Nabilah Safira
TechInPacific – Vodafone Fiji has recently launch VitiKart, an online marketplace for users in Fiji and Fijians who stay overseas.
According to Vodafone on its website, the platform is ‘Fiji’s best fully-fletched end-to-end online marketplace’ that integrates both local and international payment platforms such as M-Paisa, MasterCard, and VISA credit or debit cards.
“Initiatives such as the VitiKart come at a time where the very existence of many businesses is conditional to their ability to break barriers and stay relevant, and ahead of the competition,” Minister for Commerce, Trade, Tourism and Transport Faiyaz Koya said during his speech at the launching event (05/08).
“When businesses and customers aren’t restricted by logistics such as physical location and time, you have a plethora of opportunities to boost revenue in new ways – in ways we may not have thought.”
The platform draws parallels to the likes of Amazon, eBay, and AliExpress, but ‘on a smaller scale’, according to Acting Chief Executive Ronald Prasad, “With independent merchants using a common digital platform to offer products directly to consumers,” He added.
For now, the platform focuses on business-to-consumer service, but welcomes the future of consumer-to-consumer buying and selling portal. Only verified sellers are allowed to offer their products, and so far, the following businesses; Vodafone, Valuefone, Courts & Cybercity, Tappoos, Prouds, and Jacks Retail have joined the platform.
But as Prasad addressed, the long term goal of the platform is to include micro-entrepreneurs who sell Fijian made products.
“In an effort to connect locally made niche products under the “Fijian Made – Buy Fijian” Campaign, I’d like to congratulate the team at Vodafone Fiji Limited, for providing an online platform and connecting Fijian products to a wider market,” Koya said.
“I accord my special thanks also to the Pacific Financial Inclusion Programme for their partnership – for their technical and financial support.”
“This newly developed platform will allow Fijian businesses to operate and purchase products from anywhere in the world, with real-time and measurable sales approach.”
The platform can be downloaded or accessed through Play Store, App Store, or website.
Source: Fijitimes.com
