Uganda Breweries Limited (UBL) on Friday launched a self-service portal dubbed Diageo One to enable retailers to deal directly with beer distributors in their localities as well as enable its customers to buy UBL products directly from the company’s distributors.
According to UBL Managing Director Mr. Andrew Kilonzo, the eCommerce platform, Diageo One is a business-to-business (B2B) product, that will connect business customers to Uganda Breweries, distributors, brands, promotions, messaging, ordering, and delivery among many functions.
“We are looking to facilitate innovation that is going to make us convenient and efficient. Diageo One will provide retailers with a convenient way to purchase our wide range of brands at just a click of a button and have them delivered at their convenient locations at no additional cost,” he said.
Kilonzo explained that “The user-friendly Diageo One App web portal is carefully designed such that you can find any product with ease.” He emphasized that for retailers, the application will allow their businesses to operate at ‘maximum’ without waiting for the daily or weekly distributor truck to buy UBL products.
UBL is clearly shifting to the consumer behavior that has been shifting online for many years, and businesses have been responding by increasingly embracing digital channels and touchpoints. This trend was undoubtedly accelerated by Covid-19, and as Uganda emerges from pandemic restrictions there’s no doubt that digital will continue to play a vital role in business strategies.
Mr. Peter Mugisha, UBL Commercial Execution Manager said Diageo One will connect customers to the nearest UBL distributors based on the location of their outlets. It will also connect them to the brewery headquarter for promotions and brand information.
Other benefits of the app include quick stocking of depleted products, learning more about UBL products, and participating in loyalty programs.
How it works
According to UBL officials, the Diageo One app can be accessed via smartphones [available for download for Android and iOS] and each retailer will be given a unique identification that will always be used to enable them to make orders from the distributors.
The app will also allow retailers to make payments for their orders and get receipts. The orders made will be delivered by distributors to the retailers in their locality at no cost but the portal will also allow retailers access to some of the promotions the beer company has.
The app also allows retailers to track their orders, and make orders any time of the day but also get a summary of their transactions.
The Diageo One app is however for use by only retailers and distributors and not final consumers and is also functioning in other East African countries like Kenya.
