Tag: Feature Story

Picture this: It’s the end of the week, you’ve run out of groceries, and your electricity and water bills are staring at you, waiting to be paid. You don’t have money readily available to cover all these expenses upfront. 

We have the right solution for you in this situation: Pay Small Small. A new payment option on the Hubtel app that does exactly as the name suggests. 

What is Pay Small Small? 

Pay Small Small is a flexible way to manage your expenses. With Pay Small Small as a payment option, you do not have to pay the full amount upfront. It allows you to settle your everyday expenses in four installments. First, you make an instant payment of a fraction of the amount, and the rest is broken down into three equal weekly installments, with interest included.

Pay Small Small is: 

Budget-friendly 

Pay Small Small enables you to spread costs into smaller, more manageable payments. You can enjoy what you love in real-time while making payments in three weekly installments after paying only a fraction of the amount upfront. 

Offers financial assistance 

By breaking down expenses into smaller, more manageable payments, Pay Small Small provides the financial assistance needed to afford everyday essentials and sort out bills without having to settle the full amount upfront. 

So, how does this work? 

When paying a bill at checkout on the Hubtel app, just choose Pay Small Small as your payment option. 

If it is your first time using this payment option, you will need to complete the activation process first with your Ghana card and a photo, which will be verified against your ID by the National Identification Authority (NIA). 

To be eligible for Pay Small Small, you must have a good credit rating of 400 or above. A credit score algorithm determines this based on your purchase history and other factors.

Once approved, you can proceed to use it as your payment option. You won’t have to go through the verification process again the next time you use the feature. 

Currently, this payment option is available to MTN and Telecel subscribers only. 

Want to learn more about how it works? Go to hubtel.com/pay-small-small 

Over the past few days, officials of some Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and media commentators have sought to put out false statements about Hubtel’s work at the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).

Some of these false statements seem to be designed to totally discredit the work Hubtel has done in the recent transformation and record-breaking achievements in ECG’s revenue collection and commercial operations. Other false statements have also tried to
paint the picture that Hubtel is part of a procurement scheme that has received payments for no work done.

The table below provides factual responses to these false claims and statements.

For the avoidance of doubt, the new commercial systems designed, developed, and implemented by Hubtel and other service providers have only been involved in ECG’s operations since March 2023. Therefore, attempts by some CSOs and media commentators to link our work to ECG’s past financial performance and legacy matters are completely misleading.

Hubtel remains a company deeply rooted in the ideals of good governance, transparency, and an unyielding determination to contribute to the development of the digital economy in Ghana. We wish to assure the general public that our service at ECG has been guided by these principles at all times.

We also remain extremely proud that after several initiatives and investments in the past (costing hundreds of millions of US dollars) aimed at improving ECG’s revenues, that Hubtel, a company founded and managed by Ghanaians, possesses the technology and expertise to transform ECG and set it on the path towards commercial profitability at a fraction of the past investments.

We urge the general public to disregard these misleading comments.

ABOUT HUBTEL

Hubtel is a leading technology company licensed by the Bank of Ghana as an Enhanced Payment Service Provider.

The company makes it easy for people to find and pay for everyday essentials from local businesses of all sizes. Hubtel’s payment processing, messaging, and feature-rich platform enable users to pay bills, make payments, order food, and purchase everyday essentials.

The Financial Times of the UK named Hubtel as Ghana’s fastest-growing company for the 2022 financial year. Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Forbes Magazine have also previously featured the company.

Hubtel operates 23 offices across Ghana and has about 700 direct employees. Founded in 2005, Hubtel’s mission is to drive Africa forward by enabling everyone to find and pay for everyday essentials. The company aims to be Africa’s most useful company, building a platform on which everyone can find, pay, and easily partake in the emerging digital economy across the continent.

Find out more at www.hubtel.com

Imagine this: you’re a developer tasked with building an app that needs to send text messages to users or accept mobile money payments. In the past, this could mean hunting down outdated PDFs filled with technical jargon and waiting for updates. But fear not, because Hubtel’s developer portal is here to make your life easier! 

Think of the portal as your one-stop shop for everything related to integrating Hubtel’s communication features into your app. No more endless searches or waiting games. This user-friendly platform provides everything you need in one central location, accessible anytime you need it. 

So, what exactly can you find on the Hubtel developer portal? Let’s break it down. 

First up, there’s the API documentation. This is basically a detailed instruction manual, written in clear and simple language, that explains how to connect your app to Hubtel’s tools. Don’t worry if technical terms pop up here and there; the portal is designed to be easy to understand, even for beginners. 

Next, you’ll find a section dedicated to API credentials. These are like secret keys that allow your app to talk to Hubtel’s system. The portal makes getting these credentials a breeze, so you can skip the hassle and focus on building your amazing app. 

But wait, there’s more! The developer portal isn’t just for sending text messages. If you’re working on a larger project for a big company, you’ll also find tools for processing payments directly through your app. This means your users can pay for services or products without ever leaving your app, making things super convenient for everyone. 

Now, you might be wondering who can benefit from this developer portal. The answer is simple: everyone! Whether you’re a solo developer working on a small app or part of a large team building a complex system, the portal has something to offer. 

For small businesses and individual developers, the portal makes it easy to add features like SMS notifications to your apps. This could be anything from sending appointment reminders to keeping customers updated on their orders. The clear documentation and simple credential management make it a snap to get started, saving you valuable time and frustration. 

For larger companies, the portal unlocks a whole new level of functionality. You can use Hubtel’s APIs to streamline your payment processing system, allowing customers to pay for services directly within your app. Plus, you can leverage bulk SMS capabilities to send targeted messages to large groups of users, keeping them informed and engaged. 

The bottom line? The Hubtel developer portal is for anyone who wants to add powerful communication tools to their apps. It’s a self-service platform that puts everything you need at your fingertips, from clear instructions to easy-to-obtain credentials. With positive user feedback highlighting its user-friendliness and efficiency, the portal is making Hubtel’s communication tools more accessible than ever before.  

“It feels like just yesterday that I joined Hubtel. Over my six years here, I’ve worn many hats, and each role has taught me something new. I feel like I’m learning every day,” shares Alvin Aborjoe, Zonal Manager for Kokomlemle. Since starting as a Customer Relationship Manager in 2018, Alvin has navigated various roles and departments before assuming his current role, overseeing Hubtel’s operations in Kokomlemle. 

How has your role evolved at Hubtel? 

“I began as a Customer Relationship Manager at Hubtel in 2018. My primary task at the time was to promote our service to mobile money vendors. After focusing on that for a while, my main responsibility shifted to selling our POS systems to customers. I did that for some time before my role changed to Retail Relationship Manager. In this new role, my responsibility was to help businesses manage their storefronts. 

During this period, Hubtel was exploring quick commerce. Because of my relationships with retailers as a Retail Relationship Manager, I was moved to join the Quick Commerce team. 

My role changed again to Zonal Manager in the Commercial and New Markets department, which is my current role. This was during the introduction of the Hubtel app, and my task was to onboard retailers and restaurants onto the platform. 

Each role I’ve had at Hubtel has taught me something new and has allowed me to apply my skills and experience in new ways. It’s been an interesting journey, I must say.” 

What does your day-to-day look like? 

“As a Zonal Manager at Hubtel, my day revolves around coordinating the activities of my subordinates. I oversee sales operation executives, retail relationship executives, and riders daily for the Kokomlemle zone. Their activities are interconnected and operate like a conveyor belt. Each role impacts the others, and I ensure everything runs smoothly. 

It begins with Retail Relationship Executives (RREs) bringing the most sought-after restaurants or items in Kokomlemle onto the app. They create awareness and activations to inform customers that they can find their favourite restaurants on the app. Next, Sales Operation Executives (SOEs) ensure that orders from customers are fulfilled. They contact the restaurants to confirm orders and then get in touch with the riders to pick up the orders and deliver them straight to the customers. The riders deliver the orders, verify a code to confirm the delivery, and the cycle continues. 

So, my role is to ensure the conveyor belt moves smoothly without any hitches.” 

How does your role contribute to Hubtel’s success? 

As a Zonal Manager, I ensure smooth operations within my zone, fostering good relations between customers and Hubtel, as well as between partner retailers and Hubtel. Additionally, we gather customer feedback, find popular retailers, and actively onboard them onto our app. This ensures customers at Kokomlemle have a wide selection of restaurants to choose from and can find their everyday essentials on the app, thereby driving profitable growth for Hubtel. 

What excites you most about working at Hubtel? 

“First, I would say the people. At my previous employer, I was just an employee—I can’t quite describe it any other way. But here at Hubtel, it’s different; you’re not just an employee, you’re part of a family. I value the relationships I’ve built here. When you meet a new colleague, it doesn’t take long before you find yourselves working well together. My second favourite thing would be the room for growth it provides.  

My second favourite thing is the room for growth it provides. Currently, as part of my role as a Zonal Manager, I oversee the onboarding of pharmacies and shops. This is another opportunity for me to learn and grow. Let’s see where it takes me from here. ” 

And to wrap things up, what’s your favourite food to order on the app? 

“I’m not being biased, but my favourite dish to order is Banku with oilless okro from Liquid and Grill. Oh my God, if you’re not a fan of palm oil, this combo will amaze you. Just place the order.” 

Like many businesses in Ghana and across Africa, Bakeshop Classics is undergoing a digital transformation to enhance its operations. Their initial steps included adopting digital payments and signing onto Hubtel, making it easier for customers to purchase their favorite treats without visiting the physical store. 

Passion and talent turned into a business 

Bakeshop Classics has been in operation for more than 30 years. The business was started by Mrs. Blanche Musah Agyemang upon her retirement from the corporate world, where she served as a secretary to several notable firms. “This business was born out of passion,” says Mr. Dan Asare, Business Development Consultant of Bakeshop Classics. “One favourite story Mrs. Musah Agyemang loves to share is how, at the age of 12, she baked a cake for a dearly loved teacher’s birthday and received glowing praise. Many years later, upon approaching retirement from Swissair, she decided to try her hand at commercial baking. Surprisingly, the business was an overnight success, spread only by word of mouth.” 

Currently, the bakery has two branches, one in La and the other in Spintex, with a staff of 75. Bakeshop Classics has always ensured they put the right measures in place to keep the business growing and to retain customers. “We have always had a sincere approach to business,” says Mr. Dan Asare. “As such, we ensure we use the finest baking ingredients for everything we sell here: pastries, bread, and cakes. Additionally, we make sure there are no leftovers, especially on the pastries side. Customers are always served freshly baked pastries.” 

Steering the business for growth 

“As a business, we make it a point to keep up with current trends. With this in mind, we set out with a new objective: a 360-degree digital transformation to meet customers at the point of their need. We started looking for avenues that could help us achieve our goal, and that’s when Hubtel came into the picture.” 

The primary business goal that prompted Bakeshop Classics to shift to Hubtel was to ensure customers received the best service at every touchpoint. This included having minimal friction when making payments and meeting customer needs right at their doorstep. 

To achieve this, they decided to integrate an online storefront with their physical storefront by signing onto Hubtel. This enabled them to deliver orders directly to customers wherever they were, offering flexibility to their customers and increasing sales for the bakery. 

The bakery also adopted Hubtel’s Unique USSD to enable mobile money collections from all networks. With the Unique USSD, customers can make payments on any mobile device without the need for internet connectivity. This method of payment is simple for customers, and for the business, it allows tracking of sales with the dashboard provided. It also reduces the risk of losing money if a payment does not go through, which was a common issue when using the traditional method of collecting mobile money payments. 

Leveraging Hubtel for growth  

Using Hubtel to receive payments and signing onto the Hubtel app were not the only benefits Bakeshop Classics gained. The dashboard that accompanied the Unique USSD provided a solution to another challenge they faced: maintaining a comprehensive customer database. 

“One major challenge we faced was capturing customer data. The dashboard that came with the Unique USSD to track payments automatically solved that problem. Now, with the database we have, we can leverage it for marketing purposes. We send SMS messages to customers for special occasions and promote ongoing promotions, among other uses.” 

With Hubtel, Bakeshop Classics has been able to: 

• Keep track of sales 

• Drastically reduced friction when it comes to receiving payments 

• Build months of data on autopilot, to help with marketing, planning, and forecasting  

• Increase sales by signing onto the Hubtel app 

Pivoting a business can be challenging without the right tools and solutions. The team at Bakeshop Classics believes that with Hubtel, they are moving in the right direction. By meeting customers at their doorstep and making payments faster and more frictionless, they have enhanced their overall customer service delivery and maintained their mass appeal to a wide range of customers while strategically evolving their business to meet current trends. 

We know Gen Z and Millennials are different. But how different are they when it comes to food? With a street survey of what both generations have been ordering, we sought to find the favorite foods of these two generations and what they enjoy eating the most for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Before we dive into the blog post, any guesses on the favorite meals of these two generations? 

Breakfast: What do we have on our plate? 

Could waakye be the country’s official breakfast? Well, both generations seem to agree. It’s interesting to know that when it comes to breakfast, these two generations are not very distinct—they both enjoy a delicious bowl of Hajia’s waakye to start their day.  

What’s for lunch? 

When it comes to lunch, both generations have a shared favorite—Jollof. It’s interesting to note that the two generations have similar meal choices for lunch. The top three lunch meals for both Gen Z and Millennials are jollof, fried rice, and waakye. 

Dinner is served! 

So far, dinner is where the two generations show different preferences. While most Gen Z will order fried rice for dinner, Millennials enjoy jollof for their evening meal. 

Extra bites 

From our data, we noticed some interesting patterns about these two generations. We observed that when it comes to selecting other meal options for lunch, many Millennials prefer Fufu over Gen Z. There is a higher number of Gen Z ordering Indomie for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, particularly lunch. Additionally, Millennials tend to order plain rice more often than Gen Z does. 

Nonetheless, a firm favorite among both generations is Jollof, which remained in the top two choices for food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. 

Hungry? Order your favorite food and get it delivered in no time. Tap here to download the Hubtel app. 

Golden Crystal Experience is a hotel located in Adiriganor, East Legon, offering a variety of accommodations for short-term stays. Clients can choose from standard hotel rooms, as well as studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments. The Hotel is constantly being rated number one for customer service. However, despite its commitment to excellence, the hotel faced significant challenges with payment processing. 

Challenge  

Originally, Golden Crystal processed payments with handheld POS devices provided by its former service provider, which could not adequately meet their needs. “The challenge we encountered was that processing payments and the speed at which money was received were both slow,” says Mr. Ben Nortey, the CEO of Golden Crystal Experience. This issue of tied-up finances affected their cash flow because, in the hospitality industry, the timing of expenses and income needs to align to ensure smooth operations. He stated, “Previously, payments would take anywhere from one to two weeks or longer to be credited to our account. For a business such as a hotel, any delay has significant repercussions on operations.” 

With this challenge, the hotel wanted a solution that would streamline its payment processing to keep its overall operations more efficient. That is when they turned to Hubtel. 

Solution

With the switch to Hubtel’s POS, the hotel processed payments three times faster than before, and the turnaround time for payments to reflect in their account significantly reduced. “Hubtel came into the picture and provided us with the freedom to receive a variety of payments much faster,” Mr. Nortey says. “While not instant, payments settle within an hour, which for us, is a massive improvement compared to the two to three weeks we previously had to wait for payments to reflect in our account.” 

In the hospitality industry, the time value of money is a critical factor. “The significance and value of the hourly reimbursement by Hubtel for us is substantial,” he added. “We don’t have the luxury of readily available finances, so being able to access our money quickly and use it without delays is amazing.” 

Secondly, the customer service provided by Hubtel is what keeps the relationship. “I have witnessed Hubtel’s growth over the years, and through it all, they never lost their personal touch. Whenever we had an issue, someone was readily available to assist,’ Nortey added. “Despite their immense growth, we haven’t encountered any issue that took Hubtel more than an hour or two to fix.” 

Another benefit for Golden Crystal is the commission price charged. “Previously, amidst the delay with reimbursement, our service provider charged a higher commission. Switching to Hubtel not only grants us faster access to our money but also proves to be more affordable,” he added.  

Results  

Considering what makes a business in the hospitality industry thrive—excellent customer service—Golden Crystal has always been mindful of elevating their clients’ overall experience. From the reception to the restaurant and gym, all touchpoints, including the flexibility of payment, whether by cash, card, or mobile money, must operate smoothly throughout a client’s stay to enrich the entire experience.  

With Hubtel’s POS, Golden Crystal Experience efficiently processes a variety of payment methods. Additionally, the POS integrates seamlessly with Golden Crystal’s existing operations. The web management dashboard allows for real-time tracking of transactions and inventory management. This level of efficiency not only enhances the guest experience but also optimizes the hotel’s operations, contributing to its overall success in the competitive hospitality industry. 

“Hubtel has always been personable and made us feel important. So even if another company could process payments faster, we would still choose Hubtel because of that personal element.” He further stated, “I don’t know how Hubtel manages to offer such speed of service, excellent customer support, and affordability, but they do it somehow, someway, and it’s superb.” 

Hubtel, Ghana’s leading payment services provider, has been ranked as the Fastest Growing Company in Ghana for the 2022 financial year in the latest Financial Times’ Africa’s Fastest Growing Companies ranking.  

The list, published by the UK-based newspaper recognizes businesses across the African continent that are achieving remarkable revenue growth. 

The FT ranking evaluated several companies based on their compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in revenues between 2019 and 2022. Hubtel’s impressive revenue growth performance during the 2022 financial year positioned it among the top companies on the continent.  

As the growing demand for payment services continues to heat up, the intersection of e-commerce and fintech is also driving Africa’s economic growth. This is evident in the number of fintechs named among the list of companies on the rankings. 

Hubtel was ranked 30th out of 125 companies in Africa, and follows on heels the achievements IT Consortium, another Ghanaian payment service provider that was ranked 17th in the rankings for the 2020 financial year. Other Ghanaian companies that made the list for the 2022 financial year are KudiGo and Zen Petroleum. In the rankings for the 2021 financial year, Enterprise Insurance and Zen Petroleum were also listed. 

According to the newspaper, “Economic growth in Africa, overall, in 2023 was 3.2%, according to the IMF – lower than in Asia, which grew at nearly 5%. And, given the African continent’s fast population expansion, this underperformance is even starker in per capita terms. Rather than closing the gap with wealthier regions, on aggregate, Africa is falling further behind.” 

Despite the harsh economic challenges the continent is experiencing, its companies continue to thrive and attract investments. South Africa has the most number of companies listed in the rankings with Nigeria also dominating. Companies from Morocco, Mauritius, Kenya, and Egypt also featured strongly. 

Hubtel’s history of being recognized in such continental rankings dates back to 2012 when Forbes Africa Magazine listed the company, then operating as SMSGH, among the Top 20 Technology Start-Ups in Africa. 

“Never be afraid to jump at the sun, you will never reach it, but your feet will leave the ground.” (Bram, 2017) 

And jump we did. The Hubtel story, often told, is a testament to the power of ambition and the lessons learned along the path of embracing failure.  

Origins and Early Wins: 

Founded in 2005 as SMSGH by Alex Bram, Ernest Apenteng,  and Leslie Gyimah, three ambitious undergraduates, the company started as SMSGH with a mission to simplify business to customer communication via SMS. The founders’ entrepreneurial spirit, honed through various earlier ventures, proved crucial in navigating early challenges. SMSGH saw quick success, making its first sale after five months and securing significant contracts within its first year. By 2007, the company was a pioneer, launching Africa’s first online SMS portals and alert systems for banks, reaching an impressive $1 million in revenue that year. 

Pivotal Transformation: 

Despite initial success, the company recorded slowing growth rates around 2013-2014, which prompted the need for a strategic shift. The company leaders participated in the Stanford Seed Business Transformation program in 2016 which led to the birth of the Hubtel brand with a new emphasis on payments and customer services. The Hubtel mobile app launched in 2017, aiming to be a “super-app” connecting users and businesses. Hubtel obtained approval from the Bank of Ghana to operate as an Enhanced Payment Services Provider in 2019, solidifying its position in the fintech space. 

Growth and Recognition: 

Since rebranding in 2017, Hubtel has experienced phenomenal growth, attaining a full license as an Enhanced Payment Services Provider in 2022 and becoming Ghana’s largest fintech by the end of that year. The company takes pride in its workforce, which has expanded significantly over the past 2 years to 650+ employees across Ghana, reflecting the company’s impact and success.  

The Hubtel mobile application taps into a vast market, with 4300+ restaurants and eateries, 632 pharmacies and shops, and 382 active riders in 8 cities across the country. This extensive network facilitates an average of 42,000+ orders monthly, serving a customer base of 10,500+ monthly.  

The Hubtel Legacy 

Over the past years, Hubtel has had a significant impact on various industries in Ghana, including telecom, entertainment, banking, education, retail, healthcare, and utilities.   

In the utilities sector, Hubtel worked with the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) from July 2022 to plug payment processing leakages and grow monthly revenues by nearly 100% to GHS1.2 billion.  Due to this significant feat, in March 2024, the company signed a commercial agreement with the nation’s largest distributor of power, Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG)  

In the education sector, Hubtel provides a mobile application that helps schools manage school fee payments. This has streamlined payment processes and improved the financial management of early childhood schools across Ghana.  

In the healthcare sector, Hubtel has played a key role in the digital transformation of hospitals. This has increased efficiency and transparency, benefiting both patients and staff.  

Hubtel’s story embodies the power of innovation, adaptability, and unwavering dedication in a competitive tech landscape. The company transitioned from a focused SMS provider to a leading fin offering a ‘super-app’ that facilitates everyday transactions. Hubtel’s emphasis on pivoting to meet market needs and overcoming obstacles serves as an inspiration for businesses in Ghana and beyond. 

Discover more of the Hubtel story here: hubtel.com/19-years 

We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Leslie Kwabena Gyimah, our co-founder and dear friend. We pay tribute to Leslie’s invaluable contributions to Hubtel and reflect on the profound impact he had on our company and its journey. 

In a heartfelt announcement, Chief Executive Officer, Alex Bram, honors the memory of his dear friend, Leslie, by recounting the company’s founding story and highlighting Leslie’s immense contributions to its foundation. 

From the early days of SMSGH to the establishment of Hubtel, Leslie was a driving force behind our company’s growth and success. His dedication, creativity, and unwavering commitment laid the foundation for our journey. 

As friends and classmates since secondary school, Leslie, Ernest, and Alex, set out to revolutionize how businesses connect with their customers through SMS messaging, after their last day in university. Leslie’s passion for innovation and his belief in our vision were unwavering, serving as a source of inspiration for us all. 

Leslie Kwabena Gyimah played a pivotal role in shaping Hubtel’s initial business model and strategy. His tireless efforts and personal sacrifices were instrumental in securing the company’s first sales and profits, setting the stage for our future growth. 

Beyond his professional achievements, Leslie’s pride in Ghana and his creative energy left an indelible mark on our company’s culture. His spirit of innovation and his belief in what we could achieve continue to resonate within our team. 

During this difficult time, our thoughts and prayers are with Leslie’s wife, Lady Pearl, his daughters, and his family.  

As we mourn the loss of our dear friend and co-founder, we also celebrate Leslie’s remarkable life and legacy. His vision, passion, and dedication will continue to inspire us as we honor his memory and carry forward his legacy at Hubtel. 

Leslie will forever be in Hubtel hearts.  

Nova is a trading name for Westol Petroleum Limited, a wholly owned Ghanaian oil marketing company. Fairly new in the oil marketing industry, Nova’s mission is to provide high-quality, long-lasting fuel at affordable prices to the average Ghanaian. 

Opportunity 

The decision by Nova to use Hubtel was driven by Nova’s desire to provide a convenient payment method for their customers, regardless of their preferred mode of payment, and to reduce the risk associated with carrying cash. 

Mr. Kwasi Zigah, Managing Director of Nova Ghana, explained the decision to use Hubtel, stating, “We turned to Hubtel because we wanted to offer our customers the flexibility of having more payment options for the fuel we provide. Additionally, this decision aligns with the government’s agenda to promote a cashless economy.” 

For Nova, Hubtel offers a comprehensive range of services that meet their business needs. With Hubtel’s POS, Nova is able to accept and process payments quickly, including card payments, bank transfers, mobile money, and a USSD code that customers can easily use to make payments. 

Additionally, with the web management dashboard that comes with the POS, Nova has the ability to monitor the performance of each of their fuel stations across the country right from its head office. With these insights, they can make informed marketing decisions for their promotions and loyalty programs. 

“I would say Hubtel is a digital partner for businesses like us because the platform not only aggregates payments but also provides a dashboard that allows you to have visibility into who is buying from you and how much they are purchasing. For example, at Nova, we are aware of the average purchase per customer visit, which is a key indicator helping us understand the station’s performance and the payment methods preferred by each customer,” says Zigah. 

Solution 

“The OMCs have always faced the challenge of maximizing the full value of purchases or sales proceeds. Therefore, digital payment options, such as Hubtel, help secure our cash flow and effectively address this challenge,” says Zigah. 

Using Hubtel not only prevents small thefts among staff but also mitigates the risk of robbery at the station. Additionally, with Hubtel, they are able to realize sales proceeds in real-time, which is highly valuable for the business.  

Zigah further said, “For us, this is where Hubtel offers unmatched value, something no other service provider can provide.” 

By using Hubtel’s POS, Nova is able to realize its full sales proceeds, serve a wide range of customers irrespective of their payment methods, and leverage insights from the web management dashboard to make informed marketing decisions. 

“We have seen improvements in our sales. In the past, a customer might have driven away because we didn’t offer card payment options, especially in residential areas where customers frequently use their cards for payments,” he says.  

Results 

Since using Hubtel, Nova has been able to: 

• Seamlessly collect and process a broad range of payment methods. 
• Monitor the sales performance of fuel stations. 
• Gain insights to aid marketing decisions. 
• Improve its overall customer experience. 

Looking to the future, Nova seeks to do even more with the insights they have on their average customer, thanks to Hubtel. With plans for a customer loyalty program and sales promotions dedicated to fostering connections with its customers, Nova aims to turn them from one-time buyers into repeat, lifelong customers. 

“As a business, we aim and shoot. Sometimes, we hit the mark, and other times things may not go as planned. However, with Hubtel, it gives us the opportunity to aim, shoot, and get it right the first time because we know who our customers are, and we can reach them easily,” says Zigah. 

Hubtel Pledge, the corporate social responsibility foundation of Hubtel, as part of its support to  St. Augustine’s College has fulfilled its promise to furnish a state-of-the-art Coding Lab, a first of its kind for any senior high school in Ghana.  

The project, unveiled during the school’s recent celebration of its 94th Anniversary and Speech Day, is part of the APSU 1999-year group legacy project. It is made up of a refurbished 18-classroom block equipped with innovative technology, smart classrooms, 900 new furniture sets, and individual projectors in every room.  

This impressive renovation provides a significantly enhanced learning environment for over 900 students. Inside this state-of-the-art edifice is the Coding Lab, championed by Hubtel to help generations of students learn how to write code. The Coding Lab marks a significant advancement in equipping the Ghanaian youth, more specifically, the current students at St. Augustine’s College with the essential digital skills necessary for them to thrive in the ever-evolving landscape of technology. 

It will be recalled that in August 2023, Hubtel Pledge supported the cause with an amount of GHS800,000 during the launch of the legacy project. Hubtel topped that up with the Coding Lab. The entire Lab project was planned and executed by Hubtel, covering infrastructure, furniture, and the technology to equip the Lab with. 

The quality of education in the modern world is massively facilitated by the quality of facilities readily available to the students. And the quality of facilities depends on how relevant they are to solving real-world problems. The Coding Lab was put together to help students learn how to write codes, an in-skill demand in the modern work environment. Every business requires these keep skills to achieve their goals.  

Alex Bram, CEO of Hubtel, commented on the project’s impact, saying: “The free SHS has been great. I’ve met people here whose background is almost very similar to ours. They come from very difficult economic backgrounds, but free SHS has opened it up, but it has also put a lot of stress on the infrastructure, so it looks like we have to quicken the pace of maintenance to catch up. What we did here will open so many doors, give others the confidence to pursue their dreams. It will make their life a little bit comfortable as they walk through the school. Sending the ladder back so somebody else can climb it. And I think that is the best feeling.” 

Henry Arthur Gyan, Headmaster of St. Augustine’s College, expressed his appreciation for the initiative: “Every year we have people come in to donate. It’s helping the school in a very good way because as an educational institution students need a very good environment to study.” 

Ernest Apenteng, General Manager of Hubtel, spoke about the legacy of giving back: “Old mates and people prior to our time had given back and we have benefitted from the good of their donations so it was clearly natural that we also continue on that path so that the students will also feel part of the APSUNIAN brand.” 

Francis Gavor, CEO of Rock Africa, chimed in on the importance of impactful giving: “There is blessing in giving back, and the rest of it is the impact of the giving. The most important thing is to identify what you can do that will transcend to many generations.” 

Elliott Asiedu, Convener of APSU ’99, highlighted the significance of the project: “APSU ’99 has set the standard when it comes to hosting of speech day in St. Augustine’s College and by extension other second cycle institutions in Ghana.” 

In addition to providing students with technical expertise, the coding lab will also foster a culture of creativity and entrepreneurship. Particularly, having access to such an ultra-modern lab provides a lot of inspiration to students and pushes them in new directions they may have thought were out of reach for the African child.  

Hubtel Pledge 

Hubtel Pledge is Hubtel’s corporate social responsibility foundation, aimed at supporting causes that enhance the quality of life in the communities where the company’s staff live and work. The company’s founders Alex Bram, Ernest Apenteng, and Leslie Gyimah, all alumni of St. Augustine’s College from the class of 1999, share a strong bond with their alma mater. This connection fueled the creation of the Coding Lab initiative, a program aimed at giving back to the college.