In a Tweet by Fitspa – the association representing the Uganda and global fintech community, SafeBoda which trades as Guinness Tech Uganda limited has ben authorized by the central bank to issue small and medium electronic money transfer services in the country.

The new licenses come at a time when the company is rolling out SafeBoda Wallet, a mobile wallet for SafeBoda App users that accept s deposits and withdraws from agent points. Also, the SafeBoda App already has money transfer features where a customer can send money to another customer at no charge.

But with the new licenses, it means, SafeBoda Wallet will evolve to compete with already existing mobile money transfer services like MTN Momo, Airtel Money, and of recent Wave Uganda. Well, with the service already active on the SafeBoda App, customers will be able to do more at little or no charges on in-app transfer services.

In a statement by SafeBoda, the company aims at driving its growth in Uganda, Kenya and Nigeria where it operates, by scaling its hailing app to offer new payments and financial services to its customers, passengers, drivers and merchants in the regions it operates.

Recently, SafeBoda food became a reality as a service to allows customers order for their favorite dishes in a fashion similar to how rides are requested on the app

With a total of 4 services are currently offered by the Camp including Boda hailing, Food delivery, shipping (delivery), and Cashless transfer on the App, SafeBoda’s attempt in the money transfer league is next on its launch deck

SafeBoda Wallet is the new service currently accessible via a new domain SafeBodaWallet.com offering a waitlist option for customers who wish to have an early taste of the money transfer service.

Once launched, SafeBoda wallet will allow users to send, receive and withdraw money at low transaction rates. This means the service is a direct Fintech product being developed as a Mobile Money alternative

With such a wide catalog of services, will SafeBoda shine or it may follow the failed startups curve? Well, It’s a matter of time to see how the once fulltime Boda hailing camp will groove against its increasing competition lane.

Well, SafeBoda food is now the new-in-line reality that will have to reckon with podium entrants like Jumia Food and Simba Food in Uganda. Amazingly, SafeBoda plotted its service as an all rider delivery service.

This means when you order Food through the SafeBoda app, expect your delivery to be made by a SafeBoda rider. Contrary to the competition, SafeBoda Food is not an independent service, but simply embedded in the SafeBoda app as a 4th dashboard widget

Though SafeBoda food has launched in a timeframe where Jumia group is laying off several wings in Africa including Jumia Food, we expect it to ride along with the industry trends that could give the service favorable bullish spikes. Nonetheless, If you’d like to order some SafeBoda food, here is how you can do that

How to use SafeBoda Food

First of all, you need to download the SafeBoda, register with your phone number for a One time PIN, then access the App dashboard that shines with 4 home button service to choose from, Choose SafeBoda Food and follow the prompts.

On Payment, you can choose to pay with Cash or ride with SafeBoda’s popular credit (Cashless) feature that gives you the comfort of completing the order with your account balance.

Among the new features that were earlier shipped to the SafeBoda app include the ability to buy Airtime using SafeBoda credit and a new dashboard layout for the app.

Amazingly, the orange hailing camp decided to bring to life its old delivery system that this time around poses a live tracking feature. During the SafeBoda app early stages, the service was best known for having consistent and trustworthy drivers to make deliveries anywhere in Kampala.

After major upgrades and stiff competition stepping into the ride-hailing league, SafeBoda shifted to a fully passenger service and it’s through the same league that it has decided to shape deliveries back to life.

How to use the New SafeBoda parcels feature

• Update your SafeBoda app through the Google Play or Apple Store.
• Open the SafeBoda app, to access the SEND feature located between the Ride and Airtime options.
• Select send
• add the delivery address
• add the receiver’s contact number
• Under package details, select the type of parcel, for instance; Smartphone, Camera, laptop, etc.
• Enter your pick up location
• Select your mode of payment whether Cashless or Cash for your trip
• Request (order) to get the nearest SafeBoda rider or Pair when you’re close to the driver.

With the above procedure, your package will be securely delivered by a SafeBoda driver without any extra shipping charges. So, this is simply the cheapest delivery service you can cruise with without popping up for other popular modes like DHL or FedEx.

To Send cashless credit to another user in your contact book, simply use the send feature and select Cashless transfers to credit a friend who could be having a Zero signal on their SafeBoda account. Nonetheless, with a new delivery option and cashless credit transfers, SafeBoda is destined for a continental take over after its Kenya and Nigeria rollouts.

Given the fact that new SafeBoda credit loading paths were introduced by the orange league side the default Mobile Money reload path. Buying Airtime with cashless credit means you can easily contact your paired driver more easily without waiting for a callback.

How the New SafeBoda credit for Airtime works

The same way multiple airtime recharge alternatives exist off the official telco mobile money grid. Buying airtime with SafeBoda credit doesn’t require any pro tricks but simply a number to recharge to, but first here are the requirements you’ll need to make a transaction.

• Updated SafeBoda app
• Active SafeBoda account
• Pre-reloaded SafeBoda credit

A New private PIN for payments

Through the new upgrade, SafeBoda has introduced a safety pin for transactions inking another step towards purchases since its only you who can know your private PIN for purchases. As if that’s not enough, the new Airtime via credit feature requires you to set an initial PIN after the upgrade.

Well, with the credit for airtime feature will work once you tap the upgrade button from your Smartphone store whether on Android or IOS. After Installing the new upgrade, then you can buy Airtime through these steps.

• Locate the SafeBoda app,
• Open the app and tap Airtime off the main dashboard adjacent to Order ride
• Select Buy Airtime
• Enter your private PIN (If not created, You’ll be prompted to create one)
• On successful authentication, Enter Phone Number or choose from your favorites
• Enter Amount and Confirm with your PIN
• Check your Phone Airtime balance to confirm delivery
• Enjoy!

With Airtime purchase now available on the SafeBoda app, this means the ride-hailing squeeze teases a much competitive lane to new entrants in the league. For instance, In driver popped into the country with extensively low prices, But the fact that Cashless rides now rock the scene, the taxi-hailing service will have to mix things up for a better finish.

In Nigeria, Gokada and Max are the current Boda hailing startups that will pose a head to head battle with SafeBoda in Nigeria. Though Uber has only launched its Boda hailing service in Kenya after Uganda the same way Bolt did before its rebranding season, it’s by no doubt that the ride-hailing giant will also follow the orange camp in spreading its 2 Wheel service to the Igwe capital.

The SafeBoda expansion to Nigeria comes at a time when one of its co-founders Ricky Rampa Thompson inked their plans to launch in more African countries the same way they did in Kenya. The Startup was founded in 2014 as a solution to the rampant unprofessional motorbike incidents affecting both passengers and the drivers before cruising to the digital era with an app in 2017.

Can SafeBoda survive in Nigeria?

Survival for the finest is the new wave that has cruised over to Nigeria with a clear edge to the competition mileage. With SafeBoda, Gokada, and Max operating in the same sphere, the race won’t be affiliated to the price tag but rather the quality of services provided to riders. More so, since SafeBoda was the first Boda hailing camp in the game with its roots growing from its academy area code in Kampala, it may just extend its wonders to an already enlighted zone.

Given the fact that Bolt once led the Boda hailing league before the orange camp regained its momentum with Uber joining the race as Dial Jack also picked interest in the profitable league. We believe the same strategy the Boda hailing beast picked up to regain popularity as the most used service in Uganda is the same caliber that will be shipped to Nigeria with driver numbers and reflector names winning the trust of major authorities.

With only a few weeks after Taxify bowed to rider ratings and rebranded to bolt, the orange camp reply is revolutionary by making cashless travel the number 1 priority for all riders. As a matter of fact, SafeBoda credit is just an easy to top up trick every rider can rely on to hail on a Boda in Kampala.

In 2017, the orange branded boda hailing camp used to offer a 100% bonus on credit top-ups and it’s by no doubt that this trend is slowly resurrecting from a max discount zone. If you’re a SafeBoda customer, all you have to do is replace your cash schedule with a mobile money in-app top up to hang on a 50% off all trips line.

To top up SafeBoda credit, Go to the app’s payment option and choose top up with Mobile money to approve purchase through your Airtel/MTN Mobile money line. Amazingly, the new 50% discount applies to all trips taken and the new fare is displayed before you request/pair a driver.

Although the 50% slash off all cashless trips comes at a time when the orange camp tipped drivers with a hike during on-peak hours. The new discount is applicable to only Cashless trips meaning the usual rates remain constant for cash riders with a favor to credit subscribers.

Last year, we managed to grab the collar of SafeBoda’s first ever driver nicknamed as Moses Namba Emu. This time around, we landed on his next in line driver Juma Katongole. The driver is another interesting ride-hailing expert currently teaming up with the mother brand to promote safety as a driver associate in the 2 wheel industry and here is a snippet of an interview with him.

Tell us about yourself

I’m Juma Katongole, 40 years old and Married with 4 children. I joined Safeboda in 2014 & was assigned SB02. I started out as a community leader representing SafeBodas & ensuring my colleagues are obeying the code of conduct and traffic rules. Because of my hard work & commitment, I was offered a full time job at the company but I still ride my bike most evenings after work and weekends.

What is your current role at SafeBoda?

I currently work as a driver associate at SafeBoda handling, phone repairs, troubleshooting & setting up new phones for SafeBodas. I also maintain & record info pertaining to the phones.  When I joined SafeBoda, I couldn’t even operate a smartphone but now I’m troubleshooting them. I have learnt a lot; I can now use a computer & use Excel among many other skills.

What do you like the most about your job?

I have acquired very practical computer skills, improved on my English and also been able to learn from other people.

Achievements

• I’m able to pay school fees for my children because I earn more money
• I have also gained amazing computer skills.
• When I joined, I gained a lot of respect because of identification because of the reflector names and I earned my customer’s trust.

What do you do in your free time?

I love to listen to music and play with my children.

In case you follow SafeBoda’s SB001 Moses on Twitter, you can barely tell that the tweep is a Boda hailing driver with massive impressions per tweet sent out. Its the exact same way that SafeBoda’s Juma beefs up with his current slot at the company and focuses on flying the orange flag higher. So, we shall be detailing more SafeBoda idols that have made the service what it is today beating the competition by a milestone ahead of the new timely trip fares.

Well, Its 5 years since SafeBoda was born from Kyebando (A Kampala suburb) and the section of boda hailing drivers celebrated the achievement during their bi-annual party that saw the Minister of Kampala commending the great work and exclusivity exhibited by the reckoning boda hailing camp.

[bs-quote quote=”I am very Suprised to see professional Boda drivers, those that adhere to laws and respect pedestrians by driving them safely around Kampala, Safeboda is very organized and I highly commend you for the great work you are doing in Kampala” style=”style-13″ align=”left” author_name=”Hon. Betty Namisango Kamya” author_job=”Minister of Kampala” author_avatar=”https://techpointmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/minister-betty-kamya-1.jpg”][/bs-quote]

According to Ricky Rampa Thompson, Safeboda was founded as a team of professional drivers who wanted riders to have a safety appeal on all trips within Kampala. The group started small with only 50 drivers in 2014 and the camp comprises of over 8,000 drivers who were all present at the bi-annual celebrations.

The SafeBoda Aims and Plans in Uganda for 2019

Safeboda is one of the most successful startups in Uganda and its by no doubt that Tugende decided to partner with this camp to make motorbikes more affordable to hailing drivers. However, Safeboda aims at growing beyond Kampala and strengthening its position by providing more professional and better services to all customers.

During the bi-annual celebrations, the 3 co-founders Maxime, Ricky Rapa, and Alastair Sussock praised their 5-year performance and inked plans to launch to more African cities after their recent rollout in Kenya. In Nairobi over 600 drivers are registered to the service in a period of less than 6 months.

Given the fact that SafeBoda drivers comply with all traffic laws and continue to exhibit their professionalism by making sure customers are safe with a helmet per trip. The Minister of Kampala in return promised support to the boda hailing camp by looking into plans to create separate motorbike parking zones as the fate is with cars and also look into the costs involved to acquire a 2 Wheel permit with Government.

The Joy of being a Safeboda Driver

Unlike any other boda hailing service in Uganda, Safeboda drivers are treated to a bi-annual party each time the ride-hailing giant feels like its time to celebrate the drivers. To this, Rapa commended the drivers and promised to improve their payouts to further improve the comfortability rate of customers in return.

[bs-quote quote=”I will personally meet all drivers in all areas and listen to their complaints in order to improve support to them since we appreciate them. We are trying hard to improve their payouts, the same way we slightly increased rates for peak hours and our pledge to Gov\\\’t is to give us safe pathways even at the traffic lights where we are usually knocked down. We want to prove that we are the best in what we do and all customers appreciate us now with over 8,000 drivers currently registered with to the service” style=”style-13″ align=”center” author_name=”Ricky Rapa Thompson” author_job=”Safeboda Co-Founder” author_avatar=”https://techpointmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/safeboda-co-founder-e1548678470949.jpg”][/bs-quote]

Lucky Safeboda drivers Zziwa Francis and Musinguzi Crispus cruised away from the party with brand new TVS motorbikes won through a customer appreciation draw. Additionally, other drivers won Gas Cylinders and FICO insurance covers as complimentary tokens for another great year ahead. Hence, SafeBoda drivers will continue receiving the best benefits from the company now that evening and morning trips have slightly higher fares than day trips.

In a nutshell, we expect to see stiff competition between SafeBoda, UberBoda, Dial Jack and the underrated Taxify Boda in 2019. Now that the Orange branded drivers are on the hunt to dominate another colorful year, the fate of competitors in the same wing as SafeBoda lies between improving service delivery and trying to compete with the service soon achieving the 9,000 drivers mark.

Unlike the rest of the boda hailing apps, SafeBoda has always not had any trip increments during peak hours. Through the service, one would request for a boda ride without any trip reflections like high traffic carried forward to the trip, but now, SafeBoda has made it much easier for the drivers to rejoice with the introduction of these trip fares.

How SafeBoda’s new trip increments reflect on the app

Before requesting for a trip, the SafeBoda app will display the trip estimate as usual and increment any peak figures to the same trip cost. However, the 25% credit discount still applies for those who wish to follow the simple steps to top up SafeBoda credit.

So, the new trip increments reflect on your app’s trip fare and are sum up for a joint trip cost at the end of the trip. Hence, expect to see a rise in your usual evening trips mainly around the city center. Now that SafeBoda has joined the league of its competitors in charging slightly higher fees during peak times, must we expect to see waiting times and fines crossing over to the service? It’s 2019 and it’s a new 360days  to watch the hailing industry trends.