Small and medium enterprises can now pay their workers through M-Pesa, from any part of the world and at any time.
This follows the launch of Online Software Solutions bySafaricom, an innovation that seeks to cement its leading position in the market and diversify its product portfolio.
The software solutions include a website, professional email, human resource payroll, and accounting and prospective customers can pay for the solutions depending on their specific needs.
The accounting software, Pastel, will allow players in the sector to generate professional financial reports, which they can use to borrow from financial institutions.
The payroll solution, Cleanbill, is designed to ease and professionalise payroll management by automatically tabulating all statutory deductions from the employees and keeping relevant records for ease of payment.
“This will make it easier, secure and affordable for the players in the sector to store and manage their data,” said Sylvia Mulinge, the operator’s business general manager.
She observed that the service would eliminate the prohibitive costs incurred by SMEs in hiring professional services such as accountants.
“We want to deliver business solutions by letting enterprises focus on their core activities and consequently spur their economic growth,” she noted.
Money transfer
To access the services, businesses will pay a monthly fee of Sh870 for the on-line processing software, Sh1,740 for the accounting software and Sh1750 for professional email. The cost depends on the specific needs of the enterprise.
M-Pesa is a mobile-phone based money transfer and microfinancing service for Safaricom and Vodacom, the largest mobile network operators in Kenya and Tanzania.
Currently the most developed mobile payment system in the world, M-Pesa allows users with a national ID card or passport to deposit, withdraw, and transfer money easily with a mobile device. M-Pesa is a branchless banking service designed to enable users to complete basic banking transactions without visiting a bank branch.
The continuing success of M-Pesa in Kenya has been due to the creation of a highly popular, affordable payment service with only limited involvement of a bank.
Mulinge said the new software is also geared towards enhancing the competitiveness of the small business to expand and increase their profitability. If adopted, enterprises can prepare payroll and improve efficiency associated with errors in the transaction.
The operator hopes to leverage on its existing cloud computing infrastructure to rope the sector into their system.
The solution is the latest from the operator in the face of the digital revolution with Safaricom announcing plans to create a portal for businesses to register.
This will make it easier for prospective customers to do business with them.
By WINSLEY MASESE, The Standard
