Orange Partners with Nakumatt in Airtime Deal
By Staff Writer
NAIROBI--- Integrated telecommunications services provider Orange has taken yet another great leap in the implementation of its strategy to avail its services to customers more conveniently.
The telecommunications company has entered a strategic partnership with leading retail chain Nakumatt Holdings to have Orange airtime sold at the supermarkets outlets.
Orange Kenya CEO Mickael Ghossein, flanked by his Nakumatt Holdings counterpart Atul Shah, said the partnership is part of the company’s strategy to enhance its airtime distribution network and avail services closer to the people.
“With the widest retail network of branches across the country, and experience spanning over two decades, Nakumatt Holdings becomes a befitting partner for the attainment of our objective to enhance our airtime distribution through alternative convenient delivery channels”, Ghossein said, during the signing of the partnership at the Nakumatt Mega branch.
Nakumatt customers will be able to purchase the electronically generated airtime vouchers from the supermarkets tills in 28 branches across the country, in Kshs. 100/-, 200/-, 500/- & 1,000/-denominations.
Ghossein said the new airtime sales avenue will complement the ongoing strategy to expand the telecommunications firms’ distribution network with the opening of new retail customer experience centres.
The announcement came close on the heels of the announcement that Orange has set aside Shs. 100 million ($1,250,000) to open new shops across the country as part of its plan to increase its distribution network.
Nakumatts Holdings MD Atul Shah said the partnership is consistent with the supermarkets brand promise, ‘You Need It, You’ve Got It’ and welcomed Orange to Nakumatt’s fold.
He said the sale of the airtime has been made possible by the recent Shs.30 million IT system upgrade that now enables customers pay for their utility bills and buy electronically generated airtime at all Nakumatt stores.
Shah said, “The partnership with Orange will help optimize the new robust and dynamic IT infrastructure that makes it possible for mobile operators’ airtime vouchers and virtual products including cash withdrawals”.
“In our continuous quest to improve or customers’ lifestyles, while exploring avenues to add value and enhance convenience to our customers, we are glad to welcome Orange on board. We trust that in time they will expand their offerings sold at our branches, from airtime to their internet modems and other products”, he added.
In the emerging fast paced Kenyan lifestyle trends, Shah reiterated that customers now want to conduct all their errands such as banking, shopping, paying bills, entertainment and even Medicare all in one place.
The new system integration also confirms Nakumatt Holdings continued commitment to engage in mutually beneficial partnerships with other local enterprises.