In Ghana, phone users usually access telecom operator services by dialing a short code like *170#. Most of the codes allow users to buy data, send mobile money and top up their airtime.
However, the process can be cumbersome with users going through several menus and sub-menus to complete a transaction. Also trying to remember most of the shortcodes can be a headache.
Some telcos have released their own apps to help with this but there are third-party apps that have also come out with their own solutions. Some of these apps include FayaPay and Click2Go.
The Click2App app allows users to select a service such as buying airtime and pay with mobile money without using shortcodes. The USSD process is done in the background and the user only has to approve the transaction using their PIN number.
The Faya Pay app does some of the same function as the Click2Go app and it also allows you to easily send and receive mobile money instead of going through the various menu systems using shortcodes.
Both these apps help save the end-user huge amounts of time when trying to use a telecom service.
As more services as such as financial options get added by telecom operators, having automated ways to using these services would seem like a good idea. A user getting frustrated because they entered the wrong number and has no way to get back to the previous menu doesn’t help the telco services.
But having a simple way by just pressing a button and having everything work in the background makes more sense.
Perhaps we’ll see more automated USSD apps popping up in the future.
