Karachi, November 11, 2021: Geared towards creating streamlined and efficient digitized experiences to serve its growing base of 3.2 million consumers and more, K-Electric has partnered with NIFT ePay to integrate a digitized payment facility on its website for a hassle-free payment of bills in real-time via direct bank transfer.
The integration will permit KE consumers to route payments via their bank account as a method for payment on the KE website in an easy three-step process: Select, Authorize, and Pay. Once the transaction is complete, the consumer will receive a confirmation through the payment gateway and the merchant’s web server. This is an added facility allowing payments via bank transfers at no additional operating costs, making it easier for consumers without debit/credit cards to clear their utility bills on the KE website.
Estimates issued by the State Bank of Pakistan’s Annual Payment System Review (PSR) 2020-2021, e-banking transactions across the country surged 31.1 percent, highlighting a substantial increase in adoption of digital modes of payment. In a post-pandemic world, consumers and service providers alike sought more efficient means of connecting with each other to complete their transactions, and KE has risen to the occasion with the provision of this service in addition to its existing portfolio. The payment gateway is also planned for rollout on the KE Live App to further support consumers on the go. This is a secure gateway where all transactions are instantly monitored and recorded to ensure accurate bookkeeping and provide transparency in data for an enhanced customer experience. As NIFT ePay is a company that provides adaptable payments platform, the interface is compatible with all systems and is secure for KE consumers to use for convenient transactions.
Commenting on the occasion, KE Spokesperson stated “Digitization and automation have been pushed to the forefront in today’s global environment. We continue to focus on our customers and anticipate their needs so that we can find solutions to support them. The integration with NIFT ePay is one such step. We are also actively bolstering our customer support channels and creating more avenues for our consumers to stay in touch with us around the clock. We understand that our consumers are the engines that drive our business, and we have to keep their evolving requirements at the top of our mind when we envision our strategy for the future.”
Mr. Haider Wahab – CEO NIFT also commented, “Enabling NIFT ePay, our payment gateway for K-Electric is a great milestone in our journey towards digitization of payments in Pakistan. KE is reaching out to its customers and providing them with convenient services through its online portal and mobile app. We would like to also congratulate Karachi Electric on the launch of their WhatsApp Services for the consumers which will make interacting with KE more convenient and accessible.”
During this time, KE has established other unique services that are a first in the power sector. One such initiative is KE’s 24/7 fully automated WhatsApp service accessible via +92-348-0000118, which can be used to access duplicate bills, lodge complaints, acquire tax certificates and information about new connections. Since its launch, the service has been the fastest to reach 50,000 subscribers for a power utility company. The WhatsApp service portal joins KE’s suite of customer touchpoints including 30+ Customer Care Centers, call center 118, SMS Service 8119, KE Live App, and Social Media platforms which are accessible from anywhere in the world at any point in time.