer documentation of income and transactions is becoming increasingly important. By automatically storing invoices, payment statuses, and customer histories, InvoChatng provides SMEs with organised records without requiring additional administrative effort.

Automated payment reminders are another feature designed with local business realities in mind. Instead of owners repeatedly messaging customers for payment an awkward and time-consuming task. The system sends polite, scheduled reminders for unpaid invoices. This allows business owners to focus on operations rather than collections.

Crucially, the platform has been designed to work reliably on basic smartphones and slower internet connections. Since everything happens within WhatsApp, users do not need expensive hardware or technical expertise. If they can send a message, they can issue an invoice.

InvoChatng is also deeply localised. Invoices are generated in naira, payments are processed through Paystack, and workflows reflect how Nigerian SMEs actually transact. This local focus sets the product apart from global invoicing tools that often assume stable broadband, desktop access, or foreign payment systems.

While invoicing is the core entry point, the broader ambition is to provide lightweight business management tools that do not overwhelm users. Features such as invoice status checks, basic sales reports, and customer transaction histories are accessible simply by asking the assistant. For example, a user can request the status of a specific invoice or ask for a summary of recent sales without navigating menus or dashboards.

Pricing has also been structured with SME realities in mind. Rather than forcing businesses into expensive subscriptions, InvoChatng offers flexible options including pay-per-invoice usage, low-cost monthly plans, and free trial credits. This approach allows micro and small businesses to test the system with minimal risk.

Industry observers note that such tools arrive at a critical time. Nigerian SMEs face rising operating costs, increased competition, and growing compliance requirements. Solutions that reduce administrative burden while improving cash flow are likely to see strong demand.

Olufemi believes the long-term impact goes beyond convenience. “When small businesses keep better records and get paid faster, it strengthens the entire ecosystem,” he said. “It improves trust, transparency, and financial stability.”

As conversational commerce continues to grow, the line between messaging and business operations is becoming increasingly blurred. AIforSME represents a step towards a future where selling, invoicing, payment, and record-keeping happen seamlessly within the same conversation.

For Nigerian entrepreneurs who already live on WhatsApp, the shift feels less like adopting new technology and more like removing friction from existing habits. In that sense, AIforSME’s approach reflects a broader trend in African technology: innovation that adapts to local behaviour rather than forcing users to adapt to software.

Whether this model becomes a standard for SME operations remains to be seen. However, one thing is clear: as more businesses seek simple, mobile-first tools to manage cash flow and compliance, solutions built around everyday communication platforms are likely to play an increasingly important role.

For now, AIforSME is betting that the future of small business management in Nigeria begins not with a dashboard, but with a chat message.

Readers who want to understand how the system works can find more information on www.aiforsme.ng, where AIforSME explains the product and its use cases for small businesses. Notably, the service removes many of the usual barriers associated with business software: there is no sign-up process, no login credentials to manage, and no application to download. Instead, businesses interact directly through WhatsApp using InvoChatNG, the conversational assistant built by AIforSME. By simply sending a message, users can generate invoices, share payment links, and maintain basic transaction records within the same chat environment they already use for daily business.

Olufemi Oluoje is a seasoned AI consultant and software developer with over 8 years of experience delivering innovative tech solutions to organisations and specializes in helping small businesses harness AI to boost productivity, reduce costs, and drive profitability. Olufemi focuses on creating tailored AI-powered solutions for SMEs and offers training to help teams effectively adopt AI. For inquiries, contact [email protected], [email protected].

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