Blantyre Water Board introduces SMS service to facilitate communication with customers
Blantyre Water Board (BWB) has introduced a short message service (SMS) called “SMS Billing and Information Updates” which seek to facilitate effective communication between the board and its customers.
Through the service the customers will be able to receive information from the Board through text messages to their mobile phone gadgets.
The Board’s public affairs Officer Priscilla Mateyu says in a statement that the information that will be shared through this channel will be customer’s current and past bills, new water connection quotation notifications, water interruption notices and other important information.
“Blantyre Water Board introduced this programme after noticing irregularities in the distribution of hard copy bills and the late delivery of pertinent information. In the past customers who were not getting their bills on time or travelled, suffered disconnection as they did not know how much they owed the board in bills. But now, customers will be able to get their bills through SMS and be able to pay their bills on time no matter where they are,” says Mateyu.
She also says the Board has also been failing to communicate effectively with its customers on water supply interruptions as some people have no access to Radio, TV and newspaper which the Board uses to disseminate information. But now our customers will be able to get these messages through their phones.
“With the rise in mobile messaging in Malawi and around the world, SMS is an ever-present technology that is available on almost any mobile device, and as such, plays a vital role in how, to get through to our customers using this SMS technology”.
Mateyu says the good thing about this service is that there is no additional cost to customer as it is free of charge.
SMS billing and Information updates is one of the latest services that the Board has introduced in order to improve communication between itself and the public.
In recent past, the Board also launched a website, www.bwb.mw, to give an opportunity to its customers to enquire their bills online and also learn more on the Board’s activities.
This year the Board opened a Facebook page (www.facebook.com/blantyrewaterboardmalawi) for its customers who are on social networks.
Mateyu is assuring members of the general public that Blantyre Water Board will continue to do the very best in making sure that communication with its customers is paramount and instant.
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