Digital payments Archives - AfricaBusiness.com

Everything you need to know about QR code payments

30Jun

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Fintech, South Africa News

Everything you need to know about QR code payments

by Paul Selibas, Division President at Ukheshe If there’s one thing almost no one leaves home without, it’s their mobile phone. How many times have you forgotten your keys or worse still, your wallet, and been left stranded at the shops? Now you don’t need your purse or your wallet, or even a bank card to go to the store. All you need is your cell phone. The world of payments has come a long way since cheque books. From manual credit card imprinters to early credit and debit card terminals, we now have contactless, safe and secure payments via a scanning process between the customer’s mobile device or smartphone and a QR code at the vendor’s point of sale. Scan to Pay powered by Ukheshe is the largest QR ecosystem in South Africa and as such is tried and tested by millions of merchants...

22Mar

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

South Africa News

PayShap – South Africa’s first rapid payments programme launched

Ashlin Perumall, Partner, Baker McKenzie Johannesburg In March 2023, the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) announced the launch of PayShap, a real-time rapid payment platform that is aimed at offering safer, faster and significantly more convenient payment options for South Africans. PayShap is the outcome of an industry-spanning collaboration, driven by BankservAfrica, the Payments Association of South Africa and the South African banking community, with the aim of modernizing the national payments industry. It is rooted in the SARB's Rapid Payments Program, as part of its Vision 2025 strategy to reform the South African national payment system framework. The SARB has noted that PayShap will ultimately offer a cost-effective, instant payment service across banks, a proxy service to emb...

Why the promise of a cashless society is key to unlocking the Nigerian commerce growth opportunity

3Feb

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Fintech, Nigeria News

Why the promise of a cashless society is key to unlocking the Nigerian commerce growth opportunity

By Justin Floyd, CEO of open commerce platform, Redcloud Cash is a uniquely expensive and inconvenient way to do business. However, shifting to a world of cashless payments is easier said than done, as many policymakers have discovered to their cost. The Nigerian Government is taking unprecedented steps to reduce the economic reliance on cash and promote digitally-driven commerce. Will its gamble pay off? Along with Sweden and India, Nigeria has moved ahead of other countries in its efforts to reduce the reliance on cash to make commerce flow and drive economic growth. Most notably, in late 2022, the Government announced a cap on weekly cash withdrawals for both individuals and corporations, with punitive fees levied for those straying above the limits. Since then, it has also announce...

A Payment Solution for Africa That Bypasses Complexity

22Sep

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Fintech, South Africa News

A Payment Solution for Africa That Bypasses Complexity

Understandably, merchants are finding it increasingly difficult to keep abreast of all the latest payment products and solutions that are available. “It is complex and costly for merchants to manage their own integrations into multiple solution providers. Merchants should be focusing on their core businesses and leave payment complexities to specialist companies,” says Andrew Springate, CEO of tech and financial gateway service provider PAYM8. Founded in 2001, PAYM8 quickly expanded its footprint across the African continent and now processes over R3 billion in annual transaction value for its clients, and is one of the few payment solution providers in Africa capable of providing a single offering to merchants spanning both payer and payee-initiated payments. Merchants want all payments...

28Feb

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

South Africa News

Budget’s focus on taxpayer relief bodes well for bill payments

South African’s can say thank you to the Minister of Finance for providing some tax relief during his maiden Budget speech that will put money back into their pockets – something that bodes well for economic activity and the bill payments sector. In the 2022 Budget Speech, delivered by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana on Wednesday, South Africa’s economic growth estimates sat at 4.8% and the real GDP growth of 2.1% is projected for 2022. These estimates reflect how the country has weathered global developments and South Africa’s own unique challenges, said Minister Godongwana. Yet Treasury remains focused on measures to offer South Africans some economic relief, and the budget includes R5.2 billion in tax relief to help support the economic recovery, provide some respite from fuel tax i...

19Dec

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Fintech, South Africa News, Tech

Payment fraud – top five scams to look out for

The truth is, all businesses are at risk of being scammed at some point, and just one incident can cost a company millions of Rand. Ryan Mer, CEO, eftsure Africa, a Know Your Payee™ (KYP) platform provider, says that fraudsters are constantly finding new ways to exploit vulnerabilities and attack corporate payment systems and it’s critical that we all work together and share information to remain one step ahead of scammers. Accounts payable fraud is one of the most damaging and is common in companies large and small, targeting the department responsible for paying suppliers and other vendors. A report from JP Morgan found that 81% (source) of organisations were hit with payment fraud in 2019, and only a relatively small portion of losses are recovered because the scam worked so well. He...

9Dec

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Fintech, South Africa News

2021: The year of the online payment

As the world moved indoors two years ago, the online payment space flourished. These are the biggest developments in 2021, and a brief look ahead. This year, South Africans embraced e-commerce, mobile commerce and digital payments like never before - all four major banks have seen massive increases in these payment methods since the start of the pandemic. Absa, for one, says 66% of people now prefer electronic payments over cash. “This trend will only increase in the coming years with more convenient solutions that meet the customer on the platforms of their choice like WhatsApp for example,” says Andrew Springate, CEO of technology and financial gateway service provider PAYM8. To prepare for the increased volume, South Africa is busily setting up for success. Three development...

16Nov

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Fintech

Paysend reaches 5 million customers globally in under 5 years

One of the world’s fastest growing FinTechs having added 1.5 million customers in the last 6 months alone. Accelerating customer growth driven by strategic investment following landmark $125M Series B funding round in May 2021. Investment and innovation driving financial inclusion, set to unlock $5.4bn in annual savings for consumers and SMEs by 2025. Paysend, the card-to-card pioneer and international payments platform, announces that it has reached five million customers, with one and a half million customers joining in the last six months alone. Founded less than five years ago, this makes Paysend one of the world’s fastest growing FinTechs. Paysend’s platform is unique, owning the entire payment value chain. It removes the need for third-party acquirers or processors whic...

12Nov

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Fintech, Startups

Failing To Win

A new book from Burnet Media, Cape Town will inspire and guide the next generation of African entrepreneurs. Failing To Win by Mike Quinn is the authentic story of a uniquely African startup at the forefront of the continent’s fintech revolution. Inspired to become the “M-Pesa of southern Africa” after Kenya’s pioneering mobile money innovation, Zoona secured tens of millions of dollars in international investment and grew to serve two-million customers in Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique while processing $2.5-billion in transactions. This is an ideal read for anyone doing business or investing in Africa, and in particular for purpose-driven entrepreneurs and impact or venture capital investors. ABOUT THE BOOK In 2009, Canadian entrepreneur Mike Quinn packed his backpack and moved to Lu...

22Oct

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Fintech, South Africa News

Africa is perfectly placed to take advantage of new payment solutions

Digital innovation has evolved payments solutions at breakneck speeds. Everything from contactless payments, QR codes and digital wallets … consumers today have so many new ways to pay. The big challenge, however, is to ensure that the millions of South Africans who still use cash are able to access these services. “Unfortunately, cash still dominates as the main payment form for millions of South Africans,” says Thomas Pays, CEO and co-founder of Ozow. “This happens simply because of a lack of access to infrastructure, high data costs, and a general mistrust in financial institutions. All of these factors ultimately prevent many consumers from participating in the digital economy.” There is hope, though. A recently published South African Township Marketing Report found that while c...