Following a ‘Customer First’ approach, Vodafone India, has invested over INR 150 crores on ramping up network and distribution in Andhra Pradesh & Telangana circle over the past twelve months (April 2014-Mar 2015). Vodafone as part of an endeavour to be ‘Future Ready’ through closer engagement and enhanced customer experience has been focusing on two key areas of Network and Retail.
Pursuing an accelerated growth strategy since April 2014, Vodafone has expanded its network footprint by adding over 1300 new sites across the region. With this expansion, Vodafone now reaches out to customers in over 12650 towns and villages bringing them under the fold of superior connectivity and seamless service experience.
Said Rohit Tandon, Business Head – Andhra Pradesh & Telangana, Vodafone India, “Gaining the trust of our customers and winning their hearts through innovative, cost effective and relevant products and services, is a priority for us at Vodafone. We have been activating this at the ground level by pursuing a continued and consistent customer centric strategy to bring the best connectivity solutions to our valued customers. Our investments over the past year have been directed at putting in place a network that our customers can rely upon, especially in the rural belt. Also, we have been expanding retail and distribution network to get closer to customers across urban and rural geographies. The growing popularity of smart phones has led to a rise in demand for high speed data services. We see tremendous potential in this area and have been taking the lead in democratizing data by hand holding customers on the ease and benefits of mobile internet usage. We remain committed to continue investing in bringing the best in class, innovative, relevant, products and services to win customer delight in AP and Telangana.”
Having set up one of the largest networks in the circle, Vodafone now has over 9500 2G sites in AP & Telangana circle covering over 95 percent of the region’s population. Vodafone through an Intra Circle Roaming arrangement with other operators is also ensuring a seamless 3G roaming experience for its customers and reaches out to additional 390 towns and villages.
Vodafone has been taking a series of ground level activities to increase awareness and adoption of data services. This has resulted in Data revenues rising significantly at a growth rate of 60% YoY. Data now contributes to 11% of total service revenues in the Circle.
With already one of the country’s largest exclusive retail footprints, Vodafone has continued to expand its reach to cover the entire region in both urban and rural areas. Presently, Vodafone has more than 1200+ retail outlets in AP & TS, including 42 Vodafone stores, 240 Vodafone Mini Stores and 864 ADVMS (rural mini stores). Over the past 12 months, Vodafone has added 12 VS and 100 VMS in the region. As part of its initiative to offer an unmatched retail experience to its new age customers in AP and Telangana, Vodafone has also been launching Global Design Retail Stores. Today, Vodafone has 14 Global Design Retail stores in the region and whether it is Manchester in UK or Hyderabad, these stores offer an engaging and uniform customer experience.
Vodafone is also the only telecom services provider in the country to set up physical presence even in 500 plus population towns, through the iconic Vodafone ‘Laal Dukaan’.
Over and above its retail presence, Vodafone also offers customers an opportunity to connect with the brand through a robust customer service call centre platform, the simple and convenient My Vodafone mobile app, and Vodafone Web Chat.
Besides multiple on-going schemes and customised tariff plans, some of the more notable introductions from Vodafone have been the launch of M-Pesa, a mobile banking and payment solution that has seen high affinity amongst migrant population in the city and Vodafone Angel Stores entirely staffed and run by women employees. With a pan India distribution network of over 85,000 agents and with more than 2.5mn customers, M-Pesa is the largest banking business correspondent in the country. Vodafone M-Pesa was launched in April 2014 in Andhra Pradesh and currently has 4500+ agents in AP & TS and a customer base of 76,000.
