digital payment solutions Archives

17Oct

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Fintech, South Africa News

Is cash dead? If your answer is yes you’re missing the point… and millions of customers

By Cat Denoon-Stevens, Head of Product Incubation at Mukuru Is cash truly dead? With the rapid rise of fintech innovations and digital payment solutions, one might think so. Yet, despite the digital revolution sweeping across African societies, cash remains very much alive—and for millions, it is still the preferred way to transact. With the massive influx of fintech companies constantly innovating to bring accessible products and services to the underserved and unbanked in African societies, one might be tempted to declare that cash is dead, or that if it isn’t dead yet, it is on its very last legs. However, fintechs that are well-embedded in Africa and other emerging markets will be well aware that cash is, in fact, alive and well. In many instances, it is the primary form of tender....

Bridging the gap: Using a multi-faceted approach to combatting financial inequality

By Andy Jury, CEO, Mukuru Formal financial and economic inclusion remain pivotal in addressing the rampant inequality in many African economies today. In 2022, as South Africa grappled with scheduled and unscheduled power outages, businesses were put under tremendous strain as revealed in the FinMark Trust 2022 report. With an estimated 50% of financial transactions in Africa occurring in an informal, over-the-counter, cash-to-cash, unregulated setting, there is significant potential to adopt digital solutions designed to bring about financial inclusion. But more than the technology, driving financial inclusion comes down to using a customer-centric approach to financial services. For any business, this is a logical thing to do. For fintechs, it shows an understanding of the importance a...

How innovative payment solutions are shaping South Africa’s retail sector

By Shaun Holley, Deputy CEO & Head of Innovation & Rory Bosman, Sales & Marketing Executive at Ecentric Payment Systems Today’s consumers have access to a myriad of convenient experiences through mobile apps and online platforms, and they expect a similar level of ease when interacting with businesses and specifically payment interactions. Indeed, consumer demand for better and more diverse payment experiences, coupled with the need to trade across multiple channels, is shaping the midmarket retail sector across Africa. Notably, industry research indicates that total transaction value in the digital payments segment in South Africa alone is projected to top the $17 billion mark by the end of this year. While in-store payment points are well understood, the rise of e-commerce ...