Custom software development company Tati Software founder Bertha Kgokong has launched Skhokho 2.0 – a business management platform designed for entrepreneurs and small businesses.

The platform aims to serve as a socioeconomic catalyst to formalise and scale South African small businesses, she says.

Skhokho 2.0 addresses a critical market gap, namely the prohibitive cost and complexity of subscribing to multiple, disparate software platforms.

The platform integrates customer relationship management (CRM), human resources, project management, accounting and other system functions into a single, affordable and intuitive interface.

Skhokho features deep integration of AI. It features an AI agent that allows users to manage core business functions through natural language, Kgokong notes.

“Entrepreneurs can simply speak or type a command to generate a meeting summary from notes, auto-create a new CRM contact by uploading a business card, draft and email an invoice to a client and conduct market research for new insights,” she highlights.

“Our goal is to eliminate administrative friction. By making administration conversational and fast, we free entrepreneurs to do what they do best, focus on growth, strategy and serving their customers. This is about levelling the playing field with technology,” she adds.

The launch of Skhokho 2.0 is aimed at creating a lasting socioeconomic impact. By enabling small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to operate more efficiently, the platform helps them formalise their businesses, create jobs, and contribute to a more inclusive economy.

The company’s planned partnerships with business incubators will see Skhokho give SMEs access to world‑class tools that help them operate efficiently, respond faster to market shifts and seize new opportunities.

Skhokho empowers SMEs to become more agile, competitive and growth‑ready in an environment that is constantly changing, says Kgokong.

Further, the future for AI in business looks promising. Chatbot technology and AI are being widely adopted across many industries and this movement will create more jobs than it threatens, she says.

The company is already planning to expand, including by developing a WhatsApp-based AI agent, developing deeper payroll and expense automation and growing in new markets across the world.

“Skhokho is an isiZulu slang term for 'boss', 'the real deal' or 'top dog'. I wanted an authentic South African name that would be instantly recognisable but also spark curiosity.

“The name embodies the spirit of our culture and the ambition of all entrepreneurs who want to be champions in their fields. It signals that world-class software can be built right here at home,” says Kgokong.

Skhokho 2.0 was launched at business school the Gordon Institute of Business Science on August 21 and champions entrepreneurship as a key driver of change.