All South African’s living in and around the South African township, Diepkloof, Pamdozi Group announced on Monday, 2 September that it has just launched the country’s first smart store. The Pamdozi smart store in Soweto is said to be the next-generation spaza shop.
Pamodzi Group says it owes the successful smart store launch to its digital technology business, Pamodzi Smart – the subsidiary is a trading platform that aims to support stock management, cash management, calculations and reporting, it also hopes to empower smart entrepreneurs in emerging markets to offer a diversity of services.
According to the company, the Smart system is designed to professionalise informal traders and improve their financial management. This is done by providing a credit profile to support formal trading.
With the Pamodzi Smart system in place, small store owners can offer customers the convenience of paying utility bills, buying bus tickets and other daily essentials without having to visit a traditional store.
“Pamodzi Smart is expected to formalise township trading and ensure that it continues to empower black people. We are excited to see this idea that has been long in the making coming to fruition, it gives us comfort and satisfaction as Pamodzi Group when we use the power of business to liberate our people from poverty and deprivation. This is the belief that has always informed our attitude and approach to how we conduct ourselves,” says Ndaba Ntsele, Chairman of Pamodzi Group.
Executive Director of Pamodzi Smart, Sihle Mkhize says, “The aim is to empower informal traders to grow and create value for their business. With the new Pamodzi Smart store, the Pamodzi Group aims to help create wealth for informal traders and their communities, by using technology as a catalyst in the retail environment primarily to grow their businesses by participating in the FMCG and Food products value chain”.
The Pamodzi smart store is set to offer the following benefits and services:
- Stock management
- Till point services
- Airtime
- Mobile Data
- Prepaid Electricity
- DSTV payments
- Traffic fine payments
- Lotto
- License renewal
- Grocery bulk buying
- Access to credit
Edited by Jenna Cook
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