In March 2007, Safaricom launched a mobile-based money transfer service that would transform how Kenyans send and receive money as well as pay for bills. Between March 31 and April 16 2007, the newly launched service had 19,671 users only. However, the revolutionary service that would go on to awe the world was spreading like a bush fire. Within the next five months, M-Pesa had over 1 million active users.
This service though, was only one of many revolutionary mobile products that have been launched by Safaricom.
In June 2013, Safaricom launched the mobile-based payment solution dubbed Lipa Na M-Pesa. The new product, which was hosted under the effective M-Pesa tool was aimed at small and medium enterprises in a bid to help consumers pay for goods and services easily using their mobile phones, and without incurring any additional charges.
The tool enabled Kenyans to pay for all their utility bills including Kenya Power bills, DSTV, StarTimes, Zuku bills, salaries, supermarket shopping, transport and even dividends.
Apart from the money-based products, Safaricom ha also positioned herself as a trendsetter, with a huge percentage of its income coming from its data offering. For instance, the telco giant is the only data firm in Kenya that provides 4G services, with its 3G network already spread in all parts of the country.
According to Tony Kweli, the spread of such infrastructure has enabled ease of doing business for SMEs in far flung areas. “Although Kenya is yet to embrace fibre-based internet coverage, Safaricom has been a relief to SMEs looking to communicate and carry out businesses either online or on phone by availing working infrastructure across the country,” he says.
Some of the data packages available have included daily options ranging from as low as Sh. 5 to Sh. 100, monthly bundles of as low as Sh. 250 to Sh. 3,000, and three-month bundles from Sh. 3,000 to Sh. 9,000. The bundles have ranged between 5mb to 30GB. Interestingly, they have all come with extra bundles of free SMSes.
And well, Safaricom is set to unveil a new product that will revolutionize how small businesses conduct businesses. Whether your small business is a salon, a shoe-shine stool, a hardware, a milk bar, or a boutique, this product will ensure that you get more value and a bigger turnover in the way you communicate to your customers, or market your goods and services online or through text messages.
And that product that will boost your turnove is….
More to follow shortly….
