Connect with us

Telecom

MTN Fixes Visafone SMS Issue: Thanks to Nigeria CommunicationsWeek

Published

on

Kindly share this post

This matter lingered for close to three months until I decided to make use of this foremost platform with unparalleled reach to get someone to listen and some did listen and I’d to state that the issue has been resolved. In my opinion, this is the kind of platforms that brands should support.

It is, indeed, a huge shame that Telecoms or IT brands will ignore platforms like this and prefer placing adverts on gossip blogs, yet expect platforms like these to be run professionally, as if the folks behind these online news portals do not need income to survive and grow.

The need to ensure platforms like Nigeria CommunicationsWeek continue to grow is extremely important for the entire industry. In any case, that is a story for another day, which will come soon.

For this post, I will like to focus on my recent experience with MTN regarding the Visafone SMS issue, which I complained about less than two weeks ago on this platform. I wish to state that the issue has been positively resolved and I am glad that it was resolved less than a week after the piece I wrote went live.

Quite frankly, what is most instructive for me is not just that it was resolved, but the quality of customer service that came along with it.

Two months into the issue, I made up my mind not to pick any calls coming from MTN customer service or number but I saw a particular number that was persistent in calling, yet, I ignored it because of how pissed I was and, then, the guy pro-actively sends a text message asking when he can call back. Well, I also ignored the text message.

The following day, he researched and found my other number and gave me a call, I decided to pick and after apologizing on behalf of the brand, he broke the good news that the issue has been resolved.

Of course, the first question I asked him was, why it took that long to resolve the issue, did I need to write publicly for someone to take action?

Let me say this, I am indeed impressed by the quality of customer service that followed even after the call.

I taught that since the issue has been resolved, the MTN contact would simply bid me goodbye, but alas, I was wrong. He respectfully requested if he could pay me a visit. I accepted the offer out of curiosity and later, that same evening, I got a call that he was in my vicinity.

Long and short, he came by and we spent over an hour chatting. It then occurred to me that this guy has successfully given me that WOW experience which is what brands must seek to do for their customers, however highly or lowly placed they may be. Every customer deserves to get value for money at all times.

From our discussions, I can deduce that moving around to hook up with select clients, is part and parcel of the brand’s new strategy to discourage customers from porting. I thought that was a brilliant one from a brand that some Nigerians regard as proud. We all hate adversities but the reality is that they have a way of helping us re-think our strategies and re-engineer our processes, I believe that MTN’s recent travails has injected a fresh blood into the brand and I hope it stays that way forever.

Let me state, without fear of contradiction, that customer service is what will make the difference in Nigeria’s telecommunications industry going forward.

This one reason I wrote the piece ‘After Data WAR, What Next for Telcos’ Customers’ (http://www.nigeriacommunicationsweek.com.ng/e-business/after-data-war-what-next-for-telcos-customers) published on this platform earlier in the week. I suggest you read it the earliest you can, I clearly stated:

“The relationship between a telco and its customers extends all the way from pre-sales research to in-life usage as customers look to purchase new services, upgrade existing ones, and add new features throughout their lifecycle. To secure the customer relationship in the face of disruptive competitors, telcos must stay with the customer through every step of their lifecycle”. Please, pay attention to this, “Telcos need to be accessible, responsive, consistent, and effective.”

Kudos to Samuel Okoh, the MTN bright guy who pulled this one off and made me forget that this issue lingered for three months and of course, to all those who worked behind the scenes to get the matter resolved. Thanks everyone.

Thumbs up to the team Nigeria CommunicationsWeek, for working hard to develop this unparalleled reach within the industry; Keep up the good work guys!

As for me, you bet I am super-excited!


Kindly share this post

Nigeria CommunicationsWeek believes that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world. So since 2007, we have devoted our energy to independent reportage of technology and how they affect lives.

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Comments

Telecom

Treepz Doubles Down on Corporate Mobility in Africa with Launch of a New Website

Published

on

Kindly share this post

Treepz, Africa’s leading corporate mobility startup, has expanded its corporate mobility and employee transportation services across the continent with a fresh new look for its website.

 

The company’s new website boasts a sleek, user-friendly interface with added features to better showcase Treepz’s range of services for companies looking to efficiently and sustainably move employees and clients in major African cities. From on-demand employee shuttles, and school bus solutions to intra-city group trips for events and conferences, Treepz is positioning itself as an all-in-one corporate transportation provider.

Managing transportation logistics across multiple sites has always been an operational nightmare for companies,” said Onyeka Akumah, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Treepz. “Our goal is to streamline that experience through Treepz’s powerful technology platform.”

With nearly 6,000 employees of companies daily relying on Treepz’s innovative tech and reliable fleet for employee transportation or staff bus commutes, we understand the complexities of managing corporate transportation firsthand. “Our revamped website simplifies the process, offering businesses a seamless solution to optimize their transportation needs and empower their workforce in Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda and Ghana,” Onyeka added

Key Features of the New Treepz Website

  • Trackable Dashboard for a bird’s eye view of all guests’ trips in real-time when using Treepz.
  • 24/7 customer support to assist with all mobility inquiries.
  • Wide selection of vehicle options, each with professional drivers tailored to specific needs.
  • Friendly interface for easy navigation and booking.
  • Client testimonials and case studies showcasing Treepz’s success stories.

Treepz’s mission extends beyond just transportation – they aim to revolutionize how over 1 million daily commuters experience mobility across Africa. Since its launch in 2019, the company has provided employee transit for top firms like Tekexperts, Wakanow, Somasource, and Brighter Monday across Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and Uganda. This has resulted in the transportation of about 5 million passengers since then.

With this digital reinvention, Treepz doubles down on transforming corporate mobility through tech-driven solutions. The company welcomes businesses seeking smarter ways to move their people to explore the new website www.treepz.com.


Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

Telecom

Nigerian Business Leaders Partner Google for Strategic Advantage, Seeks Competitive Edge in Privacy-First Era

Published

on

Kindly share this post

Leading companies from Nigeria joined Google West Africa at a roundtable to discuss the shift towards privacy-first marketing as third-party cookies are phased out. The forum brought together leaders from FairMoney, Konga, Mondelez, Stanbic IBTC, and Zenith Bank, highlighting a collective commitment to redefining consumer engagement in the digital age.

Businesses recognize that building consumer trust is essential in a world that increasingly values privacy. In this new era, adapting marketing strategies to be more privacy-focused is not just a necessity but a strategic move towards building sustainable customer relations. This transition challenges businesses to innovate while maintaining transparency and respect for consumer data privacy, turning potential constraints into avenues for deeper consumer engagement.

“Customer trust is the new currency,” noted Felicia Otolorin, Senior Industry Lead, West Africa, Google. “Consumers are demanding more control over their data, and the savviest businesses are seeing this shift as an opportunity. This is about reimagining how we engage with technology and data, ensuring that innovation and privacy go hand-in-hand.”

The discussions emphasised this point, highlighting the competitive advantage of adopting privacy-first strategies. Google showcased innovative solutions like Google Tag and Enhanced Conversions. These tools demonstrate a commitment to both high performance and privacy standards. Success stories illustrated how other businesses have successfully navigated this shift, offering valuable insights.

“We stand at a crucial juncture,” remarked Oluwadamilare Akinwunmi, Chief Data & AI Officer at Interswitch. “The winners of tomorrow will be those enterprises that strike a balance between innovative, data-driven marketing and a profound commitment to data protection and privacy-first practices. The essential dialogues we engage in, and the subsequent actions we take, set us on the path to achieve precisely this”

The roundtable underscores a pivotal shift towards privacy-first strategies in Nigeria’s digital marketing sphere, emphasising the critical role of collaboration and innovation in this transition. It marks a collective stride towards a future where consumer trust and data privacy form the cornerstone of business growth and competitive advantage.

“We are committed to empowering Nigerian brands in building a privacy-forward future. By harnessing AI and privacy-centric technologies, we aim to empower our partners to thrive amidst these changes,” stated Felicia Otolorin, Senior Industry Lead, West Africa, Google.


Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

Telecom

MTN Nigeria, PAU Open Applications for 3rd Edition of MTN Media Innovation Programme

Published

on

Kindly share this post

MTN Nigeria Communications Plc and the School of Media & Communications, Pan-Atlantic University have announced call for applications from qualified media practitioners to participate in the 3rd edition of the MTN Media Innovation Programme (MTN MIP-3), which will commence on May 20, 2024, at the Main Campus of the Pan-Atlantic University, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos. 

MTN Nigeria in collaboration with the School of Media and Communication, Pan-Atlantic University, launched the Media Innovation Programme (MTN MIP) in 2022 to enable media practitioners gain deeper insight into the ever-evolving media landscape.

The six-month, fully-funded certificate fellowship, which includes a study visit to the University of Johannesburg, South Africa, and an innovation hub to incubate ideas, is open to media practitioners across all strata of the media industry including the print, electronic and online platforms. The programme is also open to social media content creators.

Speaking on the impact of the programme, Tobechukwu Okigbo, Chief Corporate Services & Sustainability Officer, MTN Nigeria said: “The media play a crucial role in shaping the society. It is important that they are enabled with tools and opportunities to do their jobs better as this ultimately benefits the society.

“Our commitment is to continue to empower media practitioners, regardless of platforms, to be able to innovate and create technological-driven solutions to our world. This is what the MTN Media Innovation Programme seeks to accomplish.”

On his part, the Dean School of Media and Communication, Pan-Atlantic University, Dr Ikechukwu Obiaya, stated that the programme brings into play the wide experience that the School has in the training of media practitioners.

In our various programmes targeted at journalists, we at the School of Media and Communication have always laid a lot of emphasis on the importance of creativity, ethics and professionalism.

“The Media Innovation Programme is one more opportunity to drive home these values but with a new emphasis on innovation.

“Journalism remains as important as ever to the society, and it is driven by the same values, but journalists require a retooling to meet the technological changes and challenges of today.

“This is the role that the Media Innovation Programme aims to play, and we are quite happy to be able to partner with MTN to achieve this goal.”

At the end of the training, the 20 successful applicants will qualify as Fellows for the 2024 cohort. The Fellows would be coached on Nigeria’s technology sector, the relationship between media and technology, and equipped with the skills to adapt to the changing realities that guarantee career and financial success in their professional practice.

Fellows will also have access to professional resources and mentorship from PAU’s erudite faculty.

Interested journalists, bloggers and content creators can apply for the Fellowship at https://smc.edu.ng/mtnmip

Applications open on Friday March 23 and close Wednesday April 10, 2024.


Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

Trending