Celcom teams up with Alliance Bank to aid SMEs

• Celcom Business Suite for Retail is powered by the Alliance SME Express Financing package
• Provides mobile & data connectivity, payment acceptance, customer engagement platform

CELCOM Axiata Bhd and Alliance Bank Malaysia Bhd on Jan 15 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), with the objective of collaborating in helping SME owners grow and manage their businesses better with a combination of connectivity and banking solutions.

One such service is the recently launched Celcom Business Suite for Retail, powered by the Alliance SME Express Financing package that is adapted to the needs of retailers.

It provides businesses with mobile and data connectivity, payment acceptance, and a customer engagement platform.

Businesses can obtain easier, faster financing from the bank without the need for collateral. Customers taking up the package will enjoy better pricing value on their telco plan, and preferential rates from the bank.

The MoU was signed by Celcom Axiata chief executive officer Idham Nawawi and Alliance Bank group chief executive officer Joel Kornreich. It was witnessed by Celcom Axiata chief enterprise business officer Azlan Zainal Abidin and Alliance Bank group chief strategy and marketing officer Dr. Aaron Sum Wei Wern at Celcom’s headquarters in Petaling Jaya Sentral.

Commenting on the partnership, Idham said Celcom remains committed to be a catalyst in digitising local enterprises and businesses, especially SMEs, with connectivity and financing solutions that will enable and inspire growth within today’s digital economy.

“Retail-based SMEs are a large contributor to our nation’s economic landscape and we aim to inculcate a digital business cultured environment for SMEs across various industries.

“Celcom’s Business Suite for Retail when paired with Alliance Bank’s financing solution narrows digital business gaps with innovative digital solutions and easier financing in one package.

“In-line with the National Entrepreneurship Policy 2020, Celcom aims to digitise SMEs with innovative digital solutions that will create an efficient and sustainable business, including the opportunity of commercialising products and services to both local and abroad markets, further contributing to the development of the nation’s digital ecosystem,” Idham said.

Kornreich said, “Alliance Bank and Celcom share the same goals of helping entrepreneurs accelerate their business. Alliance Bank’s vision is to be the preferred bank of business owners. We are focused on helping them, and by extension, their family, employees, and customers, to be financially successful.

“Our partnership with Celcom will enable us to help our combined customer base of over 100,000 SMEs manage their business better and expand quickly. Our understanding of the customers’ telco behavior and usage of banking services will enable us to develop better packages to suit their needs.”

“The partnership will also offer SMEs better access to our services. The bank has a branch network of 82 branches, and Celcom has over 200 SME dealers in their network,” Kornreich added.

With the collaboration, Celcom and Alliance Bank will organise seminars and get together sessions with industry players and business owners to discuss relevant topics such as e-commerce and digital marketing.

Business owners will also have access to Alliance’s BizHub portal that provides exclusive offers for business solutions.