Making AI work for everyone: Jumia`s people-first strategy

AI adoption: it's not a tech problem, it's a people problem.

At Jumia, we're moving toward an agentic AI vision enriched with automation—but the strategy isn't about fancy models or cutting-edge tools. It's about making AI work for everyone.

That means: → Embedding AI-automation into daily workflows → Reducing manual, repetitive tasks that drain time and energy → Building governance frameworks so teams can experiment safely → Investing in training, playbooks, and "governance by design".

The goal? Increase efficiency while reducing workload—letting people focus on what actually matters: creativity, strategy, and innovation.

We're leveraging tools like N8N and MS Power Automate to handle the repetitive work, while centralizing our AI agents and building proper API governance to track usage, costs, and ensure compliance isn't an afterthought.

Additionally, we're encouraging curiosity. Because the best AI solutions don't come from leadership decrees—they come from teams experimenting with new automation-AI tools and discovering what works.

Right now, we're targeting functional departments for maximum impact. The results? Measurable efficiency gains and, most importantly—people who are excited about the tools they're using.

Still early days, but the momentum is real.

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João Falcão

VP Technology, Jumia

João Falcão joined Jumia in 2012, starting in the engineering department. Over the years, João has ascended through various leadership roles, including Team Leading, Release Manager, Head of Development, Director of Engineering Excellence, and now as VP Technology. In his current role, he has also taken on significant responsibilities in Compliance and Audit over IT, ensuring that Jumia's technological initiatives meet the highest standards of excellence and regulatory requirements.

Before Jumia, João amassed extensive professional experience, spanning over 15 years, primarily in the software healthcare industry and other software engineering sectors. His early career was marked by his contributions to the development and implementation of innovative software solutions as he participated in research projects, collaborating with several universities in Portugal to advance the field of software engineering.

Academically, João is an accomplished Informatics Engineer, having graduated in 2011 in Porto, Portugal. His academic background has provided a foundation for his professional achievements, allowing him to seamlessly integrate technical expertise with leadership.