Stanbic Bank Botswana, a subsidiary of South African headquartered Standard Bank Group, has launched sales application tablet technology, through Apple’s iOS software platform, to help sign up new customers.

Lerato Chana Sekgororoane, Stanbic Bank Botswana head of customer channels, said the development is expected to further transform customer service.

According to the bank, sales consultants in executive banking, workplace banking and private banking units are planned to use the system to help sign up customers in less than 25 minutes.

“Both the tablet and the app allow for the completion of all required documentation and capturing of customer details, including electronic signatures. This ensures the customer only has to sign once, as opposed to signing multiple times in a paper-based environment,” said Sekgororoane.

Sekgororoane said once captured, application forms are automatically compressed into PDF format and emailed for processing while copies are also emailed to the client for record-keeping.

The bank further says the tablet technology has been designed to determine the needs of customers, and match appropriate products accordingly.

The app-based sales tool also has a predictive ability, which uses variables such as a customer’s monthly salary, profession and net worth to immediately prescribe a set of products suitable for their financial needs.

The trend of growing mobility has prompted the bank to use the app on tablets.

“We are better equipped to go to our customers and ensure greater convenience, interacting with and advising customers at their work site rather than at the branch. The app serves as a tool towards the bank becoming as close to paperless as possible,” said Sekgororoane.

Standard Bank Group piloted the sales app and tablet technology in Ghana, Tanzania and Angola in August 2013, with key lessons being taken into account before debuting the service in Botswana.

An updated version has since been released and is now fully operational in Zambia, Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana and Lesotho, with the design and capabilities of the app having been customised to local regulatory requirements.