AfricaKnows Launches June Photo Competition

Following the success of previous competition, AfricaKnows in association with ConstructAfrica are pleased to announce the launch of its “Unique buildings in Africa” photography competition.

AfricaKnows and ConstructAfrica are looking for photographs of unique buildings and projects under construction and are offering cash prices to the photographers whose photos emerge top.

Entrants may submit up to 20 photos. Please include a brief description of the building and the location when uploading your photos. Photos can be submitted on Africa knows website .

We are looking for originality and high quality images in their highest possible resolution not less than 3000pixles. A photograph will be selected from the competition submissions prior to shortlisting. The top three winning photographers will then be contacted and awarded cash prices of $200, $150 and $100 respectively.

Photos for the competition need to be submitted by 21st June 2014. The photos will then be shortlisted and then ConstructAfrica will select the winning images.


ENDS

Notes: Photos for the Competition need to be digital with a resolution of at least 3000 pxl and at least 4992 pixels x 3328 pixels (can be landscape or portrait). You can usually adjust the settings on your digital camera to take high resolution photos.

Photos uploaded may be used by ConstructAfrica and AfricaKnows for publicity purposes, on the web site, in marketing material, Stock site.

 Please see full photography terms and conditions.

The May competition themed “Constructing Africa” photographs from last month is available to buy from Competition.

Advantages of Online payment Systems

Advancement in technology has a great impact on human lives in our society today. The sole reason why more technological improvements are made by the day is because they tend to impact on our lives positively. Online payment methods have made our transactions better, that’s why its use is getting wide spread with time. Below are some of the advantages of online payment systems.

Online payments methods are convenient. Regardless of the time, place, weather etc. One can still carry on with their businesses or purchase goods. Consider a scenario where you happen to remember at the middle of the night that you need something urgently. With online shopping, at the comfort of your bed, all you need to do is to go online and buy that which you need.

It is conserves time. The time you spend to visit a shop, make your selection and queue at the cashier can be but to better use. With e-shopping, you only need to press a few buttons and in a few minutes, you will have completed your transactions.

Users can independently shop for commodities. With e-commerce a customer does not need to wait for a shopping assistant or a cashier to come serve them. With the proper gadgets at hand, transactions are done with both parties (the vendor and customer) independent of the other.

On the retailer’s side, it is cost effective. As a business owner, you don’t need to employ people to handle transactions with clients or even rent a business premise. With the aid of good advertising, once you have posted your commodities online, you just sit back and watch money get into your account.

E-commerce broadens your market as a vendor. This is because your business is not limited to people of a certain locality. Customers can shop from whichever, country they are in and the wider your market the more prosperous your business becomes.

Security on both the vendor’s and consumer’s side is ensured. With credit and debit card fraud protection, customers are less likely to be conned of their money. Retailers on the other hand have their money either in trust accounts or business accounts hence in case of robbery, there is no tangible money that burglars can escape with.

Customers can purchase goods on credit thanks to credit cards. This means you don’t have to wait till you physically have a certain amount of money in order to own something. What if by the time you get that money the commodity of your choice would already be taken by someone else? With credit cards you can buy goods and make payments later.

With online shopping, customer-retailer conflicts are minimized. This is because transactions can be made with both parties not having to interact. Conflicts that arise due to disagreements on bargains, impolite language during transactions etc, are minimized.

These are but a few of the merits that come with e-transactions. You stand to gain and save a lot both as a client or vendor when you shop online. Be part of this digital revolution and watch your business grow. For consumers, ease up the burden of moving from shop to shop looking for commodities; seat back and purchase goods at the comfort of your house, office etc.

Why Your Business Needs To Start Accepting Online Payments

Our lives have been tremendously changed by technology. We use the computer to accomplish anything from reading reviews on the best hotels, making reservations at restaurants, to navigating our way to those beautiful hidden resorts. Access to a plethora of information has changed the way we shop. Clients will research a product/service online before purchasing it and the availability of an array of options only makes the purchasing process more complex.

Employing various strategies in the day-to-day operation of your business can help you stay ahead. Offering best-in-class service and great value to your customers is just not enough. Are you giving them the most convenient payment options? Daily, more and more people around the world are opting to run transactions online. In 2012, the global revenue for e-commerce topped 1 trillion dollars and was expected to top 1.3 trillion dollars in 2013.

The better your online customer experience is, the better placed your business is in staying ahead in the game.

With an online payment service, your potential to grow sales increases greatly. Your business can receive payment from virtually any customer with an email account. Moreover, an online payments system will enable you to:

   

1. Open your doors to more online spend – An online payments provider that offers various payment options makes your products and service available to a broader client base therefore ensures that no one is locked out on the basis of payment.

2. Give your customer more options – Online payments simply add payment options to your existing ones, thus making it easier for your customers to pay you. Customers expect businesses to embrace new trends that make the online experience easier.  This convenience goes a long way towards ensuring that they come back.
3. Track payments – The ease at which you can track payments made – over the phone and on the web – make it more convenient for you. You can manage all your transactions which are reconciled in one view, irrespective of which payment methods have been used.
4. Reduce errors on cash handling – Not only does it facilitate a quicker and easier consolidation, but it also reduces errors on cash handling thus reducing operating risks.
5. Gain a competitive edge – Attract potential customers and retain existing ones by providing them with the latest in the electronic payment technology. The system will also enable you to redirect your efforts to growing your business.

Choosing a payment processor is an important factor. Though there are a number of payment processing companies in Kenya, it is important to choose one that will walk with you and help you grow your business