Page 34 - IBT August 2021 Issue
P. 34

FinTech


             By Marjiya Baktyer Ahmed                                                                 August 2021




                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        making life easier and tried to make
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        sure that they need not leave their
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        homes. We communicated that the
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        services like add money, mobile
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        recharge, send money, make payment,
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        pay bill, etc. can be done remotely.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Also, bKash account opening was
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        made simple so that it can be done
             Here                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       sitting at home. We needed to make
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        people aware that they can use these
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        safely and stay at home.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        bKash is offering 150 Taka bonus
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        for registering an account
             to Serve                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   through bKash App. Has this
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        campaign proved effective in
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        onboarding new account holders?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        And with rising competition, what
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        is bKash doing to ensure
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        customer retention and how is it
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        staying ahead of the curve?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        We want more people to use the app               factor for bKash to achieve the customer loyalty we have
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         today.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        since it is very easy to avail our
             Mir Nawbut Ali, Chief Marketing Officer of bKash reiterates the                                                                                                                                                                                              services through it. We do several
             company’s commitment to remain innovative and offer                                                                                                                                                                                                         activities to onboard customers. One of          What are some of the emerging trends that are
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         expected to become long-standing industry practices?
             customer-centric widespread services                                                                                                                                                                                                                       them is the 150-taka bonus which is              In the future, we shall see more and more people using
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        very effective. With this campaign we            different types of services through MFS. App based service
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        take a customer through a journey                consumption is on the rise and this trend will accelerate in
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        where he/she experiences how                     coming days. People will inevitably start to replace cash
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        seamless, user-friendly and robust the           transactions with digital transactions.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        app is.
             Can you share some of the biggest                 the services to the customers. Technology plays a major role to                                                                                                                                          We believe customer loyalty is gained            How can innovative marketing be used as a tool to
             accomplishments of your journey in bKash?         run the system, Sales and Distribution ensures availability of                                                                                                                                           by providing quality services. bKash             make more people aware about using technology and
             Since my joining in bKash, it has been a wonderful   cash and e-money at the agent points and customer cares                                                                                                                                               has earned the trust of customers and            close the knowledge gap?
             journey which has created many opportunities to   ensure uninterrupted services 24/7. And for these, physical                                                                                                                                              become the most loved brand by                   As I have already stated that we are shifting towards
             learn a lot of new things. Here in bKash, I feel that   presence at the service points is necessary. bKash employees                                                                                                                                       providing simplest solutions for the             innovative digital marketing, I think the use of technology in
             we are changing the way Bangladeshis use financial   take significant risk to ensure uninterrupted customer                                                                                                                                                essential financial transactions. We             our marketing tools have yielded better results in eradicating
             services. MFS is a relatively new industry, both   services.                                                                                                                                                                                               continuously try our best to maintain            the knowledge gap among our customers. In bKash, the
             globally and locally. bKash, a home-grown company   During this pandemic another big challenge is that we were                                                                                                                                             that trust and remain a one-point                marketing strategies are never adopted as a means to promote
             run by a large number of extremely talented and   forced to run most of our marketing campaigns through digital                                                                                                                                            solution by bringing innovative,                 our services only. Rather, our prime focus is to enlighten our
             hard-working Bangladeshis, is a pioneer in the MFS   means as almost everything is at a standstill due to stringent                                                                                                                                        customer-centric and offering                    valued customers about the easy and convenient bKash
             industry. It is very enlightening and a fulfilling   lockdowns. So, we have successfully shifted our campaigns                                                                                                                                             widespread services. We will continue            services through effective marketing.
             experience for me to be a part of this organization   towards digital media and tried our best to overcome the                                                                                                                                             evolving keeping customers’ needs in
             which eradicates the pain points of the customers,   challenges.                                                                                                                                                                                           focus. Now wherever you go, you can              What is your one crucial advice and the one fast and
             brings innovation in services, adds value to people’s   However, as Chief Marketing Officer, always being ready to                                                                                                                                         find a bKash agent point within a few            hard rule for aspirants looking to enter the fintech
             lifestyle and ensures nearly 10 million secure digital   embrace new things and going through every little detail have                                                                                                                                     minutes even at the remotest corner of           ecosystem?
             transactions every day for 54 million customers. With   always been the professional challenges in bKash. Because,                                                                                                                                         the country. And bKash has become a              There is no certain formula to make a business successful as
             these, we have become a member of every family    most of the services we offer are newly created and in many                                                                                                                                              household word as they say “bKash                every business is unique. I believe all successful organizations
             which is the biggest accomplishment that I feel. I get   cases, previous experience doesn’t help.                                                                                                                                                          me” instead of “send me money”.                  solve customers’ problems and they do it in such a way that
             the satisfaction of creating while working for this   The ongoing pandemic is a very crucial time for bKash as well.                                                                                                                                       We never launch any new service                  customers are hooked to it. Any fintech startup needs to make
             company.                                          During this difficult time, it is important to be aligned with the                                                                                                                                       without being assured of maximum                 sure that they are solving a real-life customer problem and
                                                               spirit of the company – to be human centric in all dealings.                                                                                                                                             quality. bKash employees dedicate                simplifying their life. Customers will be loyal once they have
             According to you, what has been the biggest       Our marketing strategy had the same mantra. We felt that we                                                                                                                                                                                               trust in the service quality of the organization. At the same
             challenge you have overcome amid this             can keep people’s lives safe and moving by facilitating                                                                                                                                                  their time to solve a real customer              time, there is no perfect marketing strategy for startups – it
             pandemic?                                         contactless and cashless transactions. So, we communicated                                                                                                                                               problem and bring simplicity to one’s            depends on time, situation and the service. They need to be
             We have been experiencing quite a lot of challenges   and educated people about how to use bKash services for                                                                                                                                              life. Our obsession to ensure the best           innovative while marketing their product addressing
             during the pandemic. First and foremost is to deliver                                                                                                                                                                                                      customer experience is the key driving           customers’ pain points and needs.

              32
   29   30   31   32   33   34   35   36   37   38   39