Oluniyi D. Ajao
Truecaller has opened its Business Chat platform to global channel partners and enterprise solution providers, beginning from Lagos, in a move aimed at transforming business-to-customer communication across Africa.
The company said the platform allows businesses to connect with over 500 million active users through verified, rich messaging that offers an alternative to traditional SMS.
The rollout includes partnerships with firms such as Sling Africa and Globe Teleservices for markets outside India, while Gupshup and OneXtel will support operations within India.
Shift from SMS to Verified Messaging
The expansion comes amid growing concerns over declining trust in SMS as a business communication channel, mainly across Africa where spam and fraud are widespread.
According to Truecaller, about 68 billion spam and fraud calls were recorded globally in 2025, revealing the scale of the challenge.
Business Chat seeks to address this by enabling verified messaging within the Truecaller app, where sender identities are confirmed. The platform also supports rich media, interactive buttons, and real-time engagement tracking.
Implications for African Businesses
For businesses across Nigeria and other African markets, the platform offers a direct channel to reach customers without competing with congested SMS inboxes.
It also creates new revenue opportunities for channel partners, who can now resell verified messaging services to enterprise clients.
Priyam Bose, Global Head of Go-To-Market at Truecaller, said the expansion opens broader access for brands seeking to engage users more effectively.
“By opening up market access to our global partners, we’ve created a powerful gateway for brands to engage with over 500 million active users,” he said.
Growing African Footprint
Headquartered in Stockholm and listed on the Nasdaq Stockholm exchange, Truecaller has continued to expand its presence across Africa, with strong user adoption in Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, and Egypt.
The company is widely known for its caller identification and spam filtering services, which have gained traction amid rising concerns over digital fraud and unsolicited communications.
With the Business Chat rollout, Truecaller is positioning itself at the centre of Africa’s evolving digital communication ecosystem, as businesses seek more secure and reliable ways to interact with customers.