Imagine buying data bundles, using your own money, then a telecommunications company gives you timelines on when your data bundles should expire. Imagine purchasing say 10 GB worth of data bundles, you use 6 GB and when the deadline hits, Boom, the remaining data bundles disappear in thin air.
A debate has been raging on among Kenyans as to whether telecommunications companies should set an expiry date for data bundles purchased or not. Led by the former Governor for Kiambu, Hon. Kabogo, Kenyans were threatening to go to court to compel telecommunications companies to remove the expiry aspect on data bundles and other products like SMS and Voice minutes.
The majority of Kenyans own feature phones that need bundles to browse. This means that most of us often purchase data bundles to browse as well as communicate across social media platforms such as WhatsApp and Facebook.
Before today, for all data bundles purchased from a telecommunications company, they had an expiry date and this was a vexing issue amongst us.
Listening to customers’ issues and acting on them is how brands adapt and survive changes in the ever-evolving consumer experience and preferences. Brands that fail to listen, are brands that are swept away by the daily changes that technology is forever creating in the business ecosystem as products and services are disrupted.
Social Media has given the consumer the power to engage in a larger platform that has shifted the balance of power in favor of the consumer, making brands listen and act and failure to do so, giving the competition the advantage.
What if data bundles never expired?
What if data bundles never expired? What if as a customer you got all the freedom to use your data bundles with no cap of when they would expire? Imagine purchasing data bundles and having the freedom of using them until such a time that they will get depleted with no time limit.
The consumer experience of using a purchased product at your own leisure and speed without wasting any resources, especially in this tough economy.
Imagine purchasing data bundles and the message you receive is, Dear customer, you have successfully purchased 10 GB of data bundles with no expiry date accompanying the same. This is a revolutionary product enhancement that Kenyans at large have been talking about. This is what listening, adapting and launching means. This is how a brand stays ahead of the rest. How a brand endears itself to its customers.
Starting today, when you purchase data bundles, voice minutes and SMS from Safaricom PLC, you will be able to use them without any expiry date attached to them. Soko Directory Business team is the first to inform you of this and it is right from Safaricom PLC.
Safaricom PLC, through its new tagline, Simple, Transparent and Honest, #SafaricomForYou, Kenyans will now be able to purchase bundles, SMS and Voice minutes and use them the way they want without the hindrance of having to meet a deadline.
According to Safaricom PLC, they chose the tag Simple because they have always been in touch with the consumers in a direct and simple way that enhances the user experience for the better. Simple because their processes have always been simple and accessible to millions of Kenya.
Transparent because transparency is the virtue of every business. It is through transparency that trust is built and there is no other invisible currency in business than trust.
For 19 years of existence, Safaricom PLC has done nothing other than do it very best to grow, nurture and sustain trust and belief amongst its customers. Transparency in all transactions leads to a sustainable business.
Honest because they always have the needs of the customer at heart. They always strive to be as open as possible so that the customer can always be as satisfied as their needs can stretch.
Indeed, today is a good day. Indeed Safaricom PLC has indeed listened and has acted. This is going to be a serious game-changer in the telecoms sector.
This is how it will be henceforth:
