Africa Business Communities

Tanzania customers to buy cement via mobile money

Vodacom Tanzania and Tanga Cement have inked a deal that will see customers buy cement from the company through mobile money at no extra cost.
The deal is meant to guarantee customers of safe transactions while reducing the time they take in accessing cement shops.

“Mobile money transfers have emerged as a safe, secure, efficient, reliable, cost effective and preferred mode of payment over cash transactions.
“We look forward to use the M-Pesa service to ease the burden and risks of customers having to carry cash in order to purchase Simba Cement,” said Tanga Cement Managing Director Reinhardt Swart. The cement maker is also hoping to ride on the popularity of the mobile money MPESA to grow its distribution network and customer portfolio.

“By digitizing the commercial chain, we will also simplify the process by which traders order their cargo thus optimizing their time, easing management of sales, improving market visibility and empowering the trader,” Mr Swart said. The arrangement will now see Simba cement customers furnished with a special Vodacom M-Pesa Lipa number into which customers can deposit payments for their cement consignments via M-Pesa.

Simba Imara Cement (class 32.5 R) users will also from now get an airtime voucher of 500/- put inside the cement bag. The process of inserting the vouchers in the bags is starting today, thus cement bags under class 32.5R will have airtime vouchers inside. The two firms have also embarked on a training programme aimed at enhancing users on effective use of the new service.

While commenting on the payment platform, Vodacom Tanzania’s Chief Officer – Enterprise Business Unit, Gregory Verbond said that the first phase of the service will be available to all distributors, wholesalers and retailers of Simba Cement across the country. Under the new service, Simba Cement distributors, wholesalers and retailers will be furnished with a special Vodacom M-
Pesa Lipa number into which customers can deposit payments for their cement consignments via M-Pesa.
“Vodacom is committed to providing innovative services that ensure all businesses have access to mobile financial services through M-Pesa which are pertinent to driving their own commercial objectives. We achieve this by extending the best and widest agent network payments eco system which benefit businesses and end users alike.

We are delighted to provide Tanga Cement PLC and their customers with a secure and reliable payment platform that will positively impact their customers and the Tanzanian community in general. The customers will now be able to pay Tanga Cement PLC directly via a special M-Pesa LIPA account, which can be found on the M-Pesa menu by dialing *150*00#” he said. This development is part of Tanga Cement PLC’s efforts to expand and consolidate its distribution network. Recently the Tanga Cement PLC also signed an MoU with the Tanzania Railways Limited (TRL) in which cement from the plant in Pongwe will be distributed via the Usambara rail line to Kigoma and Mwanza regions.

www.simbacement.co.tz

www.vodacom.co.tz

 

 

 

Share this article