Businesses need to be active on the mobile money or digital platforms to be able to connect with their customers.
Speaking at the Top Executive Conference (TOPEX) at Sofitel Resort & Spa, Vodafone chief operating officer Ronald Prasad said companies such as Fiji Eats and Cyber Foods, when they initially started, they were taking about 100 to 220 orders in a month.
“During the pandemic, these numbers have increased to almost 3000 to 3500 numbers for orders per month,” he said.
“And after things have started opening up these numbers are not subsiding, the numbers continue to increase.
“So people have sort of adapted to this new way of doing things.”
Mr Prasad added the younger people coming out from universities and getting into the workforce were referred to as the digital natives.
“They have been born and they have come through their entire lives with smartphones.
“So these are the guys that are going to be driving the change.
“Whatever was relevant to your business five to 10 years ago, is it still relevant going forward into the future? “Are you ready to take advantage of this new opportunities? he said. With banks now integrating into the mobile money platforms it was becoming quite easy for customers to now transfer money from their bank account to the mobile phone, he said.
“That means that when you leave home, even today, you really don’t need to carry the wallet.
“So with the support that Government has given it has fast tracked the adoption of mobile money services and online shopping. From that perspective, very soon you will be able to also move money from mobile money platform into your bank accounts etc.”
He added a lot of people wanted to buy things online however the credit card penetration was very, low.
“There are still around 27 per cent of the people that are considered unbanked in Fiji and this is where this type of solution is going to have the largest impact.
“We have introduced MasterCard, and very soon it’s going to be made available to everyone.
“So anyone who has a mobile money solution or application will have a MasterCard, a MasterCard, debit associated to your account, which you can use to transact in Fiji, abroad, or also use it to purchase things online,” he said.
