Shoprite adds value to its offerings with cellular network
SHOPRITE Group is the latest retailer to launch a cellular network as it offers k’nect mobile from next month as part of its financial services offerings.
“k’nect mobile offers 100 megabytes free data for three months, and flat call and data rates,” it said.
The prepaid cellular network has partnered with digital enabler FREI One Digital, and piggybacks off Cell C’s mobile network infrastructure.
Pick n Pay launched its own mobile service, PnP Mobile, last month which uses MTN’s mobile network infrastructure to offer customers prepaid, SIM-based access to services, including airtime and data.
Pick n Pay’s network rewards Smart Shoppers with data rewards in addition to loyalty points when shopping at any of their stores.
Likewise Shoprite, Checkers and Usave would reward its customers with free data and airtime.
Shoprite said that its data was zerorated for selected apps and websites in the group’s ecosystem, while customers would earn extra if they were Xtra Savings members and recharged via the Money Market Account.
“k’nect mobile’s key differentiator is simplicity, with flat call and data rates, and no complicated tiers. Airtime, data bundles and rewards only expire after 60 days, rather than the more common 30-day expiry,” it said.
The retailer said its call and data rates were among the most competitive in the country, with 50 cents per minute all-day k’nect-to-k’nect calls and 99c per minute all-day calls to other networks. It would cost 15c per megabyte for any size data bundle, up to 1 gigabyte.
k’nect mobile also offered Xtra rewards, such as 10 percent free on recharge, 10 percent Xtra for Xtra Savings card holders, 5 percent Xtra when recharging via Money Market Account and double airtime rewards on Xtra Savings airtime deals.
Other rewards were early access to Computicket events and tickets, and 100MB free for three months (six months for Xtra Savings members), subject to in-store Rica registration and activation.
Customers using a k’nect mobile SIM card would also benefit from zerorated data on selected Shoprite and Checkers websites and apps, including the Money Market Account, the Computicket website and the group’s jobs portal – all without incurring any data charges, it said.
Shoprite said their network formed part of the group’s financial services offering, which enabled customers conveniently to pay bills, buy cellphones, make money transfers, and buy airtime and data, lotto tickets, electricity and funeral insurance in partnership with OUTsurance.
Jean Olivier, Shoprite’s general manager: financial services, said: “k’nect mobile is part of our ever-growing suite of fintech products designed to better serve our customers.
“We’ve spent a lot of time understanding how a mobile network can add value to our customers’ lives, and our solution is an easy to understand network that offers straightforward call and data rates, as well as tangible rewards.”