Dubai: Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa)’s smart application was used more than 10 million times from 2011 to the first quarter of 2017, figures from Dewa reveal.
The smart app provides customers with 29 services to facilitate transactions and shorten the time and effort including bill payments, tracking electricity and water consumption, and comparing their use with similar buildings. The application has eight information services, seven interactive services, and 14 procedural services, according to the Government eServices Statistical System (GeSS).
“All Dewa’s services are provided on its smart application, according to every customer’s needs. The number of users increased by 40.4 per cent in 2010, and has increased to 76 per cent by the end of the second quarter of 2017,” Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, managing director and CEO of Dewa, said in a statement recently.
In August, Dewa announced that the adoption rate of its smart services has reached 80 per cent, one year ahead of the deadline set by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to reduce the number of visitors to government offices by 80 per cent by 2018.
Dewa was also the first government organisation in Dubai to use AI (Artificial Intelligence) through Rammas, which acts as a virtual employee, to answer customer enquiries 24/7 both in English and Arabic. Since its launch early 2017, it has received more than 270,000 enquiries Dewa’s website, smart app, Facebook, and Amazon’s Alexa system.
Dewa Smart App
Methods of payments for Dewa: Smart App, Dewa’s website (ePay), via Mobile – SMS (mPay), through Tayseer (for multiple accounts and cheque payments using Emirates NBD’s cheque deposit machines)
Others app: Shams Dubai; Shams Dubai Calculator; Shams Dubai: Consultant & Contractors; Shams Dubai: Customers & Manufacturers; Smart Applications via Smart Grid and Meters; EV Green Chargers; and Mobile Services
Statistics:
More than 10 million
Total number of times Dewa’s smart application was used from 2011 to 1Qtr 2017
More than 3 million
Number of times the application was installed and updated
More than 1 million
Total number of transactions made through the smart application (2013 to 1Qtr 2017)
Du app
Du view is also an app that allows du home services subscribers to watch their favourite channels wherever they are.
Du’s online services also include “Quick Pay” and “Quick Recharge”.
The also have the Smart Home and Smart office that features home networking, automation, and monitoring that allow users to remotely control the any connected device in the home or lighting remotely regardless of whether there’s someone at home or not.
Etisalat
Other apps: Smiles by etisalat that gives rewards and deals to subscribers; eLifeOn that allows users to watch live TV, on demand movies, TV shows, sports, among others.
du
“I have been using du’s app for about than two years. It’s convenient to check my bills and make payment. If I were to rate it, I’d give it 6/10 because sometimes it confuses me on bill payment updates. Sometimes apps can’t give you the info you are asking unless you talk to call centre representatives,” Janice Elardo, 33, Behaviour Analyst Technicians
Etisalat
Praseetha Rajesh, pharmaceutical industry.
“I have been using the etisalat app for the past six months to track my data usage. I also use it for payments. It’s very, very convenient. In a matter of a minute, you’re done. My favourite is the data tracker, it’s very useful. I used to have a log in issue in the beginning, but there are no major technical issues.” Praseetha Rajesh, who works in the pharmaceutical industry.
Dewa
Francy Joy Balmores, 37, administrative assistant
“I don’t have the app as I have been paying my bills using payment machines in malls or via Dewa’s website since 2012. Online though is easier — in less than a minute. I can also track my consumption. It saves time, effort, and money.” said
Mohammad Al Banna, 36, an engineer from Palestine.
“I’m very happy with Dewa’s app. Before using the app, I used to go to pay machines in shopping malls. Now, it’s open [the app], tap and pay. All while having a cup of coffee. Dewa is working hard to make customers’ lives easier. People who have not switched to online services must do so. They can use the extra time more meaningfully,” said Mohammad Al Banna, 36, an engineer from Palestine.
