SMEs

Bulk Payments for SMEs

Messages Sent

10,000+

USSD Sessions

25,000+

Active Users

100,000+

Industry

Telecommunications

Problem Statement

TIGO Rwanda, one of the country’s leading telecom providers, needed a robust solution to streamline airtime distribution, customer engagement, and mobile service activation. Their existing platform faced limitations in scalability, API reliability, and cross-platform delivery—especially for rural users relying on USSD or basic SMS.

The team was also struggling with manual reconciliation for reseller payments, inconsistent messaging delivery, and limited integration with banking/payment platforms. In search of a more flexible, automated, and scalable system, TIGO turned to MVend to deliver a mobile-first experience across its agent network and customer base.

Key Requirements Identified

TIGO outlined several high-impact needs during its consultation with MVend:

Airtime Reseller Platform: Simplify and digitize airtime distribution for agents and vendors.
USSD Integration: Enable low-bandwidth, offline access for customers across devices.
Bulk SMS Engine: Deliver fast, reliable messages for marketing and service alerts.
Payments Integration: Link airtime and commission payments to mobile wallets.
Realtime Reporting: Provide transparency on distribution, delivery, and user behavior.

MVend’s Solution

MVend deployed its eVend, USSD Gateway, and SMS API to address TIGO’s core challenges through a unified, mobile-first platform.

USSD Gateway: Enabled customers to top up airtime, check balances, and activate services without smartphones. Sessions were fast, secure, and handled high volumes seamlessly.
eVend Distribution System: MVend’s airtime distribution module automated vendor top-ups and reconciled agent commissions in real time, improving accuracy and accountability.
Bulk SMS Messaging: TIGO used MVend’s SMS API to send service notifications, promotional offers, and reminders to segmented customer lists at scale, with high delivery rates.
Payment Integration: MVend connected TIGO’s agent payout system to mobile money platforms, eliminating delays and reducing overhead for manual payouts.
Analytics & Monitoring: MVend provided a centralized dashboard for tracking airtime flows, message status, and transaction success in real time.

Results & Impact

Through its partnership with MVend, TIGO Rwanda significantly improved operational efficiency and customer satisfaction:

Faster Airtime Distribution: Vendors could now distribute airtime instantly, reducing delays and increasing sales.
Stronger Customer Reach: Over 10,000+ SMS alerts delivered per campaign, increasing service engagement and response rates.
Rural Inclusion via USSD: MVend’s robust USSD gateway served 100,000+ users, making it easy for rural customers to access services.
Seamless Payouts: Agent commissions were processed instantly via mobile money integrations—no more payment bottlenecks.
Data-Driven Decisions: Realtime dashboards helped TIGO improve offer targeting, vendor performance, and channel efficiency.

Overall Outcome

MVend’s technology helped TIGO digitize its airtime ecosystem, streamline communications, and unlock new business value—without adding complexity. From reseller empowerment to rural user access, TIGO now delivers faster, smarter mobile experiences, powered by MVend.