80% of transactions at Jafza Customer service are today conducted online

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, February 8, 2010 (ME NewsWire): The Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza) has announced the introduction of online licence renewal, a service that enables customers to complete transactions online without visiting Jafza offices. The option, which went online on January 24, is available on Dubai Trade portal.

The new service allows customers to access the list of licences for renewal on the portal. On submission of licence renewal application system automatically aligns the licence renewal date with lease contract renewal date.  The system, based on new date, does prorated licence sublease fee and late fee (if applicable) calculations online. The License Department can communicate with clients online at any stage of the renewal process, via online feedback comments. In addition, customers can now track the history of their licence renewal requests online.

System generated reminders are enabled to alert the client on their licence renewal date 90, 60 and 30 days before and on the expiry date itself by sms, fax and e-mail channels.

Saji Mathew, SVP & Chief Information Officer for Corporate Information Technology, EZW commenting on the initiative said: “The online licence renewal service is a two-way traffic easer as it helps customers carry out the transaction without visiting our counters while at the same time improving Jafza's administrative efficiency,”

“The service is comprehensive, offering several options, and very user-friendly on the popular Dubai Trade portal. Through innovation, Jafza constantly finds new ways to support its valued customers,” he added.
In line with Jafza's policy to constantly upgrade its integrated customer services, the latest step has already proven to be a success. More than 20 customers carried out their licence renewal online in the first week of launch itself. Over 7,000 such transactions were done at the free zone's Customer Service counters in 2009, 80 per cent of which is expected to move to the portal this year.

Jafza currently has over 100 services available online, making it easy for its increasing number of customers to conduct their business transactions with Jafza in an efficient manner.

Jafza's approach to enhance its services through the use of information technology, has won it the CIO Top 20 award last year for excellence in delivering business value through innovative use of information technology.