Accenture launched a new business, Accenture Customer Credit Solutions, which will help businesses and retailers across Sub-Saharan Africa provide faster, efficient and more flexible credit services to their customers.
Accenture Customer Credit Solutions will provide businesses with a credit administration service which allows them to reduce the cost of managing credit, adopt a more digital, automated, controlled and simplified approach to service provision and help make it easier for them to provide multiple banking options to their customers. The service will enable the end customer to do more self-service transactions. It will provide businesses with a better understanding of their customers through analytics and profiling, allowing them to provide a stronger product suite and services, while expanding their customer base and driving additional sales.
Edcon Holdings, one of South Africa’s largest non-food retailers has become Accenture Customer Credit Solutions first client, after signing a ten year outsourcing agreement with Accenture. The agreement will see Accenture help the retailer enhance customer service and ensure that its credit provision process is made simpler and quicker, while also expanding its customer base.
Under the agreement, Accenture Customer Credit Services will provide Edcon with outsourced customer credit services, including new account acquisition, credit checking and account activation, collections management, services and sales, in support of Edcon’s growth strategy.
“Through Accenture Customer Credit Services, we will help businesses and retailers across Sub Saharan Africa become more digital with their credit services and provide customers with multiple banking options,” said Adrian Bertschinger, Managing Director in Accenture’s Products practice and the company’s South African Retail Practice lead. “We are delighted to be working with Edcon to help improve and expand its credit services. This is a testament to the complementary skills and capabilities that Edcon and Accenture have, as well as a long track record of successful collaboration.”
“Our strategic focus at Edcon is aimed at ensuring that we get to know and understand our customers better and working with Accenture Customer Credit Services will help provide a better, more efficient customer service and interaction,” said Bernie Brookes, Edcon’s CEO. “Accenture brings global best practice and market-leading technology and analytical capabilities to further enhance the existing operation that Edcon has built in this market.”
Accenture Customer Credit Solutions began operations in October 2015 and is headquartered in South Africa where it employs 1,100 employees. Accenture is a leading global professional services company, providing a broad range of services and solutions in strategy, consulting, digital, technology and operations.
Edcon is South Africa’s largest non-food retailer, with a market share of the South African clothing and footwear market nearly twice that of its nearest competitor, trading through a range of retail formats.
