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Botswana lifts postal service with virtual teller initiative

Using a budget of R7-million, BotswanaPost plans to refurbish post offices and implement Virtual Teller Machines (VTMs) as it looks to digitise its postal service.

The objective of the project is to position BotswanaPost as a one-stop-shop centred around the integration of electronic service kiosks or VTMs.

According to BotswanaPost the VTMs will enable customers to use postal services on a 24/7 basis, outside of the usual trading hours.

BotswanaPost CEO Cornelius Ramatlhakwane, said, “In its first phase, the VTM roll out will have the following services for our client base, prepaid electricity purchase, airtime sales – vouchers, airtime sales – pinless, DSTV subscription payments, post box renewals, PosoMoney, mobile vend top-ups, insurance premiums and lastly Department of Road Transport Safety (DRTS).”

Ramatlhakwane added that in the second phase machines will be kitted out with a card dispenser which will allow for Visa and Mastercard transactions, payments of social benefits cash allowances, along with a barcode reader and call centre capabilities.

“The roll out of the Virtual Teller Machine (VTM) is part of a larger project with an international consultant to pilot Virtual Teller Machines in Botswana in five different locations across the country namely Seronga, Francistown, Gaborone, Palapye and Maun,” said Ramatlhakwane.

He believes the project will result in faster, more reliable and secure postal services to the country.

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