Entrepreneurship Zone: 28 June 2024: Youth develops digital shopping, WhatsApp-based insurance service

[Bulls n Bears]

 <https://bullszimbabwe.com/> 

 


 

 <http://www.bullszimbabwe.com/> Bullszimbabwe.com        <mailto:info at bulls.co.zw?subject=View%20and%20Comments> Views & Comments        <http://www.bulls.co.zw/blog> Bullish Thoughts        <http://www.twitter.com/BullsBears2010> Twitter         <https://www.facebook.com/BullsBearsZimbabwe> Facebook           <http://www.linkedin.com/pub/bulls-n-bears-zimbabwe/57/577/72> LinkedIn          <https://chat.whatsapp.com/CF6wllAfScU9Wr6dXxoQnO> WhatsApp         <mailto:info at bulls.co.zw?subject=Unsubscribe> Unsubscribe

 


 

 


Entrepreneurship Zone: 28 June 2024: Youth develops digital shopping, WhatsApp-based insurance service

 


 

 

	
 


 

 



 <https://www.zitfevents.com/> 


ONE important lesson the Covid-19 pandemic has taught Zimbabweans and the rest of the world is the need to adopt digital means of connecting businesses to clients.

The travel restrictions and social distancing requirements to curb the spread of the disease, have necessitated creation of an uninterrupted flow of products and services regardless of the situation.

Bulawayo youth, Leeroy Fredericks (34) is one of the innovative few and has developed a digital shopping platform, eGrossa Online, which now offers a WhatsApp-based insurance payment service.

At a time when many enterprises are counting Covid-19 losses, the youthful entrepreneur says opportunity abounds in the digital sphere. Developing digital economic solutions is at the heart of the country’s drive towards an upper middle-income status by 2030.

He told Business Chronicle that eGrossa Online, a Bulawayo e-commerce startup, has set out to develop several innovative ecommerce solutions, the first on the list being “Hi-insure”.

“The new online service allows users to buy their motor insurance and vehicle licensing via WhatsApp and have their licensing disks delivered to their doorsteps in selected cities,” said Fredericks.

“Currently our delivery service is only functional in Harare and Bulawayo and we offer three insurance companies for now. Through this platform, clients can send inquiries and view insurance and licensing pricing.”

While many graduates are holding onto certificates and searching for jobs, Leeroy says the youths must be flexible and use the skills they already have to diversify and create jobs for themselves.

“I have a basic O-level education. But I learnt early that the world has changed. It’s no longer about what you know but what you can do with what you know. So, I learnt different skills in different fields — graphic design, ICT, networking, programming and it’s all just coming together now with this project,” he said.

The insurance WhatsApp service was officially launched online last month and the first week has been exciting, he said.

“We have logged over 100 inquiries and hope that as people get to see the convenience of our service the response will be greater.”

Fredericks says he started the eGrossa Online project last year, as a drop shipping online store selling products from China.

“The main aim of the store was to test the market and find out why ecommerce and online shopping were not as popular in Zimbabwe as in other countries,” he said, adding: “Funding was bootstrapped and all funding came from personal savings.”

The youthful entrepreneur said the relatively high cost of data, inefficiencies in payment methods and the general fear by consumers of being scammed, continue to force many people to seek manual means of transacting.

“Using this information, I developed an ecommerce platform that runs on WhatsApp bot, which is currently the biggest social platform being used in the country, even bigger than Facebook,” said Fredericks.

“The solution is very low on data consumption and we are semi-automated to add a human element. This, we hope, will allow clients to ask any questions and eventually help close the gap.”

He said the Hi-insure product would help decentralise the insurance field by eliminating the need for queuing for enquiries and purchasing products, which also enhances convenience through delivery of licence discs to clients.

“In the near future we will be opening outlets in the main suburbs in Bulawayo to further decentralise the process and collection aspect of our business,” said Fredericks.

“Our hope is to make it keep up with the times and provide Zimbabwe with an ecommerce solution that actually works and allows the continuous flow of products and services between businesses and clients at a zero additional or minimal cost. The service is easy to use.”-Chronicle.co.zw


Leeroy Frederick

 

—Howwemadeitinafrica

 

 


 


 


 

 Invest Cellphone:    +263 71 944 1674 | +27 79 993 5557 

Email:               bulls at bullszimbabwe.com <mailto:bulls at bullszimbabwe.com> 

Website:            www.bullszimbabwe.com <http://www.bullszimbabwe.com>  

Blog:                 www.bullszimbabwe.com/blog <http://www.bullszimbabwe.com/blog> 

Twitter (X):        @bullsbears2010

LinkedIn:           Bulls n Bears Zimbabwe

Facebook:          www.facebook.com/BullsBearsZimbabwe <http://www.facebook.com/BullsBearsZimbabwe> 

Skype:         Bulls.Bears 



 

 

 


 

 


DISCLAIMER: This report has been prepared by Bulls ‘n Bears, a division of Faith Capital (Pvt) Ltd for general information purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe for any securities. The information contained in this report has been compiled from sources believed to be reliable, but no representation or warranty is made or guarantee given as to its accuracy or completeness. All opinions expressed and recommendations made are subject to change without notice. Securities or financial instruments mentioned herein may not be suitable for all investors. Securities of emerging and mid-size growth companies typically involve a higher degree of risk and more volatility than the securities of more established companies. Neither Faith Capital nor any other member of Bulls ‘n Bears nor any other person, accepts any liability whatsoever for any loss howsoever arising from any use of this report or its contents or otherwise arising in connection therewith. Recipients of this report shall be solely responsible for making their own independent investigation into the business, financial condition and future prospects of any companies referred to in this report. Other  Indices quoted herein are for guideline purposes only and sourced from third parties.

 


 

 


(c) 2024 Web: www.bullszimbabwe.com <http://www.bullszimbabwe.com>  Email: bulls at bullszimbabwe.com <mailto:bulls at bullszimbabwe.com>  Tel: +27 79 993 5557 | +263 71 944 1674

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://listmail.bulls.co.zw/pipermail/bulls/attachments/20240628/c63f642d/attachment-0001.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image001.png
Type: image/png
Size: 9458 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://listmail.bulls.co.zw/pipermail/bulls/attachments/20240628/c63f642d/attachment-0002.png>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image005.png
Type: image/png
Size: 34378 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://listmail.bulls.co.zw/pipermail/bulls/attachments/20240628/c63f642d/attachment-0003.png>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: oledata.mso
Type: application/octet-stream
Size: 65574 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://listmail.bulls.co.zw/pipermail/bulls/attachments/20240628/c63f642d/attachment-0001.obj>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image004.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 204732 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://listmail.bulls.co.zw/pipermail/bulls/attachments/20240628/c63f642d/attachment-0003.jpg>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image002.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 82460 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://listmail.bulls.co.zw/pipermail/bulls/attachments/20240628/c63f642d/attachment-0004.jpg>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image006.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 89080 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://listmail.bulls.co.zw/pipermail/bulls/attachments/20240628/c63f642d/attachment-0005.jpg>