This archive report was first published on 24 March 2020.
As the world grapples with the deadly coronavirus, businesses in Kenya have been urged to embrace the digital economy to cushion the effects of the pandemic.
According to Evans Okech, the director of Kibo Capital Group Ltd., the digital economy will help discourage physical contacts and social gatherings, key in fighting the spread of the virus.
“Although we are faced with a global pandemic that is threatening our existence, this might as well be an opportunity to rethink the whole model of how we do business around technology, including how we make payments and issue receipts,” Mr Okech said.
Mr Okech's firm specializes in PaymentGate digital receipts, which are secure and can be accessed through a link sent to clients' phones after making payments.
“The E-receipts are now vital for businesses like supermarkets that require clients to see a receipt and keep track of their purchases,” Mr Okech added.
PaymentGate innovations are environmentally friendly and key in fighting the spread of the coronavirus, as physical contacts are discouraged.
Mr Okech assured clients that all necessary measures have been put in place to prevent hacking of their systems.
“With PaymentGate, when one pays for a service or good, the client receives a message with a link that gives an instant branded tamper-proof e-receipt showing the name, quantity of goods or service purchased,” Mr Okech said.
The solution targets businesses and is a win-win situation for all, as generated transaction records are kept for future reference.
Mr Okech also launched Tsenda, an automated airtime and electricity token buying platform, aimed at eradicating physical contacts and making social distancing achievable.
