Moto-taxi ride hailing service, Safeboda is pushing force on the cashless economy. For multiple occasions, the Bukoto-based firm has emphasized to its customers to use cashless to pay for their rides to make it easier for them and the rider.
To make it a much better experience for its customers, Safeboda launched a 50% discount off every ride you take and pay cashless. For instance if a trip cost you UGX4,000, you pay UGX2,000 instead. Launched on Monday this week, the company said its promo is scheduled to run for a month, and might be a chances of extension.
Customers can top any amount on their accounts by using MTN and Airtel Mobile Money. However, while paying, a MTN and Airtel do deduct a portion from the pay you make. For instance if the customer buying credit worth UGX20,000, they will incur charges to transfer payment. With this, Safeboda wants to make it easy for its customers not to incur these additional costs.
PC Tech Magazine has learnt that the company now allows its riders to sale credit to its customers and no additional charges are incurred on both parties (customer and rider).
Early morning of Friday, our reporter took a Safeboda, who alerted to him that customers can now purchase credit through them.
“Safeboda is making it easy for you today. To avoid additional costs of buying credit through mobile money, you can now buy through us and avoid those additional cost however small they could be,” Simon told our reporter.
However, our reporter didn’t buy this at first since he had no idea it existed. To prove this, he took another rider to MultiChoice offices with Safeboda rider Muhamuddu (SB 1863). Without asking whether this existed, on his arrival he noticed that he had a sticker on his helmet that read “Cashless Top Up With Me.” This later proved right, what Simon was saying although he didn’t have the sticker on him.
Muhamuddu told our reporter that quote, “Yes! Safeboda wants to make life easier for you and me in this promotion of a cashless economy.” He further said that they have encountered a number of problems with customers when it comes to looking for change most especially UGX500.
Wandera (SB 8253) who happened to be rider permitted to sale credit to customers said this initiative from Safeboda is of a biggest advantage and customers should opt to using it. “You incur no cost, it’s fast and reliable,” he said.
Wandera went a head to show how this is done. We tried buying credit worth UGX15,000 from him and indeed it was fast and no additional cost were incurred. The credit is purchased within the Safeboda rider’s app. There’s no standalone app for it.
Wandera told this reporter when asked on his opinion on cashless payment, he said, “This is good for everyone, cashless payments is the way to go whether we like it or not.” He further said that, some of the riders don’t like credit payments and prefer being paid with cash. However, he called all safeboda riders to love the initiative as helps them save.
Meanwhile, it came to our noticed that not all riders are selling this credit. A handful are and are being selected out randomly. Wandera told this reporter that the company looks at the rider’s performance and behavior to let them start selling credit.
We’ve reached out to Safeboda on an official comment on this issue, but they haven’t responded yet.
Editor’s Note: This article will be updated for a final piece.
