Choosing Digital Platforms in Mozambique: Questions SMEs Should Ask

Trust is part of the software decision

On 8 June 2026, Mozambique’s National Institute of Information and Communication Technologies (INTIC) announced the first licences for electronic service intermediaries, digital platform operators, data-centre operators and data centres. INTIC said around 170 entities had been registered under relevant regulations at that point, and the first 19 had met the technical, legal and regulatory requirements for licensing. [Read INTIC’s announcement](https://intic.gov.mz/intic-atribui-primeiras-licencas-a-provedores-intermediarios-de-servicos-electronicos-operadores-de-plataformas-digitais-e-centros-de-dados/).

For an SME choosing a cloud service or business platform, ask clear questions about how the provider operates. The announcement is not a substitute for reading regulations or checking whether a particular provider or service has a licensing obligation. The precise rules depend on the service and current legal framework; seek qualified local advice where needed.

Ask what happens to business data

A software demonstration tends to focus on screens. Before signing up, understand what happens to business records. Ask who can access customer, supplier and financial information; how staff access is granted and removed; what backups are made; and how the business can retrieve its data or leave the service.

The answers should be specific enough to guide a decision. “We take security seriously” does not explain how access is controlled or how an outage is handled. Ask for service terms, support arrangements and a plain-language explanation of the provider’s responsibilities.

Check reliability and support

Ask how users contact support, when it is available, how interruptions are communicated and how recovery works. For a critical workflow, test what staff should do during an outage. Also ask how the product handles routine changes: adding or removing a user, correcting a record, exporting information and reviewing previous actions.

These details affect daily work and help show whether the software fits the operating model. See [custom platform services](/services/custom-platforms) or [digital transformation services](/services/digital-transformation) when assessing a business process that spans tools.

A licence is not a complete quality test

INTIC reported a milestone: 19 entities had received licences after meeting requirements described by the institute. The announcement does not say every unlicensed provider is unsafe, that every software vendor must obtain a licence, or that a licence guarantees perfect uptime or suitability for a particular SME.

Treat provider status as one item to verify alongside references, contract terms, data practices and support. Before committing, write down the workflow the tool must support and the records it will hold. Ask providers the same questions about access, backups, exports, support, outages and applicable licensing, then keep answers in writing. For planning an operational system, explore [custom platform services](/services/custom-platforms).