Author: Hubtel

“Never be afraid to jump at the sun, you will never reach it, but your feet will leave the ground.” (Bram, 2017) 

And jump we did. The Hubtel story, often told, is a testament to the power of ambition and the lessons learned along the path of embracing failure.  

Origins and Early Wins: 

Founded in 2005 as SMSGH by Alex Bram, Ernest Apenteng,  and Leslie Gyimah, three ambitious undergraduates, the company started as SMSGH with a mission to simplify business to customer communication via SMS. The founders’ entrepreneurial spirit, honed through various earlier ventures, proved crucial in navigating early challenges. SMSGH saw quick success, making its first sale after five months and securing significant contracts within its first year. By 2007, the company was a pioneer, launching Africa’s first online SMS portals and alert systems for banks, reaching an impressive $1 million in revenue that year. 

Pivotal Transformation: 

Despite initial success, the company recorded slowing growth rates around 2013-2014, which prompted the need for a strategic shift. The company leaders participated in the Stanford Seed Business Transformation program in 2016 which led to the birth of the Hubtel brand with a new emphasis on payments and customer services. The Hubtel mobile app launched in 2017, aiming to be a “super-app” connecting users and businesses. Hubtel obtained approval from the Bank of Ghana to operate as an Enhanced Payment Services Provider in 2019, solidifying its position in the fintech space. 

Growth and Recognition: 

Since rebranding in 2017, Hubtel has experienced phenomenal growth, attaining a full license as an Enhanced Payment Services Provider in 2022 and becoming Ghana’s largest fintech by the end of that year. The company takes pride in its workforce, which has expanded significantly over the past 2 years to 650+ employees across Ghana, reflecting the company’s impact and success.  

The Hubtel mobile application taps into a vast market, with 4300+ restaurants and eateries, 632 pharmacies and shops, and 382 active riders in 8 cities across the country. This extensive network facilitates an average of 42,000+ orders monthly, serving a customer base of 10,500+ monthly.  

The Hubtel Legacy 

Over the past years, Hubtel has had a significant impact on various industries in Ghana, including telecom, entertainment, banking, education, retail, healthcare, and utilities.   

In the utilities sector, Hubtel worked with the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) from July 2022 to plug payment processing leakages and grow monthly revenues by nearly 100% to GHS1.2 billion.  Due to this significant feat, in March 2024, the company signed a commercial agreement with the nation’s largest distributor of power, Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG)  

In the education sector, Hubtel provides a mobile application that helps schools manage school fee payments. This has streamlined payment processes and improved the financial management of early childhood schools across Ghana.  

In the healthcare sector, Hubtel has played a key role in the digital transformation of hospitals. This has increased efficiency and transparency, benefiting both patients and staff.  

Hubtel’s story embodies the power of innovation, adaptability, and unwavering dedication in a competitive tech landscape. The company transitioned from a focused SMS provider to a leading fin offering a ‘super-app’ that facilitates everyday transactions. Hubtel’s emphasis on pivoting to meet market needs and overcoming obstacles serves as an inspiration for businesses in Ghana and beyond. 

Discover more of the Hubtel story here: hubtel.com/19-years 

Great news! There’s a new way to pay on the Hubtel app. 

It’s simple! Now, when you place an order, we only charge you once we’ve confirmed that your order is available and ready for delivery. This means you won’t be charged until we confirm your order.  

Previously, order confirmation required upfront payment, with reimbursements issued when an item is unavailable. For a smoother experience, we now confirm the availability of your order with the restaurant before charging your account. 

How does it work? 

1. Open the Hubtel app.  

2. Tap on ‘Food’ or ‘Everyday Essentials’ and select the meal or items you want to be delivered.  

3. Add to your order and confirm.  

4. Select your delivery time. 

5. Confirm delivery. 

6. Tap on “Mobile Money” and select your preferred mobile wallet 

7. Tap on “Place Order” 

After tapping on ‘Place Order,’ your order will be confirmed with the retailer or restaurant to ensure food or item availability. Once confirmation is done, your account will be debited. 

It’s important to note that this feature is currently only available on the Hubtel mobile app and supported only through MTN Mobile Money and Telecel Cash. 

Whether you’re at home, at work, or out and about, order your everyday essentials and favorite meals and have them delivered in no time. Download the Hubtel app and enjoy a new level of convenience. 

We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Leslie Kwabena Gyimah, our co-founder and dear friend. We pay tribute to Leslie’s invaluable contributions to Hubtel and reflect on the profound impact he had on our company and its journey. 

In a heartfelt announcement, Chief Executive Officer, Alex Bram, honors the memory of his dear friend, Leslie, by recounting the company’s founding story and highlighting Leslie’s immense contributions to its foundation. 

From the early days of SMSGH to the establishment of Hubtel, Leslie was a driving force behind our company’s growth and success. His dedication, creativity, and unwavering commitment laid the foundation for our journey. 

As friends and classmates since secondary school, Leslie, Ernest, and Alex, set out to revolutionize how businesses connect with their customers through SMS messaging, after their last day in university. Leslie’s passion for innovation and his belief in our vision were unwavering, serving as a source of inspiration for us all. 

Leslie Kwabena Gyimah played a pivotal role in shaping Hubtel’s initial business model and strategy. His tireless efforts and personal sacrifices were instrumental in securing the company’s first sales and profits, setting the stage for our future growth. 

Beyond his professional achievements, Leslie’s pride in Ghana and his creative energy left an indelible mark on our company’s culture. His spirit of innovation and his belief in what we could achieve continue to resonate within our team. 

During this difficult time, our thoughts and prayers are with Leslie’s wife, Lady Pearl, his daughters, and his family.  

As we mourn the loss of our dear friend and co-founder, we also celebrate Leslie’s remarkable life and legacy. His vision, passion, and dedication will continue to inspire us as we honor his memory and carry forward his legacy at Hubtel. 

Leslie will forever be in Hubtel hearts.  

Yes, there’s something different about the Hubtel app. 

From the moment you open the Hubtel app, we want you to have a smooth experience. We have made it easy for you to find whatever you are looking for, see customer reviews to help you decide on what meals to order, and much more. 

So, as of now, the new improvements include: 

• An improved search feature for a smooth experience. 
• A customer review feature to help you decide on the best meals to order. 
• A “Trending meals & groceries” feature to give you a list of your area’s favorites. 
• A “Recommended for you” feature to give you a comprehensive selection based on your order history. 
• Popular, local, Groceries and Promos. 
• Food and Everyday Essentials. 

Discover what they’re about and how they’ll help you enjoy your overall app experience. 

An improved search feature 

We’ve made it easier for you to find what you’re looking for with an improved search feature that scans across all categories (food, groceries, bills, etc.) to enhance your overall app experience. Whether it’s your favorite restaurant or something more specific like a grocery item, you can quickly and easily find whatever you need. 

A customer review feature 

You can now see reviews from other customers on meals from restaurants to help you decide on the best meals to order. After an order has been received, you can rate the rider and the restaurant on a five-star scale. People browsing the app will see the ratings and your reviews to help in deciding what to eat. 

Recommended for you 

“What should I have for breakfast, lunch, or dinner?” When hunger strikes, it’s not always a straightforward decision when you have so many restaurants and food options to go through. This feature provides a personalized experience for you through restaurant and food recommendations. Based on your order history, you can see restaurants that fit your taste the moment you open the app. 

Trending meals and groceries 

With this feature, it is easy to find your area’s go-to meals and grocery items, just in case you need a bit of inspiration in deciding what to order. Whether you’re craving your favorite meal or looking to try something new, the trending meals and groceries feature provides a curated selection of what’s popular, so you can keep up with what people are enjoying near you. 

Popular, Local, Groceries, and Promos 

Looking to try popular meals in your area? Craving local dishes? Stocking up on groceries? Or looking for promos? Discover a variety of popular meals everyone loves in your area, enjoy your favorite local meals, easily find all your grocery items, and take advantage of exciting promos and offers with this feature to make your experience even better. 

Food and everyday essentials 

No need to navigate through the whole app when you know exactly what you are looking for. With the “Food and Everyday Essentials” feature, you can find a variety of food and everyday essentials with just a tap. Plus, it’s even easier to find what you need because there are subcategories to help your search.  

Don’t miss out on the improved features! Update your app today. But if you haven’t downloaded the app yet, click here to get the Hubtel app. 

Nova is a trading name for Westol Petroleum Limited, a wholly owned Ghanaian oil marketing company. Fairly new in the oil marketing industry, Nova’s mission is to provide high-quality, long-lasting fuel at affordable prices to the average Ghanaian. 

Opportunity 

The decision by Nova to use Hubtel was driven by Nova’s desire to provide a convenient payment method for their customers, regardless of their preferred mode of payment, and to reduce the risk associated with carrying cash. 

Mr. Kwasi Zigah, Managing Director of Nova Ghana, explained the decision to use Hubtel, stating, “We turned to Hubtel because we wanted to offer our customers the flexibility of having more payment options for the fuel we provide. Additionally, this decision aligns with the government’s agenda to promote a cashless economy.” 

For Nova, Hubtel offers a comprehensive range of services that meet their business needs. With Hubtel’s POS, Nova is able to accept and process payments quickly, including card payments, bank transfers, mobile money, and a USSD code that customers can easily use to make payments. 

Additionally, with the web management dashboard that comes with the POS, Nova has the ability to monitor the performance of each of their fuel stations across the country right from its head office. With these insights, they can make informed marketing decisions for their promotions and loyalty programs. 

“I would say Hubtel is a digital partner for businesses like us because the platform not only aggregates payments but also provides a dashboard that allows you to have visibility into who is buying from you and how much they are purchasing. For example, at Nova, we are aware of the average purchase per customer visit, which is a key indicator helping us understand the station’s performance and the payment methods preferred by each customer,” says Zigah. 

Solution 

“The OMCs have always faced the challenge of maximizing the full value of purchases or sales proceeds. Therefore, digital payment options, such as Hubtel, help secure our cash flow and effectively address this challenge,” says Zigah. 

Using Hubtel not only prevents small thefts among staff but also mitigates the risk of robbery at the station. Additionally, with Hubtel, they are able to realize sales proceeds in real-time, which is highly valuable for the business.  

Zigah further said, “For us, this is where Hubtel offers unmatched value, something no other service provider can provide.” 

By using Hubtel’s POS, Nova is able to realize its full sales proceeds, serve a wide range of customers irrespective of their payment methods, and leverage insights from the web management dashboard to make informed marketing decisions. 

“We have seen improvements in our sales. In the past, a customer might have driven away because we didn’t offer card payment options, especially in residential areas where customers frequently use their cards for payments,” he says.  

Results 

Since using Hubtel, Nova has been able to: 

• Seamlessly collect and process a broad range of payment methods. 
• Monitor the sales performance of fuel stations. 
• Gain insights to aid marketing decisions. 
• Improve its overall customer experience. 

Looking to the future, Nova seeks to do even more with the insights they have on their average customer, thanks to Hubtel. With plans for a customer loyalty program and sales promotions dedicated to fostering connections with its customers, Nova aims to turn them from one-time buyers into repeat, lifelong customers. 

“As a business, we aim and shoot. Sometimes, we hit the mark, and other times things may not go as planned. However, with Hubtel, it gives us the opportunity to aim, shoot, and get it right the first time because we know who our customers are, and we can reach them easily,” says Zigah. 

Hubtel Pledge, the corporate social responsibility foundation of Hubtel, as part of its support to  St. Augustine’s College has fulfilled its promise to furnish a state-of-the-art Coding Lab, a first of its kind for any senior high school in Ghana.  

The project, unveiled during the school’s recent celebration of its 94th Anniversary and Speech Day, is part of the APSU 1999-year group legacy project. It is made up of a refurbished 18-classroom block equipped with innovative technology, smart classrooms, 900 new furniture sets, and individual projectors in every room.  

This impressive renovation provides a significantly enhanced learning environment for over 900 students. Inside this state-of-the-art edifice is the Coding Lab, championed by Hubtel to help generations of students learn how to write code. The Coding Lab marks a significant advancement in equipping the Ghanaian youth, more specifically, the current students at St. Augustine’s College with the essential digital skills necessary for them to thrive in the ever-evolving landscape of technology. 

It will be recalled that in August 2023, Hubtel Pledge supported the cause with an amount of GHS800,000 during the launch of the legacy project. Hubtel topped that up with the Coding Lab. The entire Lab project was planned and executed by Hubtel, covering infrastructure, furniture, and the technology to equip the Lab with. 

The quality of education in the modern world is massively facilitated by the quality of facilities readily available to the students. And the quality of facilities depends on how relevant they are to solving real-world problems. The Coding Lab was put together to help students learn how to write codes, an in-skill demand in the modern work environment. Every business requires these keep skills to achieve their goals.  

Alex Bram, CEO of Hubtel, commented on the project’s impact, saying: “The free SHS has been great. I’ve met people here whose background is almost very similar to ours. They come from very difficult economic backgrounds, but free SHS has opened it up, but it has also put a lot of stress on the infrastructure, so it looks like we have to quicken the pace of maintenance to catch up. What we did here will open so many doors, give others the confidence to pursue their dreams. It will make their life a little bit comfortable as they walk through the school. Sending the ladder back so somebody else can climb it. And I think that is the best feeling.” 

Henry Arthur Gyan, Headmaster of St. Augustine’s College, expressed his appreciation for the initiative: “Every year we have people come in to donate. It’s helping the school in a very good way because as an educational institution students need a very good environment to study.” 

Ernest Apenteng, General Manager of Hubtel, spoke about the legacy of giving back: “Old mates and people prior to our time had given back and we have benefitted from the good of their donations so it was clearly natural that we also continue on that path so that the students will also feel part of the APSUNIAN brand.” 

Francis Gavor, CEO of Rock Africa, chimed in on the importance of impactful giving: “There is blessing in giving back, and the rest of it is the impact of the giving. The most important thing is to identify what you can do that will transcend to many generations.” 

Elliott Asiedu, Convener of APSU ’99, highlighted the significance of the project: “APSU ’99 has set the standard when it comes to hosting of speech day in St. Augustine’s College and by extension other second cycle institutions in Ghana.” 

In addition to providing students with technical expertise, the coding lab will also foster a culture of creativity and entrepreneurship. Particularly, having access to such an ultra-modern lab provides a lot of inspiration to students and pushes them in new directions they may have thought were out of reach for the African child.  

Hubtel Pledge 

Hubtel Pledge is Hubtel’s corporate social responsibility foundation, aimed at supporting causes that enhance the quality of life in the communities where the company’s staff live and work. The company’s founders Alex Bram, Ernest Apenteng, and Leslie Gyimah, all alumni of St. Augustine’s College from the class of 1999, share a strong bond with their alma mater. This connection fueled the creation of the Coding Lab initiative, a program aimed at giving back to the college. 

Kokomlemle, Accra – March 28, 2024— Hubtel, a leading Ghanaian payment services provider, today announced the completion of commercial agreements with the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), the country’s biggest power distributor. This partnership has transformed ECG’s operations and increased revenue collection significantly. 

Hubtel’s relationship with ECG goes back to 2007, when the company, then operating as SMSGH, deployed ECG’s very first APIs for accessing postpaid bills and sending SMS alerts. In 2011, the company also managed the nationwide deployment and rollout of ECG’s first ever Point-of-Sale devices to collect payment.

Having received the first license from the Bank of Ghana to operate as an Enhanced Payment Services Provider, Hubtel approached ECG in May of 2022 with unsolicited proposals to offer its billing and payment technology to solve ECG’s numerous commercial challenges.

By July 2022, an aggressive digital transformation plan was launched by the Board of Directors of ECG, which included a proof-of-concept agreement for Hubtel to implement its proposed solutions at no upfront cost to ECG.  

In fulfillment of the requirements of the proof-of-concept, Hubtel re-designed, developed, and implemented a complete overhaul of ECG’s commercial systems and payment frameworks and also took over the responsibility for processing and securing payments for bills, electricity meter credits, vendor quota purchases, and non-energy invoices.  Hubtel also collaborated with other major technology service providers and relevant departments within ECG to complete the overhaul of ECG’s commercial systems and empower the company’s staff to support revenue collection and growth.  

Before Hubtel’s involvement, ECG faced significant financial and commercial challenges. Hubtel released an accompanying presentation outlining these challenges and the plans it has implemented to resolve them permanently. 

Report –  post launch of the new commercial systems in March 2023

Since the full launch of the new commercial systems in March 2023, ECG has seen the biggest jumps in its revenues and customer satisfaction ratings. 

Speaking on the news, Alex Bram, CEO of Hubtel, expressed pride in the company’s contribution to ECG’s digital transformation journey, stating, “I am proud that our billing and payment technology has proved to be exceptionally useful to ECG’s digital transformation plans. As you know, ECG is such a vast organization with very big legacy problems. So, when the Board of ECG accepted our unsolicited proposals to transform its commercial operations, we knew we had to bring the very best of our experience and technology. And I’m happy we have delivered on time and within the budget limits set by the Board.” 

He further added, “Beyond the successes we have already chalked up on this project, I’m excited about our ability to use artificial intelligence and machine learning to monitor consumption and payments of all customers to detect illegal connections, abnormal behaviour, and tampered or faulty meters. This is not only introducing a new regime for protecting ECG’s revenues but also helping boost the company’s financial performance and strengthen Ghana’s economy.” 

In a note, the Head of Infrastructure at Hubtel, Francis Wilson wrote that “We have tremendously reduced the frequent downtimes, erratic service failure, and poor network performance that was affecting both prepaid and postpaid metering systems. Through the implementation of real-time monitoring tools and a dedicated, proactive monitoring team available 24/7 to oversee transactions, infrastructure, applications, metering systems, and networks, ECG’s metering systems now achieve uptime levels consistently surpassing 99% for many days, leading to improved service quality and customer satisfaction, ultimately driving revenue growth.” 

In an interview, Patrick Asare-Frimpong, Head of Products at Hubtel, emphasized the need to keep in mind the sole objective of constant innovation to drive revenue growth for ECG as demanded by the Board and management of ECG. “This partnership empowers both ECG and its customers to foster a more efficient service delivery. Hubtel’s teams have played a key role in developing several new products and systems, such as the ECG PowerApp mobile application, ECG PowerApp web application, third-party vending systems, bank & fintech integration tools, staff portal, backend portals, real-time revenue monitoring and assurance systems, and an all-new OperationZero App to tackle power theft specifically. The most important requirement here is to keep improving these systems until ECG becomes strongly profitable.” 

Commenting about the cost of the project and the recurring operating costs of the new systems, Cornelis Rouloph Otoo, Hubtel’s Head of Corporate and Legal Affairs, explained that “While the project is still ongoing, Hubtel’s work with all the other consultants and third-party service providers have not exceeded the US$25m limit we committed to. So far, US$ 12m of this has been accessed to pay for software license fees, database license fees, cloud infrastructure fees, service support, and engineering man-hours. For these systems, ECG has demanded to own all licenses and intellectual property comprehensively.” 

On the recurring costs of the project, he added that, “As we do with our standard agreements with merchants and retailers using Hubtel’s platform, we charge a fee of 1.95% on all transactions processed through the platform. 1% of this 1.95% is typically retained by the mobile money and card scheme providers, and Hubtel receives 0.95% as our fees. In the case of ECG and the complexities of its settlement requirements, we passed on all fees retained by the upstream mobile money & card, settlement, and banking service providers directly to ECG so that we can maintain our fee of 0.95%. Thus, for clarity, Hubtel’s recurring fee for managing ECG’s new commercial systems is 0.95% – the same as we receive from every business that uses Hubtel’s platform.” 

Mr. Otoo went on to say that “…the current payment processing, settlement, and transfer arrangements place significant responsibilities on Hubtel to ensure operational excellence at all times, and we have since November 2022 fulfilled this obligation without any glitch.” 

About ECG 

The Electricity Company of Ghana is the country’s biggest power distributor whose main objective is to supply/distribute electrical energy to the people of Ghana within the Company’s operational areas. The Company aims at operating on sound commercial lines in the discharge of its duties. It also aims at judicious supervision of rural electrification projects on behalf of the Government of Ghana.  

About Hubtel 

Hubtel is a leading indigenous Ghanaian tech company that makes it easy for people to find and pay for everyday essentials and connect with businesses. The company has a mobile application that lets you order food and everyday essentials, pay bills, and make payments. 

The company’s mission is to drive Africa forward by enabling everyone find and pay for everyday essentials. Hubtel is aiming to be Africa’s most useful company; building a platform that everyone can find, pay and easily partake in the emerging digital economy across the continent. 

Hubtel Announces Completion of Commercial Agreement with ECG 

Unable to load the picture

Kokomlemle, Accra – March 28, 2024— Hubtel, a leading Ghanaian payment services provider, today announced the completion of commercial agreements with the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), the country’s biggest power distributor. This partnership has transformed ECG’s operations and increased revenue collection significantly. 

Hubtel’s relationship with ECG goes back to 2007, when the company, then operating as SMSGH, deployed ECG’s very first APIs for accessing postpaid bills and sending SMS alerts. In 2022, the relationship was rekindled when Hubtel approached ECG with unsolicited proposals to offer its billing and payment technology to solve ECG’s numerous commercial challenges. By July 2022, an aggressive digital transformation plan was launched by the Board of Directors of ECG, which included a proof-of-concept agreement for Hubtel to implement its proposed solutions at no upfront cost to ECG.  

In fulfillment of the requirements of the proof-of-concept, Hubtel re-designed, developed, and implemented a complete overhaul of ECG’s commercial systems and payment frameworks and also took over the responsibility for processing and securing payments for bills, electricity meter credits, vendor quota purchases, and non-energy invoices.  Hubtel also collaborated with other major technology service providers and relevant departments within ECG to complete the overhaul of ECG’s commercial systems and empower the company’s staff to support revenue collection and growth.  

Before Hubtel’s involvement, ECG faced significant financial and commercial challenges. Hubtel released an accompanying presentation outlining these challenges and the plans it has implemented to resolve them permanently. 

[insert slideshow of presentation] 

Since the full launch of the new commercial systems in March 2023, ECG has seen the biggest jumps in its revenues and customer satisfaction ratings. 

Speaking on the news, Alex Bram, CEO of Hubtel, expressed pride in the company’s contribution to ECG’s digital transformation journey, stating, “I am proud that our billing and payment technology has proved to be exceptionally useful to ECG’s digital transformation plans. As you know, ECG is such a vast organization with very big legacy problems. So, when the Board of ECG accepted our unsolicited proposals to transform its commercial operations, we knew we had to bring the very best of our experience and technology. And I’m happy we have delivered on time and within the budget limits set by the Board.” 

He further added, “Beyond the successes we have already chalked up on this project, I’m excited about our ability to use artificial intelligence and machine learning to monitor consumption and payments of all customers to detect illegal connections, abnormal behaviour, and tampered or faulty meters. This is not only introducing a new regime for protecting ECG’s revenues but also helping boost the company’s financial performance and strengthen Ghana’s economy.” 

In a note, the Head of Infrastructure at Hubtel, Francis Wilson wrote that “We have tremendously reduced the frequent downtimes, erratic service failure, and poor network performance that was affecting both prepaid and postpaid metering systems. Through the implementation of real-time monitoring tools and a dedicated, proactive monitoring team available 24/7 to oversee transactions, infrastructure, applications, metering systems, and networks, ECG’s metering systems now achieve uptime levels consistently surpassing 99% for many days, leading to improved service quality and customer satisfaction, ultimately driving revenue growth.” 

In an interview, Patrick Asare-Frimpong, Head of Products at Hubtel, emphasized the need to keep in mind the sole objective of constant innovation to drive revenue growth for ECG as demanded by the Board and management of ECG. “This partnership empowers both ECG and its customers to foster a more efficient service delivery. Hubtel’s teams have played a key role in developing several new products and systems, such as the ECG PowerApp mobile application, ECG PowerApp web application, third-paying vending systems, bank & fintech integration tools, staff portal, backend portals, real-time revenue monitoring and assurance systems, and an all-new OperationZero App to tackle power theft specifically. The most important requirement here is to keep improving these systems until ECG becomes strongly profitable.” 

Commenting about the cost of the project and the recurring operating costs of the new systems, Cornelis Rouloph Otoo, Hubtel’s Head of Corporate and Legal Affairs, explained that “While the project is still ongoing, Hubtel’s work with all the other consultants and third-party service providers have not exceeded the US$25m limit we committed to. So far, US$ 12m of this has been accessed to pay for software license fees, database license fees, cloud infrastructure fees, service support, and engineering man-hours. For these systems, ECG has demanded to own all licenses and intellectual property comprehensively.” 

On the recurring costs of the project, he added that, “As we do with our standard agreements with merchants and retailers using Hubtel’s platform, we charge a fee of 1.95% on all transactions processed through the platform. 1% of this 1.95% is typically retained by the mobile money and card scheme providers, and Hubtel receives 0.95% as our fees. In the case of ECG and the complexities of its settlement requirements, we passed on all fees retained by the upstream mobile money & card, settlement, and banking service providers directly to ECG so that we can maintain our fee of 0.95%. Thus, for clarity, Hubtel’s recurring fee for managing ECG’s new commercial systems is 0.95% – the same as we receive from every business that uses Hubtel’s platform.” 

Mr. Otoo went on to say that “…the current payment processing, settlement, and transfer arrangements place significant responsibilities on Hubtel to ensure operational excellence at all times, and we have since November 2022 fulfilled this obligation without any glitch.” 

About ECG 

The Electricity Company of Ghana is the country’s biggest power distributor whose main objective is to supply/distribute electrical energy to the people of Ghana within the Company’s operational areas. The Company aims at operating on sound commercial lines in the discharge of its duties. It also aims at judicious supervision of rural electrification projects on behalf of the Government of Ghana.  

About Hubtel 

Hubtel is a leading indigenous Ghanaian tech company that makes it easy for people to find and pay for everyday essentials and connect with businesses. The company has a mobile application that lets you order food and everyday essentials, pay bills, and make payments. 

The company’s mission is to drive Africa forward by enabling everyone find and pay for everyday essentials. Hubtel is aiming to be Africa’s most useful company; building a platform that everyone can find, pay and easily partake in the emerging digital economy across the continent. 

Easter is just around the corner. Have you made plans yet to celebrate with family and friends or even by yourself? Whether you are planning to stay indoors, or get out and about this Easter holidays, there are many fun ways to celebrate. Here is our list of four Easter activities that you can enjoy over the Easter weekend. 

Picnic 

At this point Easter Monday is almost synonymous with picnics. We love picnics because we get to spend it with family and friends, and the food is the most delicious. Whether you are planning to go full chef mode for your picnic or looking to order all you need, we are here for you. Order all your picnic must-haves – delicious food from your favorite restaurants, drinks, biscuits, you name it.  

Netflix and chill? Movie marathon? YouTube binging? 

Two holidays plus the weekend? Sounds like the perfect time for a movie marathon or binging your favorite YouTubers. Whatever is perfect for you, we’ve got you. You can pay your GOtv, DStv, or StarTimes subscription without leaving the comfort of your room or get instant data for YouTube or Netflix. And don’t forget the snacks. Just order; we deliver straight to your door. 

Out and about! 

Feeling a little extra for Easter? Go all out and enjoy your day at fun events happening during the holiday. Whether you want to watch a play, go on a trip, or party vibes, there are many events for you to choose from on the Hubtel app. If a good comedy show is what you are looking for, no worries, we’ve got you. Get tickets to all the fun events easily on the app. 

Order in and enjoy! 

If you don’t feel like going out or cooking for this Easter, you don’t have to. Sit back and get your favorite food delivered straight to you. Whether you are feeling for fufu, Jollof, Waakye, or whatever it is, just order your Easter cravings — we will deliver it to you in no time. 

Ready to have the best Easter ever? We are with you on this one! 

Download the Hubtel app! 

There’s an easier way to find exactly what you’re looking for on the Hubtel app. Whether it’s your favorite restaurants or something more specific like Waakye or FanIce, you can quickly and easily find whatever you need with the improved search feature. 

What can you expect? 

A more tailored search experience 

We’ve made it easier for you to find what you’re looking for with an improved search feature that scans across all categories (food, groceries, bills, etc.) to enhance your overall app experience. Previously, you would have had to navigate through specific categories to find what you needed. Now, all you have to do is search. 

Located right at the top of your screen, simply click on the bar with the magnifying glass icon and type whatever you are looking for: Waakye, Jollof, contraceptives, FanIce, and the list goes on. For example, if you’re craving delicious hot Waakye, you can search for the name of your go-to Waakye joint, and it will quickly appear for you to order. Alternatively, you can simply search for “Waakye,” and a list of all Waakye joints near you will pop up. 

There’s more for you! 

The search feature isn’t the only new addition to the app. There are several cool features to make your experience faster and more efficient. To take advantage of these features, make sure you’ve updated to the latest version of the Hubtel app on your device. 

Don’t have the app yet? Now is the time. Click here to download the Hubtel app. 

Kokomlemle, Accra – March 13, 2024: Hubtel has announced the opening of its new Artificial Intelligence (AI) Lab. This dedicated research and development unit will leverage the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) particularly machine learning to enhance user engagement, build trust, and ultimately drive revenue growth for both Hubtel and businesses using its platform to process payments. 

“Hubtel’s vision is to become Africa’s most useful company,” Augustine Gyawu Adjei, Head of Engineering at Hubtel, said. “The AI Lab represents a significant step towards achieving this vision by harnessing the transformative potential of AI. We believe this technology will significantly enhance the user experience across our platforms, fostering trust and confidence in our partners and leading to sustainable growth.” He added.  

The Hubtel AI Lab will focus on utilizing areas such as machine learning, with a specific emphasis on: 

• Enhancing User Engagement: By intuitively recommending relevant products and services, the AI Lab aims to increase user interaction with Hubtel’s apps and services. 

• Strengthening Security: Leveraging AI solutions, the Lab will bolster fraud detection capabilities, protecting both Hubtel and its clients from financial losses. 

• Improving Revenue Generation: Utilizing AI-powered creditworthiness assessments, the Lab will enable Hubtel to expand its reach and provide financial services to a wider population. 

 The Lab’s immediate goals include fully deploying a revolutionized fraud detection engine by the end of Q1 2024 and establishing a creditworthiness assessment solution by Q2. Progress will be tracked through user engagement metrics, fraud reduction rates, and the accuracy of creditworthiness assessments. 

In the long term, Hubtel’s aims for the AI Lab are ambitious. The company envisions the Lab becoming a center of excellence in AI, not just within Hubtel but across Africa. This mission encompasses: 

• Fostering global innovation: Hubtel aims to develop AI solutions that can be scaled globally, positioning the company as a leader in the field. 

• Driving entrepreneurship and economic development: The Lab will establish an ecosystem where AI fuels innovation and economic growth across the continent. 

• Influencing ethical AI practices: Hubtel is committed to promoting responsible and ethical development of AI within the tech industry. 

In a catch-up with Hubtel’s Chief Executive Officer, Alex Bram, he was buoyant about the prospects AI opportunities presents for the company, saying “Our AI Lab isn’t just about cool tech, it’s about delivering real value to the users on Hubtel. Imagine safeguarding finances with smarter fraud detection, optimizing utility consumption to help protect the revenues of our key merchants through AI-powered insights, and unlocking new financial opportunities for individuals through accurate creditworthiness assessments. That’s the power we’re harnessing at Hubtel AI Lab”.  

The launch of the Hubtel AI Lab also represents a significant development not only for the company but also for Ghana’s technology landscape. By harnessing the power of AI, Hubtel is poised to revolutionize user experiences, enhance security, and drive sustainable growth, paving the way to strengthen the course of a successful digital economy for Ghana and Africa at large.  

About Hubtel 

Hubtel is a leading indigenous Ghanaian tech company that makes it easy for people to find and pay for everyday essentials and connect with businesses. The company has a mobile application that lets you order food and everyday essentials, pay bills, and make payments. 

The company’s mission is to drive Africa forward by enabling everyone to find and pay for everyday essentials. Hubtel is aiming to be Africa’s most useful company; building a platform that everyone can find, pay and easily partake in the emerging digital economy across the continent. 

In a big step forward, Hubtel, a leading indigenous Ghanaian company, has established the first indigenous Artificial Intelligence (AI) lab in Ghana, marking a significant leap in the company’s bid to realizing its vision. With a vision to be Africa’s most useful company to help everyone easily partake in the digital economy, Hubtel’s new AI lab aims to harness the power of AI and machine learning to address real-world challenges faced by Ghana and Africa today. 

The Power of AI in Everyday Life 

In Tanzania, a farmer utilizes Google’s AI to diagnose and manage crop diseases. That is the transformative power of AI in agriculture. Hubtel’s AI lab envisions creating innovative solutions that can be applied across various sectors. AI has the potential to revolutionize e-commerce, health, and education in Africa, offering practical and efficient solutions to long-standing challenges. 

Augustine Gyawu Adjei, Head of Engineering at Hubtel who leads Hubtel’s AI efforts, explained that the decision to use AI was carefully planned to align with the company’s vision. “Our decision to leverage artificial intelligence stems from careful planning and consideration of myriads of factors to align with company objectives, local and international regulations, and best practices” 

On a commercial scale, Hubtel’s AI Lab leverages AI systems to help businesses grow profit and stop fraud.  

Fraud Detection:  

One of the transformative applications of AI that has significantly impacted businesses on a commercial scale is fraud detection. Hubtel’s AI lab developed cutting algorithms that identified and prevented faulty meters that were causing revenue leakage for the Electricity Company of Ghana thereby safeguarding financial transactions. Whether it’s unauthorized access to accounts or fraudulent credit card transactions, AI-driven solutions have the potential to enhance security and protect businesses from financial losses. 

Driving Revenue Growth:  

AI’s impact extends beyond security measures, playing a pivotal role in driving revenue growth for businesses. Through data analytics and machine learning algorithms, companies can gain valuable insights into consumer behaviour, preferences, and market trends. This approach not only enhances customer satisfaction but also contributes to increased revenue streams, illustrating how AI is reshaping the landscape of commerce in Africa. 

The CEO of Hubtel, Alex Bram emphasizes the significance of the AI lab in creating solutions for businesses and clients.  “Our AI Lab isn’t just about cool tech, it’s about delivering real value to the users on Hubtel. Imagine safeguarding finances with smarter fraud detection, optimizing utility consumption to help protect the revenues of our key merchants through AI-powered insights, and unlocking new financial opportunities for individuals through accurate creditworthiness assessments. That’s the power we’re harnessing at Hubtel AI Lab”, he says.  

Hubtel’s opening of the first indigenous AI lab in Ghana not only showcases the company’s commitment to innovation as they’ve always demonstrated in the past, but also emphasizes the importance of solutions to address the everyday challenges faced by the businesses and organizations in Ghana.