When mobile point-of-sale (mPOS) systems came into existence, most people perceived it as just a solution for business operations. After a short while, mobile POS systems became considerably revolutionized by many industries, especially the brick and mortar businesses. According to a market report by Transparency Market Research, there will be over two hundred million mPOS devices in operation worldwide by 2022. Many of the benefits of the system have been realized in the retail and restaurant industries. Other industries like the hospitality industry have just started experiencing the limitless possibilities presented by the system. Experts indicate that the system is going to extensively transform the hospitality and other related industries like hotels, food service, and travel.

Innovative Restaurant Solutions

In a busy restaurant, servers waste a lot of time writing down customer’s orders and entering them into a POS system. Many restaurants have started using tablet-based systems that make it easy to enter orders and process payments. Available on various platforms, the system provides a more detailed menu description and considerably increases speed and accuracy of orders. Additionally, the system offers convenience such that customers can make their payments easily at the table. Improved versions of the system allow servers to split tabs to combine bills from several tables and thereby improving table turnover.

Some restaurants are characterized by long lines during busy meal periods. Most customers are dissatisfied with long queues leading to reduced royalty and revenues. However, such situations can be addressed with the mobile POS which can be used to serve numerous customers at the same time. On the other hand, employees can use POS mobile devices to act as both waiter and cashier significantly improving service delivery and customer satisfaction.

Credit Card Options

The use of credit cards in the traditional POS did not provide any customer information to the restaurant owners. However, through the mPOS systems, restaurant owners can get customers information such as mobile numbers and email address. Such information has become very vital in marketing strategies to target specific customers. Additionally, the system provides a more convenient way of providing loyalty programs to customers instead of the traditional paper punch cards.

Ordering

Mobile ordering is another interesting feature that is projected to change restaurant operations. Some versions of the mPOS system allow customers to access menus and make orders through mobile devices at the convenience of their seats. Such functionality reduces the likelihood of errors and considerably increases customer’s satisfaction.

Contactless payment methods have become popular in most mainstream industries. In the restaurant industry where queues are common, contactless methods allow lines to move faster due to increased pace of processing transactions. There is no better way of improving payments methods rather than the mobile POS system.

Labor

Labor cost severely affects revenues. Recently, minimum wages for restaurant workers has increased in the US making foodservice operators find new ways of offsetting the increasing labor cost. The mPOS system can streamline operations and thereby reduce the number of employees.

The benefits provided by the mobile POS systems in the restaurant industry are undeniable. There are many operations in the industry that have been significantly improved by the system. For instance, the ability to take or make orders at the table decreases the chances of making errors and also improves the payment process. Investors in the industry should consider employing mobile POS systems in their operations.

United Bank for Africa, a Pan-African financial institution, has moved to change the face of e-banking with the introduction of Leo, the UBA Chat Banker that enables customers to make use of their social media accounts to carry out a key banking transaction.

UBA brought together its customers and financial journalists at its Head office for the launch of its latest addition to its banking services. UBA introduced Leo, an innovation that is capable of revolutionizing the way banking is done in Africa. Leo, a UBA Chat Banking personality that enables the bank’s customers to make use of their social media accounts to carry out key banking transactions, comes as a solution developed with people’s lifestyles in mind.

With Leo, customers are able to open new accounts, carry out money transfers and airtime top-up among others right on their mobile phones. Designed to work within the platforms people are already familiar with, Leo has already taken off on Facebook Messenger. In the nearest future, the app is expected to show up on other social media platforms and all it takes to enjoy the services is simply to have a Facebook account.

At the official launch of Leo in Kampala, Johnson Agoreyo, Managing Director/CEO, UBA Uganda, explained that Leo, being an intelligent person, will give customers instant feedback as they transact their business on the platform.

“The formulation of this product is consistent with the bank’s customer-first philosophy, where we are doing things not the way we like but exactly what the customers want, where they want it, and in the exact platform, they want. Therefore, we at UBA have collaborated with Facebook to come up with this. In future, Leo will show up on other platforms,” he said.

Gloriaus Byaruhanga, the Head, Digital Banking, UBA Uganda, who took UBA customers and journalists present through a step-by-step demonstration on how to make use of Facebook chat function to enjoy seamless banking services through chat sessions, explained that Leo is not just a chat machine but an artificial intelligence service as well a personality meant to address any type of banking concern.

“Leo is ready and waiting to help with most transactions and to deliver any form of banking services. Leo is operating a lifestyle banking platform on Facebook Messenger to assist with your transactions while chatting with your friends and business partners,” Byaruhanga said.

“The security with this platform is that for every transaction, an OTP (One Time Password) is generated to the phone number that is registered on the account,” she said.

She explained further that to open an account and enjoy the chat banking advantage, the prospective customer just needs to log on to the Facebook Messenger and open up a chat with Leo, who then takes over the conversation by telling the customer what steps to take.

No doubt, as e-banking continues to reshape the way bank customers carry out their financial transactions by providing 24-hour services and saving customers the stress of joining long queues in banking halls, UBA is leaving no stone unturned in its bid to not just keep up with technology but to always stay ahead of the game.

Africa’s global bank is continuously innovating and developing strategies aimed at making banking seamless and effortless for millions of its existing and potential customers, while also ensuring the utmost safety of their transactions.

With eyes on the future, and conversant with the new trend in customer behaviour, the bank is constantly innovating, taking strategic steps to integrate more people into the digital financial services net, drive down the cost of service, and build consumer confidence in digital platforms.

Uganda today woke up to horrible news of the shocking death of top Youtuber, Comedian and MC, Hassan Lumu alias King Kong. King Kong was pronounced dead on Sunday Morning at a clinic in Kisansa, Kanyanya where he had been admitted with malaria since Friday.

According to those close to the deceased, it was confirmed that Mr Hassan Lumu had developed a fever on Eid (Friday) and was rushed to the clinic where he was checked in and admitted. It was also reported that he had Malaria.

King Kong rose to Fame because of the comedy videos that he always uploaded on his YouTube Channel and his numerous short clips that went Viral on social media platforms such as Facebook and WhatsApp.

He started his Youtube Channel on Feb 10, 2015, and before his death, King Kong had 

garnered over 161,776 subscribers and about 41,508,805 views and had gone ahead to be one of Uganda’s Number one Youtuber. May His Soul Rest in Peace

Kwesé iflix, the Joint Venture of Econet Media, Africa’s leading pan-regional media company and broadcast network and iflix, the leading entertainment service for emerging markets, today announced the launch of its premier digital entertainment platform in Uganda with industry leader MTN.

The all new Kwesé iflix service offers users the ultimate entertainment experience, featuring Kwesé’s extraordinary content offering including live coverage of the world’s most elite sporting competitions, includingthe upcoming 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia – and much more on Kwesé iflix’s world class platform with the best international, regional and local content programs curated especially for African audiences, to stream or download.

With thousands of programs available, Kwesé iflix’s vast library includes international first-run exclusive shows, award-winning TV series and blockbuster movies such as ICE, The Royals, Family Time, Love and Hip Hop,Chasing Life, as well as popular local and regional content – Telenovelas such as El Fantasma De Elena, Passion and Power and La Vuida Negra – children’s programs and lifestyle content. The service also offers Ugandans quality content they can watch for free, including short-form drama series, first episodes of TV shows, and local free-to-air TV stations, such as NTV Uganda and Bukedde TV.

Announcing the launch of the service, Kwesé iflix CEO,Mayur Patel, said, “Africa’s leading entertainment service, Kwesé iflix app, offers customers the best in entertainment, anytime and anywhere. Designed for the mobile generation, the Ugandan consumer now hasunlimited access to all their favourite sports and shows in a way which suits their lifestyle – satisfying their need to be in the know, on-the-go and on their terms. We are excited to be working with MTN to deliver our content into the hands of even more Ugandans”

“Leveraging MTN’s Mobile Money for payment and its3G& 4G network, subscribers will be able to stream Kwesé iflix’s world-class programming on their connected devices through innovative data bundles.When it comes to entertainment consumers are better able to associate it with time; we have therefore created time bundles dedicated to Kwese Iflix ranging from 2 hours of unlimited consumption at only UGX 1,600.These bundles are much cheaper than the normal data bundles making it more affordable for our customers to enjoy the great Entertainment on Mobile”, said Olivier Prentout, MTN Chief Marketing officer.

To subscribe for Kwese iflix and activate a Kwese data bundle, MTN customers simply dial *165*4*7#.

“As the leading Tech brand on the continent, we want tolead the revolution for digital innovation especially through services that enrich what our customers can do on a smartphone. Rich media content such as Video is one such service. Our partnership with Kwese iflix will enable us to deliver some of the best international and local sports and entertainment to our customers,” Olivier added.  

iflix Co-Founder and Group CEO, Mark Britt, added, “This is a monumental milestone for iflix. Together with Econet Media, Africa’s top Pan-regional media company, we have created a platform specifically for African users, which makes every match of the World Cup available to users across the country on any mobile device of their choice. Our Kwesé iflix service now offers users the largest library of the world’s best entertainment, all unscheduled and on demand, unlike ever before.”

”We cannot ignore the growth of streaming services across the African continent especially with the spike inmobile and internet penetration numbers. We do not only have to stay ahead of the trends but ensure we become the best provider of these services in the market. Kwesé iflix brings young people a combination of premium sports and entertainment content and we are excited to be at the forefront of this,” said Joseph Hundah, President and CEO Econet Media.

Kwese iflix customers can choose between a variety of flexible VIP passes to access the Kwesé iflix premium content, including 1-Day, 3-Day, 7-Day and 30-Day VIP passes.

Note: This is a Press Release From Kwese.

Google has announced that applications for Class 2 of the Launchpad Accelerator Africa program are open. Google also announced it is extending the program to include startups from a further 12 African countries. Launchpad Accelerator Africa now accepts applications from startups located in Algeria, Botswana, Cameroon, Cote D’ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.

Applications for Class 2 will close on 8 July. To qualify, startups have to be a technology startup, based in Sub-Saharan Africa, targeting the African market, and have raised seed funding. Google additionally considers the problem the startup is trying to solve, how it creates value for users, and how it addresses a real challenge for its home city, country or Africa broadly.

Interested startups can apply here

Launchpad Accelerator Africa was announced less than a year ago by Google CEO Sundar Pichai at Google for Nigeria on 27 July. In terms of his announcement, the Google Launchpad Accelerator Africa programme will provide African startups with over $3 million in equity-free support, working space, and access to expert advisers from Google, Silicon Valley, and Africa over the next three years. Participants receive travel and PR support during each three-month program.

National Aviation Services (NAS), the fastest growing aviation services provider in the emerging markets, announced a joint venture agreement with Rwanda’s national flag carrier, RwandAir. The JV titled NAS RwandAir Limited will be the exclusive lounge management company at Kigali International Airport (KIA).

NASRwandAir is tasked with the construction and development of two new lounges at KIA, the RwandAir Dream Lounge dedicated to the airline’s premium passengers and an arrivals lounge. The JV will also take over management of the existing NAS Pearl Lounge in the departures area which caters to other airline passengers as well.

“The NASRwandAir JV is part of many initiatives RwandAir is putting in place to upgrade its business class service across its value chain, from dedicated areas at its town offices to fast track and quality services at airports, upgraded amenities and full-flat bed seats in our wide-bodied aircraft.” said Yvonne Manzi Makolo, CEO of RwandAir.” She added, “Business class passengers are extremely important to us and we have chosen to partner with NAS due to their track record in delivering results to premier customers.”

The different lounges at KIA offer arriving and departing passengers an opportunity to relax, refresh and enjoy a meal before heading out of the airport or onwards to other destinations. For those wishing to catch up on work, the lounges are also fully equipped with Wi-Fi and business services. NASRwandAir will also extend meet and assist services to passengers at the airport allowing for smoother passage through check-in and immigration processes.

Hassan El Houry, Group CEO of NAS said “By partnering with RwandAir, one of Africa’s fastest growing airline, we have reaffirmed our commitment to the aviation sector in Rwanda. Rwanda, as a country has demonstrated remarkable development and is an important geography for NAS in Africa. As we grow our footprint in the region, we continue to drive efforts to bring high-quality international services into the country and further contribute to its growth.”

Yesterday, When the all country engaged on the state of the nation address Uganda Communications commision (UCC) issued a new licensing price for the pay-TV providers in the country from shs22m annually to shs95m. Earlier at the beginning of the year, the commission had asked the pay-TV providers to pay shs550m in-license a proposal that sparked controversies eventually leading to another negotiation that harmonized the license fee to shs95m ($25,000).

The new licensing regime could impact a high-end users subscription rates despite the fact the country moved to digital broadcasting about 3 years ago two years after the international dateline. The list of pay-TV providers increased significantly over the past couple years following the government decision to go digital which saw the end users (citizens) benefits a lot from the fight for clients which entailed favourable prices and more channels to view. The drastic increase in the license could see an overhaul change in the subscription fee which makes the life of an average citizen unbearable to enjoy the pay TV services.

Here are some of the requirements for the new licensing regime. Agreements between pay TV and UCC.

1. UCC agreed with the submission by pay-TV operators that operators without the physical infrastructure in Uganda shall not be allowed to obtain public infrastructure provider (PIP) licenses.
2. Only operators providing services through Terrestrial, cable and other transmission infrastructure shall be required to obtain PIP licenses.
3. All broadcasters providing services to the final consumers shall be required to obtain a public service provider (PSP) license.
4. PIP license shall be for a period of 15 years, renewable upon satisfactory performance of the license terms and conditions.
5. PSP license shall be for a period of 5 years, renewable upon satisfactory performance of the license terms and conditions.
6. Existing pay-TV operators in Uganda not be required to pay initial entry fees for any of the license applied for.
7. Pay TV operators shall pay an annual license fee of $25,000 or 0.65% of the operators gross annual revenue. Every pay TV operators shall be required to submit audited books in accordance with the reporting requirement.
8. Pay Tv shall carry a minimum of 20% local content on their broadcasting platforms.
9. Where, for whatever reason, a pay TV operator failed to meet the 20% local content threshold, the commission shall determine the amount of monetary contribution to be made by the respective operators towards the content development fund.

Source: Daily Monitor