Safaricom introduces the M-Pesa Super App
Safaricom introduces the M-Pesa Super App
Safaricom, Kenya's largest telecommunications company, has launched the long-awaited M-Pesa Super App, which includes an offline mode and a mini-app functionality. Additionally, the company unveiled the new M-Pesa for Business App this week during a virtual event.
M-Pesa, Safaricom's popular mobile money service, launched in 2007. The service now has approximately 30 million customers in Kenya and has contributed to the country's financial inclusion reaching more than 80% of adults, up from 25%.
M-Pesa, according to company executives, processes over 30 million daily transactions worth more than 1 trillion Kenyan shillings ($9.3 billion). Additionally, it generates over Ksh82.65 billion ($771 million) in annual revenue.
The idea for an M-Pesa Super App began last September, and Safaricom has been testing the app with over 1 million customers in Kenya over the last few months. Over 1.3 million customers had already downloaded it at the time of launch, while the M-Pesa for Business App had surpassed 100,000 downloads.
Safaricom has more than 8.5 million smartphone users, according to company data. With many Kenyans switching from feature phones to smartphones on a daily basis, the company's CEO, Peter Ndegwa, said the launch of the Super App is timely.
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Customers can use the M-Pesa service and complete transactions – send and receive money, as well as make payments – while offline using the M-Pesa Super App.
“We created the M-PESA Super App to improve our customers' experience with the service by providing a simple, fun, secure, and convenient digital solution,” Ndegwa explained.
Safaricom also announced that customers will be able to download'mini-apps' within the super app via the mini-app functionality. These mini-apps assist users in completing tasks such as ticket booking, delivery, shopping, license applications, and insurance with businesses, government agencies, utilities, and other organizations. Over 40 applications are currently in development to complement the system.
Ndegwa stated during the launch that the mini-app functionality will enable and empower entrepreneurs by providing them with powerful tools for managing and growing their businesses. “Ultimately, our goal is that for every shilling collected via M-Pesa, businesses should be able to earn an additional five shillings.”
Along with the mini-apps and offline mode, the M-Pesa Super App offers a plethora of features. These features include fingerprint and face unlocking; transaction authentication; detailed usage statements; and a "Send to Many" option that enables customers to send multiple transactions to multiple recipients while only entering their PIN or authentication once.
M-estimated Pesa's 30 million users were hit by a service outage during the launch of the Super App. This outage harmed mobile money payment transactions. Safaricom confirmed the outage and stated that they were working to resolve the issue.
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