How Techsoko Built Tanzania's Fastest IT Delivery Service
Exclusive interview with Nuhaila Saleem
This story appears in Atoms & Bits Magazine (May-June 2025). Access the complete edition here.
The afternoon sun streams through the glass doors of Techsoko’s showroom at Haidery Plaza in Dar es Salaam.
Head of Operations Nuhaila Saleem walks between displays of networking equipment, speaking into her phone as she confirms a software configuration for a hotel in Zanzibar.
As a client enters looking for enterprise networking switches, she smoothly transitions from remote support to in-person consultation.
“What specific devices will you be connecting?” she asks, guiding him past sleek security cameras and firewall systems to the networking section.
The client explains their office setup, and Nuhaila immediately points to the appropriate equipment. “This one will handle your requirements, and we can configure it before delivery.”
This seemingly routine interaction represents what makes Techsoko different in Tanzania’s tech market.
Started as an online platform before opening its physical location in December 2024, the company offers both hardware products and the technical expertise to make them work.
“Businesses and professionals don’t simply need devices, they need devices that solve problems,” Nuhaila explains as we sit down after the client leaves with his purchase. “When someone buys a firewall, they are really buying network security. The product is just one part of the solution.”
As Operations Manager, Ms. Saleem has witnessed the evolution of Techsoko’s hybrid business model.
“We initially built our e-commerce platform because we saw businesses struggling to find specialized tech products in Tanzania,” she says.
“But we quickly realized customers often want to see and understand these products before buying them.”
This insight led to their physical store launch six months ago. Now Nuhaila manages both digital and physical retail channels while coordinating technical services for clients across the country.
The shop displays their eight product categories: telecom devices, wireless equipment, video conferencing systems, home networking, firewalls, enterprise networking, access control, and consumer devices.
Their analytics show information technology (IT) and network products drive the most sales, with businesses frequently purchasing access points, switches, and structured cabling.
“Network infrastructure is the foundation of any modern business,” Nuhaila Saleem notes. “We carry over 30 international brands, with particular depth in networking and security equipment.”
When customers purchase items requiring configuration, like firewalls, the Techsoko team doesn’t simply hand over boxes. “We book appointments for setup at client locations,” she explains.
Even for customers outside Dar es Salaam, they ship products and provide remote configuration support.
Her background in digital marketing has shaped how she approaches operations.
“I track both website and foot traffic to measure our performance,” she says. “We count daily visitors to both channels and analyze which products customers research online versus what they prefer to purchase in person.”
Techsoko has structured its operations around that dual approach.
Its website offers multiple payment options, including mobile money, with same-day delivery for in-stock items.
Meanwhile, the physical store serves as both retail space and a technical demonstration center.
This model has attracted diverse clients. From hotels in Zanzibar requiring complete technology setups to small offices needing basic network infrastructure.
“Each morning we review pending orders and appointments,” Nuhaila explains.
“We discuss inventory status and which products need restocking. For specialized items with unpredictable demand, like e-paper notebooks, we maintain small inventories and closely monitor sales patterns.”
Over the next decade, she sees opportunity in Tanzania’s ICT sector.
With increasing demand from construction projects in coastal regions and government-related work in Dodoma, Techsoko plans to expand its physical presence while continuing to improve its digital platform.
“Technology adoption is accelerating across Tanzania,” Nuhaila says. “Businesses are now willing to invest in quality IT solutions, especially when they understand how these tools solve their specific problems.”
While our interview concludes, a client calls with questions about integrating security cameras with their internet provider.
Ms. Saleem answers with detailed technical advice, demonstrating again how Techsoko’s value extends beyond just selling products.
“We are building more than a tech store,” she tells us. “We are creating a place where Tanzanian businesses and professionals can find hardware, software, and the expertise to make them work together.”
I checked their website — it looks great.
If they just add prices for the products, I think we can order from them right away.
For example, I only saw one Lenovo listed at 700k, while the others had no prices. I know that in the second-hand market, Lenovo ThinkPads go for around 400k to 500k.
But we’re willing to buy from a trusted company like Techsoko, even if they sell the same used ones for 700k.