Jobs are scarce, you have to hustle to make the money you need to support your family. Successful entrepreneurs spot a problem and come up with a smart solution. But for them, a huge challenge is how to accept payments without all the hassle and risk of cash.
Take Lehubedu Mohlabe, a Gauteng husband and father of four. A veteran of the hospitality industry, he was battling to find a permanent position in the wake of the lockdowns.
“I’d travel around Joburg, working odd jobs as a cleaner or in retail. Wherever I could find work, I would take it,’ he says.
On his way to yet another job interview, he felt a strong desire for a cup of hot coffee on what was a bitterly cold morning.
“I got to the traffic light – the same traffic light I run my business from now – got off the taxi and went to look for some coffee. That exercise alone cost me 20 minutes and when I got on my way again, I questioned why is there no one offering coffee at any traffic light? I thought, selling coffee to motorists at the intersection could be a unique offering helping consumers save time looking for their morning pick-me-up.”
That spark ignited the flame that became CoffeeToCar.
Armed with piping hot water, kitted out with a purpose-built vest that helps him carry cups and instant beverage mixes, Lehubedu now generates an income while fulfilling a consumer need.
As with any start-up, there were many challenges to overcome, but perhaps the most pressing was how to accept payments quickly from travellers with little time to spare. There’s also the security issue of having money on you in a high-crime environment like South Africa, which is why so many people prefer to make and accept payments by card.
Not to forget the challenge of having the right change! Any delay negatively affects the customer experience—and reduces the number of clients Lehubedu can serve in any timer period.
“Nedbank’s Tap on phone has really played a role in setting my business free to grow. It was easy to set up on my Android phone, and within a matter of minutes I could offer my customers this tap-and-go payment option where they just have to tap their bank card on the back of my phone, and I receive payment to my bank account,” he says. “Customer feedback has been great so far, and I really appreciate the fact that some add a tip to the amount.
Tap on phone can be used by any South African business with a compatible Android phone with near-field communication functionality. Learn more about Nedbank’s easy-to-use, secure Tap-on-phone payment technology.
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