Ogle It and the future of smart connections in South Africa.
- 11 hours ago
- 3 min read
Entrepreneurs are always up looking for ways to close gaps in existing platforms and systems because they have the view and understanding of what solutions our current times requires. And now, we hear from the woman behind Ogle It and the solution she started to make sure that they do not just collect and share data with consumers and businesses, but that verified data becomes the real value through her platform. Let’s hear from her as we had a moment with her.
At the centre of this story is Maritza Basson, an entrepreneur, architect, and systems thinker whose approach to innovation feels both intentional and necessary. Where many see a crowded digital marketplace, she saw a gap, not just in technology, but in trust.
“Ogle It was never meant to be just another marketplace,” she explains. “It had to be something smarter, something that actually works for both the person searching and the business trying to be seen.”
That duality - serving both sides, is what gives Ogle It its edge. In South Africa, thousands of skilled businesses operate in the shadows of visibility, relying on social media posts that disappear in seconds or word-of-mouth that simply doesn’t scale. At the same time, everyday people spend hours searching for reliable service providers, often navigating uncertainty, disappointment, and, at times, outright scams.
Maritza understood this friction well. “We are dealing with a broken connection between intent and access,” she shares. “People know what they need, but they don’t always know who to trust to get it done.”
And so, Ogle It was born, not as a directory, but as a smart marketplace ecosystem. A place where someone with a leaking roof, a need for a tutor, or even a desire to support a local candle maker can find, compare, and confidently book the right service provider.
But what truly sets the platform apart is its business model, a quiet disruption in a space dominated by paid visibility and algorithmic favouritism. “We don’t charge for leads, we don’t take a percentage from completed jobs, and we don’t allow paid ads to push smaller businesses down,” Maritza says. “Every business deserves a fair chance to be discovered.”
Instead, Ogle It offers a fixed subscription that empowers businesses with tools, from booking systems to invoicing and team management, enabling even a one-person operation to present itself with the professionalism of a large company.
Yet beyond functionality lies something far more powerful, trust.
“Trust is everything in the service world,” Maritza emphasises. “When you hire someone, you’re not just paying for a service, you’re trusting them with your home, your time, your money, sometimes even your family.”
It’s a statement that resonates deeply in a market where hesitation often delays decisions. Ogle It addresses this through verified profiles, reviews, ratings, and accountability systems, all designed to remove uncertainty and build confidence on both ends of the transaction.
And then comes the intelligence layer.
Through AI-driven matching, the platform eliminates the endless scroll, connecting users with the most relevant providers based on need, location, and quality. It’s a shift from random discovery to intentional connection, where visibility meets real demand.
“Social media is great for awareness,” Maritza notes, “but awareness doesn’t always convert into opportunity. We wanted to build something that translates directly into action.”
That philosophy extends to how Ogle It supports business growth. By positioning service providers in front of users who are actively searching, it transforms exposure into opportunity, and, ultimately, into revenue.
As the platform officially launched nationally on 26 April 2026, it marked more than just a milestone; it signalled a shift in how South Africans can engage with the service economy.
“This is about creating infrastructure where there wasn’t any,” Maritza reflects. “We’re opening doors for township entrepreneurs, freelancers, and small businesses who have always had the skill but not always the platform.”
And for consumers, it introduces a new behaviour, one rooted in informed decision-making rather than guesswork.
As she continues, her vision stretches far beyond the present moment.
“We want Ogle It to become part of everyday life,” she says. “A place people instinctively go to when they need something done. Not just a platform, but an ecosystem that connects communities, supports businesses, and builds trust.”
It’s a bold vision, one that positions Ogle It not only as a South African success story but as a potential global contender. Yet, at its core, the mission remains deeply local, to strengthen communities, support entrepreneurship, and prove that innovation built in South Africa can stand tall on any stage.
For more, visit: Ogle It
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