• Hello Pay’s Business Solution armed response package is now powered by AURA.
• SMEs now have access to a digital panic button that alerts AURA’s wide network of security and medical responders.
• This furthers AURA’s goal of making private security accessible to all.

At around this time of the year, crime has a tendency to spike and for small businesses, any sort of theft can spell disaster.

Earlier this year Hello Pay introduced its Business Solution. This software solution gives SMEs access to a number of services such as access to loans and armed response.

Now the firm has announced a partnership with AURA which will improve access to armed and medical response services. This is thanks to AURA’s wide network of private security and medical response providers.

“The safety and wellbeing of our merchant community is paramount. With emergency and armed response assistance, vetted private security will reach users within minutes. This added service is one of the many benefits for Hello Pay customers, allowing store owners to run their businesses with increased ease of mind,” managing director of Hello Pay, Zunaid Miya said in a statement.

Access to this security and medical response network costs SMEs just R2 per day as part of the Business Solution package. As a reminder, business owners need to get in touch with Hello Pay in order to get this solution set up. Each package is tailored to a specific business’ needs.

The security solution is accessed via a digital button accessed via a smartphone or tablet.

“Safety is a basic human right which is why AURA is focused on democratising access to emergency response services in much the same way as Hello Pay levels the playing field for merchants and SMEs,” head of business development at AURA, Ryan Lurie said in a statement.

Earlier this year FNB launched an in-app panic button through a service called GuardMe. This service is powered by AURA and gives FNB customers access to medical or emergency services for just R19.90 per month.

AURA has been on a remarkable growth trajectory since its formation. More recently, the firm partnered with OUTsurance to offer emergency services. As of May, the AURA network includes 250 armed response service providers and as many as 5 400 armed response officers.

As the firm grows so will its network and perhaps one day every citizen in South Africa will have access to private security, as the company has always envisioned.