Page 56 - IBT August 2021 Issue
P. 56

Telecommunication Industry                                                         TALE OF A TELCO
                                                                                                 VISIONARY






             in every aspect of our business to increase                                                                                                                                         does this allow us to maximize ROI from ad spend but also to
             value for our customers.                         The platform used                                                                                                                  fine-tune our message according to customer preference.
             In this connection, apart from ensuring                                                                                                                                             We have also implemented world-class security features and
             affordable tariffs, we have increased            crowdsourced information                                                                                                           ensured integrations across all apps and our channels- My
             validity on product plans without changing       to identify high risk areas to                                                                                                     Robi/ My Airtel App, Chatbot, and website allowing real-time
             the prices. We have also extended and                                                                                                                                               interactions with our customers. The omnichannel experience
             re-extended prepaid customers' validity and      warn people when entering                                                                                                          system in Robi has a built-in constant feedback loop to elicit
             introduced free transfer of balance and          those areas through                                                                                                                customer insights. We take frequent surveys to quickly
             flexible payment options. Also, Robi has         real-time SMS alert                                                                                                                respond to customer feedback and integrate these changes into
             heavily encouraged customers to stay home                                                                                                                                           the system.
             and avail services through our digital           notification and integration
             channels, where user experience has been         of Covid-19 map on our                                                                                                             As a veteran professional in the Telecom sector, what
             significantly amplified and simplified for       self-care apps- My Robi and                                                                                                        would you say are the most rewarding factors of
             convenience. Furthermore, we also                                                                                                                                                   working in the industry? What are the achievements of
                                                                                                                                                                                                 your professional life you fondly look back at?
             introduced a special package for our             My Airtel.                                                                                                                         I have been privileged to have the golden experience of
             frontline health workers as a token of                                                                                                                                              working in the Bangladesh telecom industry since 2004. I have
             gratitude from the company, where we                                                                                                                                                gone through the ups and downs, pains and pleasures of the
             provided free 33 GB of data per month for                                                                                                                                           sector as it evolved into the driving force behind Bangladesh's
             six months. We have also allowed payment                                                                                                                                            socio-economic development.
             through Robi balance for subscribing to                                                                                                                                             The Telecom industry facilitates the latest technology that
             popular apps. It has allowed the customers        took up a number of initiatives to address these changes in the                 Robi has invested a lot of resources in           connects millions of Bangladeshis across the country
             to avail services at a more affordable price.     consumers’ behavior. We have encouraged and enabled people                      Robi Digital Universe; How will the               irrespective of their socio-economic condition. More than 17.4
             Furthermore, as part of continuous product        to showcase their talent in singing, video-graphing, editing,                   platform enhance the aggregate                    crore SIMs are in use, nine crore plus individuals using
             innovation to maximise customer value, we         through various brand engagements in digital format.  For                       customer experience?                              telecom service, it is a testament by itself. Being part of this
             are the only operator in the country to           example, we enabled digital learning through Robi-10 Minute                     The consistent user experience and service        journey and working side-by-side with so many other telco
             introduce an innovative data bank package         School, facilitated digital participation in a star-studded                     excellence across all channels differentiate      greats of Bangladesh is the most rewarding factor for me. The
             in the My Robi app. This service allows           orchestra “Bijoyer Shurer Notun experience” during the last                     a great customer experience from a good           telecommunications industry is fast-paced; new scenarios
             customers to purchase data and use it             Victory Day, and organized Eid celebrations online through                      one. The Omnichannel user experience is           unfold every day, new technology, new market moves. Be it
             anytime as per their convenience without          “Eid Fashion Challenge”.                                                        something we have been working on to              stressful, challenging as it is; this is another rewarding factor
 Robi Axiata Limited was recently   very successful in this regard, thanks to the shared purpose of   having to think about validity expiration.  We are also trying to cater to the growing video streaming   connect all our digital touchpoints to   for me. Concurrently, I want to stress the fact that everything
 recognized with the Innovation   the organizational culture over the years. People of the   While we focus on affordability and bring   needs through our own OTT platform, Binge, which has more   ensure customers don’t have to start from   has been possible because of work done by passionate,
 Leadership Award and the Green   organization are expected to demonstrate agility in doing   the network to all customers with massive   than 3,000 exciting on-demand entertainment content   the very beginning while switching between
 Telecom Award at the 19th Global   things digitally, collaborate to deliver, and inspire to innovate.   investment, we will continue to remain   platforms.                                     committed team members, and I happened to be part of them
 Edition of the Business Leader of the   competitive in terms of affordability of   including children’s content, local and international      At the centre of our digital universe lies-       and had the opportunity to lead some of them.
 year award in India. How vital are   This recipe has created an organizational culture that   service and variety without compromising   web-series, popular films, and exciting sports tournaments.   My Robi/ My Airtel app- we have been   Speaking of personal achievements, I fondly look back at the
 innovation and environmental   celebrates the pursuit of innovation in every aspect of the   The recently concluded COPA America tournament was                                                 time during the early 2000s when I spent a significant amount
 sustainability in Robi Axiata Limited's   business.   the quality of experience through the   watched by thousands of people. We also aggregated and   building these platforms using the       of time studying, assessing and strategising deployment
 long-term strategy?  It has allowed us to take up several ground-breaking   pursuit of digital innovation.  integrated all the digital services in a single platform– My Robi   “Super-App” concept. These apps   options for the telecom companies, which has become part of
 Digital innovation and environmental   innovative initiatives to serve the needs and wants of all our   App and My Airtel App. Our customers found it incredibly easy   meaningfully collate and integrate all   the excellent infrastructure we have today. Subsequently, the
 sustainability are the two core elements of   customers. Especially during the pandemic, Robi has been able   How are you ensuring effective   to interact, engage and take services from this platform.  digital services to provide ultimate   successful Robi-Airtel merger project was another highlight of
             consumer engagement in the
 our long-term strategy. As a customer-centric   to do justice to its promise of offering a new experience in the   post-pandemic world?   During the lockdown we have partnered with Gaan Bangla to   convenience for the customers. We have   my career. I was heading this as Integration Director in Robi,
 company, it is only natural that we would   lives of its customers with unmatched innovation in the use of   As I have mentioned before, we have an   create live weekly musical shows knowing how much people   already built up the My Robi/My Airtel   and this was one of the most successful telecom integration in
 put special focus on these matters.  AI and Data Analytics solutions. We are confident that we are   active social listening mechanism that   miss live music sessions. Apart from entertainment, we also   universe in a way that it can support the   the world. It made Robi a stronger player in the market; by the
 The Innovation Leadership Award and the   ready to dominate the digital landscape of the future.   allows us to swiftly track shifts in social   addressed a growing concern of mental health among the   digital needs of our customers- starting   end of the project, we gained over 9m subscribers and grew
 Green Telecom award only confirms that we   Subsequently, our vision of net-zero emission creates an   interaction trends, entertainment, and   youth with an integrated campaign that encouraged friends to   from digital self-service to a range of   revenue by about 3.5 billion.
 are heading in the right direction. The   opportunity to rethink the way we power our network. As the   lifestyle needs. We assessed the conditions   just be there for one another in these trying times- such   lifestyle needs, like streaming, health,   Robi had been driving innovation in the country, as we believe
 Innovation Leadership award was conferred   country becomes ever more digital, our environmentally   consumers were living in through in-depth   meaningful messaging gained tremendous organic traction   gaming, etc.  in continual innovation in bringing relevant services to the
 to us for the outstanding initiatives we had   sustainable approach to running our business will go a long   market research. The research findings very   and engagement among our customers.  An exciting new frontier we have been   people. We launched the “r-venture” program to encourage
 undertaken to use the power of Data   way in meeting the national commitments under the   much directed our engagement efforts. The   Additionally, through advanced analytics and tracking   exploring is the AI-based customized   people on digital innovation, not only by competition but also
 Analytics and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in   Sustainable Development Goals.  core needs of customers trying to connect   methods, we introduced the country's first ever digital Corona   offering. It uses the power of Machine   by investing millions in BDT to support top innovative ideas
 addressing pandemic issues; concurrently,   with loved ones, acquiring knowledge, daily   Update service in association with the Postal &     Learning and robust statistical models to         from employees and across the country. As the r-venture
 the Green Telecom award recognized our   How is Robi Axiata Limited ensuring that mobile   entertainment needs, etc., mostly did not   Telecommunication Division and ICT Division of the   predict future consumption patterns of our   program sponsor, I take pride that some of these initiatives are
 effort towards delivering our vision for   internet and digital services remain affordable for the   change- what changed were the methods   Government. The platform used crowdsourced information to   customers. We closely study the past   becoming full-blown tech ventures in the country. In summary,
 net-zero carbon emission.  mass population of the country?  and mediums these needs are being fulfilled   identify high risk areas to warn people when entering those   behaviours of our customers to anticipate   this has been a rewarding experience and a journey of many
 Finding the right balance among the short,   At Robi, we are constantly striving to ensure maximum value   with.   areas through real-time SMS alert notification and integration   future usage and offer customized offerings   achievements both for me personally, as well as Robi as a
 medium and long-term strategies is a very   for our customers in return for their spending in purchasing   As the leading digital service provider, we   of Covid-19 map on our self-care apps- My Robi and My Airtel.   to each of our unique customers. Not only   company.
 tall order for any company. Robi has been   any services from us. We are always keen to bring innovation

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