OIFC launches one-stop shop for utility payments
Khedmah, designed as a one-stop solution for utility bill payments and recharging prepaid telecom accounts, marks OIFC’s strategic focus on enhanced customer service.
MUSCAT: Oman Investment & Finance Company (OIFC) launched the Khedmah brand on Sunday. Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Futaisi, the Minister of Transport and Communication, inaugurated the launch ceremony, held at the Intercontinental Hotel, Muscat.
Khedmah, designed as a onestop solution for utility bill payments and recharging prepaid telecom accounts, marks OIFC’s strategic focus on enhanced customer services based on advanced technology and customer-centric solutions. These include a wider network of service outlets, trained staff for delivering professional services, easy-to-use bill payment kiosks, a smartphone application, and a dedicated portal.
Eng. Ahmed Hamed Saif Al Subhi, the chairman of OIFC, explained that Khedmah is the OIFC board’s new strategy to cope with the challenges posed by the developments and changes in the services sector across electricity, water, and communication.
He added that OIFC offers customer-centric products and services and regularly upgrades technology to meet the customers’ evolving requirements.
“Khedmah will remain at the core of developing and enhancing services that will be delivered under a single roof in the most efficient and friendly way at no extra cost,” he said. Said Ahmed Safrar, the CEO of OIFC, said Khedmah evolved from a strate- gic analysis of OIFC as a major contractor for electricity, water, and telecom services to make it the most preferred partner for utility service providers.
“Khedmah is a brand that stands for excellence in everything we do at OIFC. In particular, Khedmah redefines customer engagement and efficiency. ”
Offering enhanced services
Safrar added that OIFC was working on offering enhanced services for the commercial sector, as well. With more than 300,000 commercial registrations, this sector needs services that facilitate bill payments and other transactions. “To this end, OIFC has upgraded its service system and added inquiry and printing features along with a cash payment feature on its website, turning it into a full- fledged service portal. The company opened its first service portal for corporates in Al-Ghubra and modified the office hours to suit the requirements of this important sector. OIFC’s services for the corporate sector are handled by a team of specialists who presently serve more than 120,000 accounts in both the private and public sectors,” explained Safrar.
He said that as per the statistics of the Electricity Regulation Authority, the number of electricity accounts had exceeded one million by the end of 2015 at an annual growth rate of some 7.9 per cent, and is expected to increase to 1.15 million by the end of this year. The number of water accounts exceeded 405,000 in 2014 and is set to increase, as the authority strives to provide water to all residential areas in the Sultanate.