Safaricom and the Kenya Breweries Limited have teamed up to connect KBL coolers countrywide by leveraging on the internet of things (IoT). Kenya Breweries Limited coolers across the country will be fitted with sensors that internetwork with smart devices to collect and exchange data in a service that’s said to be free of charge. Kenya’s largest telco provider has been experimenting on various service offering and their latest move could be an indication of something bigger happening soon.
While commenting on the development, the Kenya Breweries Limited Managing Director Jane Karuku said the brewer had been exploring efficiencies in their route-to-consumer channels and had found technology to be a critical enabler over the years. She also acknowledged that as the country’s largest brewer moves towards improving its cutting-edge technology in manufacturing and logistics, the Kenya Breweries Limited will be redoubling its efforts in the marketplace as well, to ensure that consumers enjoy products the way they should. She also added that the project was going to enable the firm extend its capability to track and invest in coolers and that it hoped its existing products and innovations will reach consumers with minimal cost, delays and wastage.
On its part, Safaricom’s Chief Enterprise Business Officer Rita Okuthe, noted the company had developed an internet of things (IoT) solution that consists of devices installed in the coolers that will have sensors which will transmit various data to a platform which generates business insights that will assist KBL to optimize the coolers. For instance, EABL distributors can now tell where their assets are located, if the assets are in use or not (on/off), whether the assets are at the optimal temperature and how many times the door of the cooler is opened. Over 2,000 coolers are already connected”
Going forward, Safaricom also intends to be a digital partner of choice for businesses by providing solutions that improve the efficiency with which they do business, saving them money and therefore creating additional value for their end-users. Safaricom has also partnered with KBL in driving a cashless payment model among its distributors, who now transact on M-PESA when dealing with retailers. Safaricom is also planning to bring valuable solutions by leveraging on IoT to deliver smart water metering and animal tracking system. The new Internet of Things (IoT) network will tap into the Safaricom existing 4G network.