Belva Digital, a marketing technology company based in Kenya, has expanded and enhanced its product portfolio through its participation in the Infobip Partner Connect Programme, which has enabled it to widen its customer network. Belva Digital helps its customers build future-ready brands through data-driven marketing and technology solutions. Until recently, Belva Digital relied on several different solution providers to provide multichannel offerings to its customers. By partnering with Infobip, it has been able to offer complete omnichannel solutions on one platform. Fred Kithinji, Founder and CEO of Belva Digital, explains more about the partnership.
Client background
Belva Digital is a marketing technology company based in Nairobi, Kenya. It was founded over a decade ago and has a presence in 22 countries across East, West and Central Africa. The company has positioned itself as an accelerator for brands across Africa, helping to build future-ready brands through data-driven marketing and technology solutions. It addresses its customers’ unique communication needs by developing digital marketing campaigns, as well as engagement solutions around existing client technology to boost customer experience (CX). It provides plug and play or custom solutions that are built on top of different communication platforms. Belva Digital uses cutting-edge technology to gather and analyse data to provide its clients with the insights they need to create successful customer engagement models, developing customised strategies that are tailored to unique needs. The company also offers Digital Transformation services that help organisations transform their business for the digital era.
The challenge
While Belva Digital had the capabilities to offer multichannel solutions to its customers, including channels such as email, SMS and WhatsApp, the company realised that it was increasingly important for it to be able to provide omnichannel solutions to African businesses. This was mainly driven by the needs of modern customers who are becoming ever more demanding, which means that having an effective omnichannel experience is vital for businesses to stand out from their competitors. Omnichannel solutions integrate various channels, such as online, mobile, brick and mortar and social media into one seamless experience. An effective omnichannel approach ensures that customers have a consistent and personalised experience across all channels, which ultimately drives sales and customer loyalty. Until recently, Belva Digital relied on several different solution providers to provide multichannel offerings to their customers. This multivendor approach increased the complexity and cost of implementing and managing these channels.
The solution
Belva Digital joined Infobip’s Partner Connect Programme, which helps partners, and their customers transform business opportunities at scale by connecting them to powerful communications solutions and expertise. By joining the programme, Belva Digital was able to expand and enhance its product portfolio by adding several of Infobip’s Communications Platform-as-a-Service (CPaaS) offerings, including email, SMS and WhatsApp for Business API. Belva Digital is currently also working in partnership with Infobip to offer its Answers and Conversations Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solutions to customers across Africa.
“I found Belva Digital to be extremely professional and very proactive. Their attention to detail is absolutely amazing in their collaboration with us and with their customers. From here, I expect it will be onwards and upwards with Belva Digital and I’m sure they’re going to be a well-known name in Africa very soon,” said Rochelle van Rooyen, Strategic Account and Partnership Manager at Infobip.
The result
As a result of joining the Infobip Partner Connect Programme, Belva Digital has been able to enhance and expand its product portfolio to offer complete omnichannel solutions on one platform. This means that Belva Digital can manage the whole array of channels on one platform, removing the cost and complexity of its previous multichannel offerings that relied on various different vendors. With an expanded portfolio of products, the company now has the ability to approach a broader network of customers and, together with Infobip, is exploring opportunities in the healthcare, banking and public sectors. Belva Digital and Infobip are currently working on a go-to-market strategy that involves a wide range of Infobip’s solutions. In addition, a major benefit for Belva Digital is the wealth of experience, expertise and local presence that Infobip brings to the partnership.
Fred Kithinji, Founder and CEO of Belva Digital, said: “The products that Infobip offers are unique and actually address the current market needs. It is reassuring knowing that they have a global reach, yet are still very much connected to the local market and its needs. Their local experience, as well as the fact that they are a massive global company, gives us the confidence to pitch their products to our customers.”
Kithinji spoke exclusively to Intelligent SME.tech:
Why do you think customers have become more demanding?
Customers have become more demanding in recent years due to several factors. Firstly, rapid technological advancements have led to increased awareness and expectations among consumers. With access to a wide range of products and services, customers now expect seamless and personalised experiences.
Additionally, the rise of social media and online reviews has empowered customers, making them more informed and discerning. As a result, they demand not only high-quality products or services but also expect companies to provide excellent customer service, quick response times and customisation options to meet their specific needs.
Why does Infobip give you the ability to approach a broader network of customers?
Infobip, as a leading Communication Platform-as-a-Service (CPaaS) provider, offers a versatile and scalable solution for businesses to engage with their customers effectively. By leveraging Infobip’s platform, businesses can create seamless experiences for customers. This ability to connect with a diverse audience through multiple channels is a key advantage in meeting the diverse preferences and needs of today’s demanding customers.
Tell me more about the go-to-market strategy which Infobip and Belva Digital are working on.
The go-to-market strategy that Infobip and Belva Digital are working on involves a comprehensive approach to reach and engage customers effectively. This strategy includes:
• Annual business breakfast: we hosted our first breakfast session with Infobip hosting CXO decision-makers in Nairobi last March. We are looking to make this an annual event. This brings thought leaders together to discuss challenges, share wins and chart a path forward together with Infobip and Belva Digital as the preferred partners.
Besides this, we also do:
• Continuous market analysis: understanding the target audience, industry trends and competitive landscape
• Product positioning: clearly defining the value proposition and unique selling points of the joint offerings
• Channel selection: identifying the most effective communication channels to reach the target audience. From PR, digital to email marketing
• Training and support: ensuring that customers have access to the necessary resources and support for a seamless experience
What’s been the greatest benefit of working with Infobip?
• Global reputation: Infobip’s global reputation gives us confidence to engage clients at whatever scale as we are confident in the solution
• Multichannel capabilities: the promise to unify communication across SMS, voice, email and chat, to enable a more personalised and effective customer engagement, is a key proposition and we are delighted Infobip has this capability
• Scalability: Infobip’s scalable infrastructure accommodates the growth of businesses, ensuring that they can adapt to changing customer demands and market conditions
• Innovation: access to cutting-edge communication technologies and features, enabling businesses to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
In summary, the collaboration between Infobip and Belva Digital is empowering businesses to meet the increasing demands of customers by providing an integrated omnichannel communication platform that can enable businesses to not just grow, but scale.
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