14 Sep 2022

The newly launched Botswana Bureau of Standards (BOBS) website is will play a critical role in sharing information and feedback between the organisation and its valued customers and stakeholders.

Speaking at the launch on on Tuesday, BOBS information technology manager, Mr Tebo Seema said the website had improved usability features and they hoped to expand their outreach..

Mr Seema said the website provided for improved communication between BOBS and its customers through its link that had access to make direct calls to their array of offices.

He said the website was also equipped with Google maps, which made it easy to access directions and range to all BOBS offices across the country.

Again, he said they had installed improved features for security, especially now that customers would be using credit cards to make purchases from the webstore incorporated on the website. “We have adopted SSL technology for secured communication which means that the information shared by customers will be between them and BOBS. To avoid trespassing, we have included a firewall that protects the websites from any malicious attacks by fraudsters,” he said. Further, Mr Seema said the website would provide relevant information which detailed products that had been certified under a specific company, ensuring that the information would always be updated.

“In terms of ease of navigation through the website we have decided to adopt the use of simplified terms which will enable a customer to access their products without any constraints,” he added. On one hand, BOBS’ standards council chairperson, Dr Kereng Masupu said COVID-19 provided them with an opportunity to review how they were doing business hence the intent to exploit opportunities from the challenge.

“The website deployment which got approved by the council on September 1 this year automatically adjusts to the screen size being used. It will also detect when gadgets such as smartphone or iPad are used and display accordingly to ensure better visibility experience,” Dr Masupu said. He said the new website incorporated a webstore which now enabled their customers to access products and services online. The products and services that could be accessed across the new website, he said included selling of standards as well as registration of courses, among others.

Dr Masupu also said in order for one to use such service, they had to register and pay using credit cards as well as payment platforms such as those provided by cellular phone companies such as Orange Money, My Zaka and Smega Money.

In addition, he said the homepage showed the new ‘How can we help you’ by industry sector, which outlined the services BOBS provided to sectors such as consumers, importers, exporters and agriculture, among others.

Furthermore, he stated that the website design had changed the look and feel by enhancing it to a modern look.

“This has been done through the use of mega menu which has been enhanced to make it easier for users to see what they wanted,” Dr Masupu said. ENDS