MBABANE – Eswatini Beverages Limited (EBL) has partnered with MTN Eswatini and Standard Bank in eliminating the handling of cash between itself as a product supplier and vendors.
This is in an endeavor to remove the risks associated with carrying money.
EBL Country Director Doreen Tumureebire said: “Mobile payment fits well within our digitization approach as it enhances the digitisation from our customers’ end. Our digitisation strategy has a focal point on automation and mobile payment platforms which are flexible with most integration to deliver automated systems. Importantly we can use data derived from this platform to make analysis that will help decision making for our business.”
Tumureebire said it was imperative that they encouraged their customers to register and start using these payments solutions.
“We all know the advantages of new technologies and mobile payment systems. Using these systems saves you time because you do not need to go to a bank,” she said.
“A transaction can be done conveniently anywhere. The systems are safe to use and generally eliminate the handling of cash and associated risks.”
The Business Development Manager at MTN FinTech, Nomkhosi Dludlu concurred with the EBL Director and said from MTN’s experience working with agencies across the African continent, digitisation epitomises convenience.
“Since we launched the Mobile Money (MoMo) platform in 2011 we have witnessed an environment in which financial inclusion has been a priority, and an enabling regulatory environment in which everyone qualifies nationwide,” she said.
For consumers, this digitized payment system will offer privacy and security, reduce transport costs as MoMo agents are everywhere and enable the interoperability with banks and Mobile Operators, while funds remain intact.
A customer of the EBL, Madoda Mamba, who operates the Sithobelweni Wine & Malt at Sithobelweni said: “I have worked with the EBL for three years. The collaboration between EBL and MTN Eswatini using the MoMo facility has been extremely useful for us as business people in the rural areas. For instance, it takes at least three hours for me to reach Manzini from Sithobelweni if I want to do formal banking.”
“So using the MoMo platform is convenient and it saves us the cost of having to travel and the time that it takes to reach the bank. It is also safer because it negates the need to carry large amounts of money around.
Even our customers are advantaged as they can now make their payments using their cell phones and the MoMo digital code. An added advantage is that this facility enables one to carry out an inventory on one’s spending,” said Mamba.
