Vodacom Tanzania has introduced a vending machine that accepts M-Pesa payments. The vending machine allows customers to request for an item and pay via QR code via M-Pesa.
Consequently, the vending machine dispenses items as soon as the customer scans the code via the telco’s App.
“We are the first to bring to Tanzania. This is the first and the only vending machine that works via M-Pesa,” confirmed Hisham Hendi, MD Vodacom Tanzania.
This new invention follows up on Hendi’s earlier promise to continue to expand M-Pesa Payment options.
“We continue to add new services to the platform to expand customers’ payment options and make transacting more accessible by increasing our agent network,” Hendi earlier promised.
Innovations which leverage on money transfer and payments are crucial to both Vodacom Tanzania and the Vodacom group. In the first half-year, M-Pesa revenues in Tanzania contributed to 34.4% of the total revenue.
In the same period, M-Pesa contributed $78 million, up from $67.4 million in 2018 H1.
Earlier in 2017, Kenya’s Safaricom launched an alternative way to pay for goods via M-Pesa 1Tap in Kenya in 2017. 1 Tap allows a customer to pay using an NFC card, a sticker or a wristband connected to their M-Pesa account. However, the service has not picked up as well expected.
