Econet launches premium shop

ECONET Wireless Zimbabwe has launched a $500,000 premium customers' shop in Bulawayo as the firm moves a gear up in ensuring the needs of high value clients are identified and met.

The outlet located at Bradfield Shopping Complex was the first of its kind in Zimbabwe by the telecommunications company.

Econet's high value customer services general manager Fungai Mandiveyi told Business Chronicle after the launch on Friday that the unveiling of the Bradfield new look platinum suite was aimed at putting the customer at heart.

"All our shops and service centres that we have in the country are good. And as we strive to offer quality service, over $500,000 has been invested on the Bradfield platinum new look suite.

"Very soon we will be opening similar premium suites in Avondale and Borrowdale Brooke in Harare.

"The new look platinum suite offers end-to-end services ranging from bill payment, airtime top-up, replacements, EcoCash mobile money transfer service as well as the purchase of handsets and devices," he said.

Furthermore, to ensure convenience to customers, Econet's premium shop comes with a number of benefits that include access to top class service, flexible payment plans for handsets and devices.

The outlet also provides a comfortable and relaxing atmosphere in the lounge suites where premium customers access and surf Internet.

Mandiveyi said through their new look platinum suite, they were not segregating their customers.

"With this new look platinum suite, we are not segregating our valued customers but we are striving to raise the level of our service delivery and generally improving customers' experience," he said.

Mandiveyi added that Econet had also spent more than $5 million in upgrading its call centres dotted across the country.

In a separate interview, Econet chief commercial and customer services officer Stanley Henning said his organisation had a similar suite in South Africa.

"This platinum is the first of its kind in the country and in Africa excluding South Africa.

"We have decided to launch it here (Bulawayo) first because we want to indicate to customers that we are a national business.

"We do not only focus on Harare and when we launched our broadband in the country that was done at the same time in Harare and Bulawayo," he said.