[caption id="attachment_6558" align="aligncenter" width="595" caption="Customers outside a Safaricom Shop (Photo: Nigeria News)"][/caption]

Mobile operator Safaricom has plans in place to launch an online store that will be a unified online version of the Safaricom Shops. The online store will be a more convenient platform for accessing merchandise that is available in the countrywide shops.

This would in essence ease the long queues experienced at the shops especially when the company rolls out offers. It would also save buyers who make trips to the shops to take advantage of deals only to find the said products are out of stock.

The online interface will allow users to establish what items are sold in the shops, their cost and whether the products are in stock. It gives the customer sufficient product description and specifications too and will be using M-PESA as the primary paying mode. On successful placement of an order and payment, a customer will choose options of picking the product at a Safaricom shop or they deliver it to you.

Delivery costs are added to the cost of the product. This platform will benefit many people who could not find time to go to the shops in time to acquire laptops, phones and other accessories at cheaper rates. Individuals will also save costs wasted in time lost to make trips to the shops and find products are out of stock. The launch date will be announced soon.