Zimbabwean companies are solidifying their digital migration with increased investment in mobile applications and reduced focus on physical operations which, according to market analysts, lowers costs and meets the needs of an increasingly mobile domestic market.

Standard Chartered Zimbabwe this month closed down six brick and mortar branches in Harare and smaller towns. The Bank is migrating operations to an online platform after the successful launch of its mobile application.

"Standard Chartered hereby advises the public of the following branch mergers and transfer of customer accounts. We have recently upgraded and launched an improved App which gives you access to a new Digital Bank," Standard Chartered said in a notice emailed to depositors at the weekend.

The bank further said its "new digital bank can be accessed through the SC Mobile App" which can be downloaded from application stores.

Other banks offering mobile banking include First Capital Bank, Ecobank and Stanbic Bank.

Simbisa Brands, the franchise operator of Nandos, Steers and Chicken Inn has invested in a mobile app to boost its online deliveries.

It intends to expand its delivery mobile application, rolled out in Zimbabwe and Kenya, into its other regional markets including Zambia, DRC, Ghana and Mauritius, among others.

Basil Dionisio, chief executive for Simbisa Brands said: "Following the successful launch of our new Dial-a-Delivery mobile application in Zimbabwe and Kenya in FY2019, our focus in FY2020 will be to further develop and grow our delivery business in order to tap into a previously underserviced online market and improve on the convenience of our customers' ordering experience."

Other Zimbabwean companies that have recently invested into mobile apps include mobile hailing company, Toda which is competing against Vaya Africa, and the Rainbow Tourism Group (RTG).