South African fintech company Yoco has acquired Dyner.ai, an artificial intelligence-powered software platform built for restaurants and independent businesses, in a move that deepens its expansion beyond payments and into business operations technology.

The acquisition marks another step in Yoco's evolution from a payment solutions provider into a broader commerce platform for small and medium-sized enterprises. The company currently serves more than 200,000 merchants across South Africa and processes over $1 billion in card payments annually.

Dyner.ai was founded by former Discovery employees Thalentha Ngobeni and Chris du Plessis. The platform helps restaurants manage inventory, supplier orders, profitability analysis, reporting and day-to-day operations through AI-driven tools designed to improve efficiency and decision-making.

The deal brings advanced AI capabilities directly into Yoco's growing ecosystem of business services. Several Dyner customers already use Yoco's payment solutions, creating a natural integration path between the two platforms.

Yoco co-founder and Chief Business Officer Carl Wazen said the acquisition was driven by a shared belief that technology can help independent businesses operate more effectively. He noted that artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly important in helping entrepreneurs automate routine tasks, identify business trends and make smarter decisions.

The Dyner team is expected to continue developing its software while gradually integrating its technology into Yoco's broader merchant platform. This approach will allow businesses to access a wider range of operational tools through a single ecosystem.

The move reflects a growing global trend among fintech firms, which are increasingly expanding beyond payments into software solutions that help merchants manage operations, customer relationships and financial performance. By embedding these services into everyday business activities, companies can strengthen customer loyalty while opening new revenue opportunities.

For restaurants and small businesses, AI-powered platforms offer practical benefits such as automated inventory tracking, improved demand forecasting, enhanced profitability monitoring and reduced administrative workloads.

The acquisition also highlights the continued growth of South Africa's technology sector, where startups are increasingly developing products tailored to local market challenges rather than relying solely on imported solutions.

For Yoco, the acquisition could prove transformational. Backed by its previous $83 million Series C funding round, the company now gains access to technology that could position it as a central operating platform for small businesses, extending far beyond its roots as a payments provider.