Jumia Launches BNPL in Algeria, Partnership with Diar Dzair

Jumia, Africa’s leading e-commerce platform, has teamed up with Algerian finance provider Diar Dzair to roll out Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) services for customers across Algeria. This strategic collaboration is designed to make online shopping even more accessible, offering shoppers the flexibility to split their payments while encouraging greater use of digital financial services.

Cross Switch and Paysoft Team Up to Drive Smarter, Scalable Payments for South African Businesses

Cross Switch, a global payments technology company, has found a strategic collaborator in its mission to bring faster, smarter, and more scalable payments to emerging markets. In partnership with South African fintech leader Paysoft, these two forward-thinking platforms are joining forces to swing the axe against digital transaction logjams that hamper South African businesses. Be

How Mobile Point-of-Sale is Driving South Africa’s Retail Resurgence

While the economic landscape has been anything but stable, with international trade tensions and the national budget fallout spooking the market before rebounding when the VAT increase was later withdrawn, the retail sector is showing remarkable resilience, says Ecentric Payment Systems’ Rory Bosman, adding that many retailers proved at the end of last year that

Cross Switch and Pesawise Unite to Power Seamless Retail Payments in Kenya

Cross Switch, a provider of class-leading payment solutions, has strengthened its African presence by officially launching services in Kenya and partnering with licensed local payment provider Pesawise. This collaboration makes the most of Pesawise’s solid regulatory standing and trusted reputation, allowing Cross Switch to establish it’s footprint and, together with Pesawise, immediately deliver robust payment

Cross Switch Expands Merchant Services with SA Payment Licence

This article was originally published here. Cross Switch, a leading provider of innovative payment solutions, has reached a significant milestone by securing its own Third-Party Payment Processor (TPPP) licence. The TPPP, issued by the Payments Association of South Africa (PASA) and sponsored by Absa, is a regulatory status that strengthens Cross Switch’s position in the

Empowering retail innovation: TANGO redefines payment experiences

This article was originally published here. Innovative payment solution TANGO is set to revolutionise the modern payment environment in the South African retail space, reports MoData. Darren Turnbull, CEO of MoData, says: “At major industry events we attend, such as the 2025 Absa Commercial Payments Summit and BankservAfrica Payments Conference 2025, we see a growing

iKhokha Elevate: Introducing a New Operating System Built for SMEs

iKhokha, the fintech company dedicated to fostering growth for South African small businesses amid challenging macroeconomic conditions, hosted its first iKhokha Elevate event in Durban on Wednesday, 12 March. The event, which saw hundreds of merchants attending in person and thousands more joining online, centered around discussing the challenges and successes of small businesses. It

AliExpress Elevates Online Shopping in Africa with More Local Payment Options

AliExpress, an international online retail marketplace, announced today a significant expansion in its payment options for shoppers across Africa to elevate online shopping in the continent. This initiative follows AliExpress’ introduction of various local mobile payment methods last year, which was welcomed by consumers seeking better access to global products. Starting this March, AliExpress has

Shoprite & Standard Bank Partner to Boost Customer Rewards

Africa’s biggest bank and Africa’s biggest retailer have teamed up to offer customers Africa’s biggest grocery rewards. This comes as the Shoprite Group doubles down on transparent partnerships that offer shoppers real value.  From April 2025, qualifying Standard Bank UCount Rewards members will receive the following benefits on every product, every day:  The Standard Bank

FNB Expands Partnership With Pick n Pay, Naming It as eBucks’ Primary Retail Partner

FNB and Pick n Pay are proud to announce the expansion of their partnership to add more value for all their FNB and RMB Private Bank’s customers. The bank’s retail and commercial customers will all earn up to 30% of their spend back in eBucks when using Pick n Pay’s asap! on-demand delivery service, and up

Touchsides Rebranded as Kazang Insights Following Lesaka Acquisition

Kazang Insights provides analytical and predictive solutions that empower FMCG firms, wholesalers and other companies to thrive in South Africa’s informal market. Leading data analytics, insights and merchant services company, Touchsides, is rebranding as Kazang Insights and integrating into Kazang—the prepaid value-added services (VAS) and card acquiring business within JSE-listed fintech Lesaka Technologies. Integration of

Sevi Set to Revolutionize African Retail Financing with ‘Stock Now, Pay Later’ Platform

Sevi, a fintech company regulated by the Central Bank of Kenya, is revolutionizing stock financing for wholesalers and retailers through its “stock now, pay later” platform. Sevi addresses the challenge of insufficient working capital by providing users with access to credit while ensuring suppliers are paid upfront. With Sevi, suppliers like Coca-Cola, Anytime and Philmed

Oracle Supercharges Retail Operations with New POS

Enabling retailers to energize their operations and in-store engagement, Oracle today unveiled the latest version of Xstore Point of Service. The cloud application has been redesigned on a new architecture and features an intuitive user interface and workflows that fuel efficiency and support connected retail journeys for retailers of all sizes. With it, associates can

Apaya and Telr Join Forces to Boost E-commerce Ecosystem in MENA

Apaya

Apaya, a commerce automation platform, entered into a strategic partnership with MENA’s online payment gateway Telr to accelerate digital commerce growth in the region. The collaboration will allow merchants to instantly access Telr’s payment services through Apaya’s no-code platform, according to a press release. They will also leverage Telr’s anti-fraud engine alongside Apaya’s intelligent routing

Lesaka Technologies: How Fintech Bridges Gaps for Township Merchants

Lesaka Technologies

Lesaka Technologies highlights that merchants in South Africa’s cash-driven township and rural economy remain underserved by mainstream financial services. This gap creates a significant opportunity for fintech companies to develop solutions addressing these merchants’ specific pain points, enabling them to serve their customers more efficiently and effectively. Lincoln Mali, CEO of Lesaka Technologies, emphasised this

Float: Credit Card Holders in South Africa Reveal Shopping Trends

Float

Float, Africa’s first card-linked instalment platform has unveiled the latest shopping trends among credit card holders using its payment method. With an impressive average order value of close to R10,000, order values through the platform significantly exceeds those of the regular buy now pay later model, which typically ranges between R1,000 and R1,400. The latest

Telr Elevates E-commerce With Mastercard’s Click to Pay

Telr, the award-winning online payment gateway, has announced its strategic collaboration with Mastercard to introduce its digital checkout solution, Click to Pay, across its extensive network of merchants in the UAE. Through this partnership, Telr will deploy cutting-edge payment technologies to enhance the customer experience. Click to Pay is an innovative, seamless, and secure payment

Paymob and Shopify Join Forces to Accelerate Embedded Payments Opportunity in MENA

Paymob, a prominent financial services enabler in the MENA region, has announced the launch of its new embedded checkout experiences for merchants, marking a significant extension of its partnership with the commerce platform Shopify. This new initiative is set to revolutionise the way merchants handle transactions, providing them with advanced card and wallet payment options

Braintree Adds Human Touch and Tech Expertise Into E-commerce

Backed by 20 years of tech expertise, leading IT solutions provider Braintree has seen their retail turnover increase by 1,200% since launching their e-commerce offering two years ago. With the objective of supporting business professionals in both home and office environments, Braintree brings to the tech e-commerce market over 3 000 premium products across 30

South African Travel Fintech TurnStay Secures Funding for Regional Expansion From DCG, DFS Lab

The South African fintech startup Turnstay recently secured $300,000 (over ZAR 5.4 million) in investment from two US-based venture capital firms: DFS Lab and Digital Currency Group (DCG). The company plans to use this funding to expand its operations across Africa and strengthen its position in the local market. According to a report, Turnstay, co-founded

POS Versus POS: Selecting the Right Solution Is Far More Complex Than Chasing the Cheapest – redPanda Software

By Peter Ludi, Business Development Executive at redPanda Software A point of sale, commonly referred to as POS, is a vital cornerstone of any retail business, regardless of whether it sells products or services. However, a misunderstanding of the definition of POS sees many small and medium-sized retailers fall into the trap of buying a

Shift to Omnichannel Payments in Retail to Drive Efficiencies and Enhance CX – Ecentric Payment Systems

By Quintin van der Linde, Head of Business Development & Don Lange, Partner Manager at Ecentric Payment Systems Even as more retailers turn to setting up online storefronts to extend their presence and cater to shoppers looking for convenience, the majority of South Africans still prefer to shop at physical stores, and retailers are looking

Shipping Technology Tackling South Africa’s Tricky Last-Mile Delivery Challenges – Bob Group

Bob Group’s Ship Logic platform is helping the country’s courier companies overcome faulty address details, failed delivery attempts and poor communication with customers South African ecommerce ecosystem Bob Group is playing a leading role in optimising courier services around the country through its Ship Logic platform, a software solution that enables delivery specialists handling high

Growing E-commerce Market: Good for Consumers; But Will Proudly South African Brands Rise? – BCG

By Thomas Kingombe, Managing Director and Partner and Vishakha Chopra, Project Leader, BCG Johannesburg As global e-commerce giants like Amazon, Shein and Temu set their sights on South Africa’s growing e-commerce space, local retailers may find themselves feeling the pinch. Will South African stalwarts rise to the challenge, or crumble faced with international competition? Although

InstaPay Launches in South Africa: An Innovative Merchant Payment Application

InstaPay, a cutting-edge new merchant application, has been launched to transform the payments landscape in South Africa. This innovative solution offers unique functionality and competitive rates that surpass traditional card providers, setting a new standard in the industry. InstaPay is the result of combined expertise and technology between Omnea and Amber Pay, two industry leaders

From Sustainability to Personalisation – Mid-Year Retail Trends 2024 – Smollan

Reaching any midpoint, whether it’s to catch one’s breath on a ultra-marathon to gear up for the next stretch, or a project team reflecting on their progress and making necessary modifications – it’s all about positioning for success. So too a mid-year retail check-in offers valuable insights into some of the latest developments shaping how

Scan to Pay Takes Centre Stage in Spenda’s Fintech Suite

Despite the global move towards digital transacting, 1.4 billion people worldwide remain unbanked. It’s these individuals that payment service providers like Spenda are empowering through the use of innovative payment solutions that address the financial inclusion gap. In its latest move to do so, Spenda has integrated Scan to Pay to launch Spenda Scan to

Payment24 Offers Innovative Fuel Voucher Solutions to Modernise Fleet Management and Loyalty Programmes

Payment24, a leading provider of advanced payment, loyalty, and fuel management solutions, is proud to announce the availability of its fuel voucher offering. This innovative product is set to transform how Payment24 partners incentivise customers, loyalty subscribers, internal teams, and even drivers. With seamless integration across a vast network of over 1,000 service stations, these

How Pioneering Homegrown Platforms Are Still the Go-to Option for a Broad Cross-Section of South African Society – Amazon

With Amazon’s South African operations now up and running, the question on everybody’s lips is what the impact will be on homegrown online shopping platforms. The ecommerce giant has market capitalisation of more than a trillion US dollars, and there are fears it will crush local competitors. What some may not realise, however, is that

Retailer’s Guide on How to Shift From Multichannel to Omnichannel Payment Experiences – Ecentric

By Gary Bowers, Product Manager and Shaun Shehab, Senior Sales Engineer at Ecentric Retailers need to keep costs under control and reduce complexity in economic conditions that can best be described as uncertain and challenging. Yet, despite this, they need to give customers (and their employees) the kind of payment experience they demand. Beyond this,

A Fintech First – IKhokha Opens Retail Stores to Enhance Engagement With Merchants

Fintech company, iKhokha, one of the market leaders in the South African SME payments space, are this week opening their eighth retail store, where their point-of-sale devices are sold and where merchants can access support, networking opportunities and other business enhancement tools. Since launching in 2012, iKhokha has developed a deep understanding about the complexities

Ikhokha Opens First Fintech Retail Store in Pietermaritzburg

Fintech company, iKhokha has this week opened their first Pietermaritzburg retail store, where their point-of-sale devices can be purchased and where merchants can access support, networking opportunities and other business enhancement tools. Since launching in 2012, iKhokha has become one of the market leaders in the South African SME payments space, and have developed a

POS Versus POS: Selecting the Right Solution Is Far More Complex Than Chasing the Cheapest – redPanda Software

By Peter Ludi, Business Development Executive at redPanda Software A point of sale, commonly referred to as POS, is a vital cornerstone of any retail business, regardless of whether it sells products or services. However, a misunderstanding of the definition of POS sees many small and medium-sized retailers fall into the trap of buying a

Card Times: Cash Finds Itself ‘Virtually’ Out of Fashion – Trade Intelligence

By Nicola Allen, Senior Retail Analyst, Trade Intelligence Earlier this year, social media was abuzz with outrage at an announcement which was misinterpreted to mean that Woolworths was going to stop accepting cash in its stores – it was in fact Woolworths’ WCafés only that were going to stop accepting cash. Trade Intelligence partnered with

IKhokha Launches Affordable New Smart Card Machine for SMEs

One of the market leaders in the fintech space in South Africa, iKhokha, has announced the launch of a new smart card machine that fits into your pocket, called the iK Flyer Lite. This new offering follows the success of the flagship iK Flyer card machine, launched in 2022, which far surpassed initial sales expectations.

Four Business Trends to Navigate the Economic Future – Yoco

Physical retail businesses remain crucial in the South African landscape, catering to the preferences of many customers. However, as eCommerce continues to surge, these businesses will experience challenges competing with industry giants like Amazon. The trends outlined below are essential considerations for a thriving retail business in an increasingly online world. While they’re not a

More Pick N Pay Smart Shoppers Switching Points for Airtime and Data

Pick n Pay Smart Shopper customers are increasingly spending their points on airtime and data, a popular loyalty reward exclusive for retailer Pick n Pay. Over R1 million worth of points has been switched for airtime and data. Since the Pick n Pay Smart Shopper app relaunch last October, which introduced a seamless points-to-airtime/data conversion

Harnessing the Potential of Mobile Payments in Africa – Halo Dot

Dalene Deale, Strategic Consultant at Halo Dot Financial inclusion remains a critical barrier across Africa. A considerable segment of the population remains alienated from basic banking services. Yet, the arrival of mobile payment technologies, like Halo Dot, promises to bridge this gap. Halo Dot’s innovative approach turns mobile devices into secure, encrypted payment terminals, allowing

The Rise of the Cashless Society – Halo Dot

Jonathan Jacobs, Head of Product and Operations at Halo Dot In recent years, there has been a gradual shift towards going cashless. This is something that is impacting every society around the world. However, in developing countries like South Africa, this transition has become a layered one. Influenced by the divide that separates people when

Can Fast Capital Turn Sa’s SME Challenges Into Opportunities? – Zapper

In the vibrant tapestry of South African entrepreneurship, small businesses stand as beacons of innovation and resilience. As we have ushered in a new year, these enterprises look forward to a landscape that will continue to be marked by both challenges and opportunities, powered by the enduring spirit of South African tenacity and the support

How Technology Is Revolutionising Payment Reconciliation for Retailers – Ecentric

By Graham Bradford, Senior Product Manager at Ecentric As retailers grow into mid-market size and beyond, the complexity and cost of manually reconciling payments increases almost exponentially because there are hundreds of thousands, if not more, transactions a day. Most retailers in this segment reconcile their payments with spreadsheets and many can’t expect a view

Retailers Turn to BNPL to Drive Sales Amid Declining Growth

South African retailers are turning to interest-free alternative credit options as consumers seek safer and more cost-efficient ways to fund key purchases. This comes amid tough economic conditions and a constrained spending environment. Craig Newborn, CEO at local Buy Now Pay Later provider, PayJustNow, says: “Consumer shopping behaviour is shifting in line with tough economic

RCS Continues to Revolutionise SA Credit: Expanding their Retailer Network & Payment Options for Greater Customer Choice and Convenience

South African shoppers want choice and convenience. Recognising this, retail consumer finance provider, RCS, is offering real, tangible value to its customers. By expanding its partner network, payment options and embracing cutting-edge technology, RCS is not just keeping up; it’s leading the way towards greater financial inclusion in South Africa. Credit extended to healthcare products

Binance Moves Into Retail Space Through Cryptoconvert’s Partnership With Pick n Pay

As the digital payment revolution gains momentum, Binance, the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange, is over the moon to announce its partnership with CryptoConvert which will see its users able to make payments cashless, contactless, and incredibly secure at all Pick n Pay till points. CryptoConvert partnered with Pick n Pay last year to trial making

6 Ways Payment Technology Has Revolutionised Opportunities for Companies – Paystack

It doesn’t matter whether a company is a small to medium-sized enterprise or a large corporation, or where it’s based, we are all now operating in a global economy. Irrespective of the size of an enterprise, its location or what its product offering is, with the right payment and transaction mechanisms, it can compete equally

Pick N Pay Smart Shopper Innovates With New Digital Platform

Pick n Pay, a trailblazer in the loyalty space, celebrates its pioneering spirit as it embarks on a digital transformation journey with the launch of the Pick n Pay Smart Shopper app. This marks the start of a new era of customer engagement and convenience for Smart Shopper as it aims to become South Africa’s

Makro Launches New Online Offering to Serve Businesses Across South Africa

In its latest move to become the leading eCommerce player in South Africa, Massmart has launched a bespoke business (B2B) website to meet the needs of business customers, who are facing similar economic challenges to end consumers. This ‘Makro Business’ branded website will offer businesses of all sizes, an online platform tailored to meet their

How Can Embedded Payments Drive Better Online Retail Customer Experiences? – Paystack

By Joel Bronkowski, Country Lead, South Africa at Paystack With South Africa’s online retail space now worth more than R50 billion and growing continuously, the sector is only going to become more competitive. That’s true for online retailers of all sizes too. At the top of the market, online-only players that have long been dominant

Unified Payments Taps Compass Plus Technologies for its New Payment Gateway Platform to Future-proof its E-commerce Acquiring Business

Unified Payments (UP), Nigeria’s premier financial technology service provider, has successfully launched its e-commerce gateway services built on the new state of the art payment gateway platform from Compass Plus Technologies. The strategic move further strengthens the 18-year partnership between the two technology titans and has enabled UP to become the first institution in the

Amplifin Launches Heavyweight Solution for Small to Medium Business

In the dynamic business landscape, growing enterprises encounter an escalating array of challenges that demand innovative solutions. Amplifin recognises that as businesses expand, their concerns multiply – from financial intricacies to operational complexities. The organisation understands that these enterprises require access to cutting-edge technologies, akin to those embraced by larger corporations, but without the financial