Our Services

Better Battery, Half the Price

Burro saves customers money by using safe, powerful, nickel metal hydride (NiMH) batteries that are returned after use, and recharged at Burro's branch office. The battery is AA size but doubles as a D battery with the provided plastic adapter. This versatility allows customers to interchange batteries between a wide variety of appliances. When the battery dies, Burro clients exchange them for fresh batteries with their local reseller. The usage fee can be as little as about ten cents per battery, depending on how many recharges the customer pre-pays at one time. That works out to half the cost of the widely available throwaway batteries, which do not provide as much power.

To ensure return of the expensive batteries, customers also pay a one-time, fully refundable deposit and provide contact information, often including a mobile phone number. Key demographic information is also collected when a client registers, such as age, gender, and whether the client is connected to the electrical grid. In a country with no mail delivery and limited Internet use, this valuable database will facilitate direct marketing—previously a major challenge in Africa.

The Last Mile

What happens to the depleted batteries that clients return? The local village reseller meets up once a week with a Burro associate, who drives a route around our pilot branch in Koforidua. The manager and the reseller exchange batteries and receipts; the used batteries go back to Koforidua where they are cleaned, charged and tested before going back into service. Fresh batteries are given to the reseller to exchange with his or her clients.

As with any delivery system, the key to success is organizing efficient route networks that maximize reach and minimize distance traveled. While in the field, route managers also engage in marketing, reseller recruiting and training, and one-on-one customer service. It is not uncommon for one of our branded vehicles to get hailed in the middle of the bush by a smiling farmer wanting to exchange his batteries.

Coming Soon...

Because our business model relies on networks of local resellers and personal relationships with our customers, we have a strong handle on our marketplace. For example, customers have told us they want a more versatile, cost-effective lighting solution, so we are working to develop a product that will displace kerosene consumption and offer portable lighting ideal for a variety of tasks. Here's another new product—phone chargers. Rural Ghanaians spend $2 to $4 per month on mobile phone charging services—individuals who round up village phones and take them to a central on-grid charging location. Burro has found that most battery-operated phone chargers on the market today function poorly, work slowly, and waste much of batteries' energy, so we are working with valued partners to develop an improved model that will save Burro's clients much-needed cash while adding considerable convenience.

Sourcing well-made products that our customers can afford is an ongoing challenge. Burro works closely with design and manufacturing partners around the world who are committed to meeting our exacting standards within tight budgets. If you have a great product for Burro, please tell us about it.