How DSL Telecom Transformed Fundi's Operations With Zoho Software

06.05.25 11:56 AM - By Kim

Fundi is a leading South African education finance and fund management specialist, helping over 1.8 million students access funding since 1996. A level 1 B-BBEE contributor, Fundi serves both B2B and B2C markets, partnering with schools, universities, and businesses to provide tuition loans, accommodation, funding, and cashless payment solutions.

With a multi-channel approach - including retail stores, online platforms, and face-to-face sales - Fundi is committed to making education more accessible. Guided by the motto ''Know More. Be More.'', the company continues to empower students and institutions nationwide.

The Challenge

Before implementing Zoho solutions, Fundi used a combination of established software platforms to manage its operations - Microsoft Dynamics for CRM, a Learner Management System (LMS) for educational services, and a Fundi Administration System (FAS) for financial management.

While these platforms were designed to integrate, evolving business needs and system limitations presented challenges in achieving seamless workflows. This led to increased manual processes and opportunities to further streamline operations.

Customer support was also identified as an area for enhancement. With no centralised platform for managing customer queries, ensuring consistency in response times and maintaining comprehensive customer engagement tracking proved to be increasingly complex. Additionally, limited automation across departments created opportunities to improve both internal workflows and the overall customer experience.

To support its growth and evolving customer needs, Fundi sought a fully integrated system to centralise customer data, improve workflow automation, and drive greater operational efficiency.

Industry Type: Financial Services

Type Of Business: Privately Held

Headquarters: Johannesburg

Group Employees: 200+

Zoho Applications That Helped Us:

Zoho CRM

Zoho Desk

Zoho Campaigns

Zoho SalesIQ

The Solution: A Customised Zoho Implementation By DSL Telecom

As an experienced Zoho Premium Partner in South Africa, DSL Telecom developed a tailored Zoho implementation plan to address Fundi’s challenges. The first step was migrating Fundi’s data from Microsoft Dynamics to Zoho CRM, ensuring a seamless transition while configuring standardised modules such as Leads, Accounts, Contacts, and Deals. This allowed Fundi to have a centralised hub for all customer interactions, enabling better data management and a more structured approach to sales and customer relationship management.

To improve customer support, DSL Telecom introduced Zoho Desk, which became Fundi’s primary platform for handling after-sales queries. The new system consolidated all customer interactions into a single platform, allowing support teams to track and resolve issues more efficiently. Automated workflows ensured that service-level agreements were met, improving response times and customer satisfaction. Parent-child ticketing was also implemented, making it easier to manage complex queries that involved multiple departments. With data-driven reporting capabilities built into Zoho Desk, Fundi eliminated the need for manual reporting, further streamlining operations.

To enhance Fundi’s marketing efforts, DSL Telecom replaced Everlytics with Zoho Campaigns, creating a more efficient and synchronised email marketing system. With direct integration into Zoho CRM, contact imports were automated, ensuring that Fundi’s marketing database was always up to date. Initial campaign segments were set up, and the Fundi team was trained to manage future campaigns independently, empowering them to run more effective and targeted marketing initiatives.

DSL Telecom also implemented Zoho SalesIQ to improve lead tracking and customer engagement on Fundi’s website. By monitoring visitor activity and providing real-time insights, Fundi was able to refine its digital engagement strategy and gain a deeper understanding of customer behaviour. This allowed the company to tailor its marketing and communication strategies for better lead conversion.

The Results: A More Efficient, Customer-Centric Fundi

With DSL Telecom’s Zoho implementation and consulting expertise, Fundi successfully transformed its business operations. The integration of Zoho CRM, Zoho Desk, Zoho Campaigns, and Zoho SalesIQ created a more connected and automated ecosystem, reducing inefficiencies and improving customer interactions. Customer support became faster and more effective, sales processes became more structured, and loan applications were processed with greater speed and accuracy.

By leveraging Zoho’s powerful suite of applications, Fundi strengthened its operational efficiency, enhanced customer engagement, and positioned itself for continued growth. To maximise the value of its investment, Fundi also enrolled in the DSL Telecom Customer Success Plan, which provides ongoing expert support and strategic guidance to ensure continuous improvement.

Testimonial From Fundi

'' The implementation of Zoho within Fundi, facilitated by DSL Telecom, has been a resounding success. The partnership not only brought advanced technological capabilities, but also transformed operational dynamics, driving growth and innovation. Fundi looks forward to continued collaboration with DSL Telecom as they explore further enhancements and optimisations within the Zoho ecosystem.''

If you're looking to optimise your operations with a tailored solution, DSL Telecom can help. As a trusted Zoho Premium Partner in South Africa, we specialise in Zoho implementation, consulting, and support to help businesses streamline their processes and improve efficiency.

Book a free consultation today to explore how we can customise a Zoho strategy for your business.

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