A brief look at what function an agent has in the
world of Mobile Money Transfer:
1) They are be responsible for registration of new user as well as for cashing-in and cashing-out. There are different approaches that you can take for this; all agents can perform all functions like fo the case of Safaricom in Kenya or different agents can be selected to perform each of the roles like MTN Uganda.
2) The agents also have a crucial role to play in the promotion of the Mobile Money service and supporting the subscribers. They are the ones who are in direct contact with the customers on a daily. When a user has a question, generally the agent will be the first person to be aproached.
Ok! Now we have looked briefly at the function of agent, but who are these agents? Many agent networks have been built around using existing airtime retailers. They are known to both the operator and the subscriber and already access personal data and transaction information. Operators already have information about their retailers, they can easily access data about who is performing a lot of transactions, where they are located and how often they call customer care. It is easy for them to select among these retailers the ones who will become mobile money agents
Another valuable option to nourish the agent network, is to select new partners such as financial institutions and banks micro-finance institutions.
An important key to ensuring the success of your agent network is in depth knowledge of the local regulations. Does the local regulation allow the operator to use the existing distribution network to open accounts? To perform transactions? These questions must be answered as early as possible. In Uganda and Kenya agents can open money accounts if the subscriber presents an ID.
With so many innovative installations of Mobile Money currently sprouting around the globe, knowledge in this area will continue to grow tremendously.
1) They are be responsible for registration of new user as well as for cashing-in and cashing-out. There are different approaches that you can take for this; all agents can perform all functions like fo the case of Safaricom in Kenya or different agents can be selected to perform each of the roles like MTN Uganda.
2) The agents also have a crucial role to play in the promotion of the Mobile Money service and supporting the subscribers. They are the ones who are in direct contact with the customers on a daily. When a user has a question, generally the agent will be the first person to be aproached.
Ok! Now we have looked briefly at the function of agent, but who are these agents? Many agent networks have been built around using existing airtime retailers. They are known to both the operator and the subscriber and already access personal data and transaction information. Operators already have information about their retailers, they can easily access data about who is performing a lot of transactions, where they are located and how often they call customer care. It is easy for them to select among these retailers the ones who will become mobile money agents
Another valuable option to nourish the agent network, is to select new partners such as financial institutions and banks micro-finance institutions.
An important key to ensuring the success of your agent network is in depth knowledge of the local regulations. Does the local regulation allow the operator to use the existing distribution network to open accounts? To perform transactions? These questions must be answered as early as possible. In Uganda and Kenya agents can open money accounts if the subscriber presents an ID.
With so many innovative installations of Mobile Money currently sprouting around the globe, knowledge in this area will continue to grow tremendously.
