By Lilian Mutegi July 09, 2014
From left to right: Mr. Joshua Oigara, KCB Group Chair Executive, Adan Mohamed Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Industrialization and Enterprise Development and Bob Collymore, CEO Safaricom during a press briefing after the launch of Biashar@Smart.
KCB and Safaricom have launched a new platform aimed at meeting the needs of SMEs.
Dubbed Biashar@Smart, the solution is a set of communication and financing products, capacity building initiatives and reward programmes aimed at connecting, empowering and growing SMEs.
Speaking during the launch KCB Group CEO Joshua Oigara said, “We recognize SMEs are engine of Kenya’s economy. Biashara@Smart, is a business proposition that helps businesses run efficiently and professionally while offering them tools and financial access thst will help them achieve their business goal.”
It is perceived that SMEs contribute up to 45% of the National GDP and that every 10 jobs created, eight to nine jobs are created by SMEs. SME sector also employs up to 7.5 million people and accounts for 80% of employment market while contributing over 92% of new jobs created annually according to Kenya National Bureau of Statistics hence Biashar@Smart may be viewed as a game changer in this sector.
“Biashar@Smart, is Safaricom Business and KCB Group’s brand promise which seeks to identify with, empower, connect and grow SMEs in Kenya through partnerships befitting propositions and empowernment,” said Safaricom’s CEO Bob Collymore, who also added that Safaricom will soon launch Biashara Tips and Biashara Club platforms that will open up networking and new business opportunities for SMEs.
So what impact will the product have on SMEs? The solution is set to address real life challenges that face growing businesses. From access to funds Lipa na M-PESA for merchant payments, to Biashar@Smart Accounting for online ERP solution. The solution also will see SMEs improve their efficiency which will ultimately boost their credibility in the eyes of their customers.
Biashar@Smart club will also offer capacity building opportunities through partnerships targeted at delivering practical knowledge and skills in business planning finance and marketing. KCB who are Safaricom’s financial partners will provide Biashar@Smart members with preferential interest rates on loans. Also members of the club will have access to a rich business portal Biashar@Smart Connect.
To join the Biashara@Smart Club, members will simply DIAL *484# on the mobile phones and choose the desired product including accounts, loans, early invoice payment, mobile interest banking, cards, Zidisha Biashara, Lipa na M-PESA, Biashar@Smart payroll and more.
Members of Biashar@Smart Club will also enjoy benefits ranging from preferential business loans, capacity building training, and loyalty reward programmes to legal and audit advisory packages, dedicated business support lines and rich networking opportunities to help members connect and grow their businesses.
Biashar@Smart also comes with Starter Pack offers which include an unsecured loan package from KCB, KCB M - Benki a self-registration mobile based transactional account and a web hosting package that delivers five professional e-mails, a .ke domain and a website builder. The two starter pack offers are Biashar@Lite and Biashar@ Pro 1, Biashar@Smart Pro2 , Biashar@Smart Pro3.
The event also saw the launch of a strategic partnership between Safaricom and KCB that is expected to reshape how consumers in Kenya access financial and telecommunication services.
Source: CIO East Africa
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