Craft Silicon, a leading software solutions provider in Africa and beyond has launched a new banking solution ELMA as well as opened its new state of the art office complex in Westlands, Nairobi. The office, which will also act as the headquarters of the financial solutions provider, was officially opened by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Technology, Dr. Bitange Ndemo today.
Craft Silicon has grown over the last decade to become a force to reckon with regionally in the development and implementation of financial institutions around Africa. Key among its clientele are the Equatorial Commercial Bank, Jamii Bora Bank, Nakumatt Holdings Limited and Safaricom Limited in Kenya as well as Fullerton India Credit Company Limited, Dar es Salaam Community Bank and First Bank Nigeria (FBN) Microfinance Limited in other regions around Africa as well as beyond. The company’s growth can be attributed to its simple mission of ‘thinking differently’, that has helped it raise the bar in the provision of financial IT solutions.
“We have a clear vision of revolutionising the functioning of financial institutions and organisations. We see ourselves as a key player in our clients’ success and aim to leverage our expertise and thinking abilities for many years to come. This has seen us remain at the forefront of new product development to meet the dynamic and growing needs of our clients, hence the launch of this new mobile banking solution ELMA,” said Mr. Kamal Budhabatti, the company’s CEO.
ELMA is a lifestyle product that enables the user to carry out financial and non-financial transactions at a cheaper price than existing similar products in the market. This new product allows one to pay bills, buy airtime, transfer money as well as make stock exchange transactions.
The Permanent Secretary Ministry of Finance Mr Joseph Kinyua toured the office complex earlier in the day, as part of precursor events to the launch of the offices.
Notable attendees at the opening ceremony itself were Eng. James Rege, MP for karachuonyo, Mugo Kibati, the CEO of Kenya’s Vision 2030, Dr. Manu Chandaria, and a host of other corporate and financial institution executives from companies that use Craft Silicon’s business solutions.
Ms. Lisa Mucheru-Wisner, one of the four finalists in the latest season of the Apprentice reality TV show, who has partnered with the Craft Silicon Foundation to steer various charitable projects in Kenya, also attended the launch. She had flagged off the ‘Craft Silicon Foundation ICT Bus’ earlier in the week to two schools in Kibera and Ongata Rongai, who are beneficiaries of the joint partnership. The ICT bus has over the years provided free ICT training in Mathare, Kangemi, Huruma, and Kibera and helped the trainees to find jobs.
According to Mr. Kamal, the new offices, which consist of a gym, swimming pool, sports centre, executive lounge, a roof-top staff restaurant and modern open plan offices, “have been built with our staff in mind, whom we take to be our key resource in the success of the company. I believe the new ambience will help build their levels of productivity and creativity of our staff whose job demands a lot of mental energy as we take Craft Silicon to the next frontier.“
