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, 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
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
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
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
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
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
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, 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
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
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, 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
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
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,
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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, 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
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
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 (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
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
South Africans who have a Luno wallet will be able to pay at Pick n Pay with crypto in one easy step by simply scanning a QR code. Crypto payments have been available at over 1 500 Pick n Pay stores since February 2023. But the payment process required customers to download two apps to
With the holiday season fast approaching, many businesses are working on gift lists and incentives to thank employees and reward loyal clients. And while the reliable (if somewhat boring) box of chocolates is still appreciated by some, what better way to thank someone than to let them choose their own perfect gift? That’s just one
Leading tech and financial gateway service provider PAYM8, announced the expansion of its e-commerce offering. This comes in response to the South African e-commerce market’s projected growth of 11.89% in the next five years, reaching a market volume of US$9.97 billion, roughly R75 billion, by 2027. As consumers increasingly value the convenience, time savings, and
As of August 2023, Shoprite customers will now be able to purchase non-food items using leading digital credit provider, Mobicred. The fully digitised system will give shoppers access to credit offerings via their Money Market accounts, enabling them to pay off higher ticket items over a period of up to 12 months. Commenting on this
As one of the top ten mining countries in the world, South Africa’s economy relies heavily on this industry as well as those closely related to it, such as construction. Yet this also makes these industries attractive targets for cyber criminals. The mining industry is among the most at-risk industries for fraud and in some
The pandemic years catalysed a shift in the local retail sector, driven by the dramatically accelerated pace of digitisation. In the wake of COVID-19, greater adoption of online shopping was limited only by the fact that South Africa remains a predominantly cash-based economy. But, with the launch of the ‘cash-like’ payment system, Payshap, this picture
The heady days of triple-digit e-commerce growth are over, but the rewards are there for the taking for the savvy e-marketer. Local e-commerce growth is slowing, which was inevitable considering the huge leaps made during and post-COVID, but the sector is still growing and is driving total retail growth both here and abroad. Locally, fast-moving
Builders has partnered with Standard Bank UCount nationwide, to offer members more when shopping for Do-It-Yourself (DIY), home improvements or building materials – in-store or online. Standard Bank customers can now earn and redeem UCount Rewards when shopping at Builders. The new partnership makes Builders the only DIY category retailer on the UCount program offering
The size of a small, informal, or rural business shouldn’t be an obstacle to them attaining the same growth rate as larger, more formal enterprises. In fact, their smaller scale should be an advantage with fewer bureaucratic hurdles and greater flexibility. But in reality, rural businesses and informal traders are often limited by access to
By Quintin van der Linde, Senior New Business Developer at Ecentric Payment Systems Africa is projected to have more than half a billion e-commerce users by 2025. In part, this can be attributed to the growing adoption of alternative payment methods in the wake of the pandemic. With 45% of the population in Sub-Saharan Africa
With foreign exchange shortages plaguing sub-Saharan African economies, Bank One’s Head of Trade, Gerald Ndosi, explains what measures can be taken to overcome US dollar liquidity challenges, promote trade finance, and foster sustainable economic growth in the region International Trade is conducted in the currencies of major economic powers, largely the US dollar, European Union
The V&A Waterfront, Africa’s most visited tourist destination, has joined forces with admyt, the market leading digital parking management platform in South Africa, to leverage its innovative smart parking system for the benefit of visitors, tenants and guests to the precinct. The admyt system uses license plate recognition (LPR) software and smartphone technology to provide
More than a quarter of global self-checkout shipments went to non-grocery stores as the technology penetrates new segments Wider range of retailers adopting self-checkout 2022 was the second highest year for self-checkout shipments globally, according to Global EPOS and Self-Checkout 2023, the latest report from strategic research and consulting firm RBR. More than 193,000 units
As a preferred enterprise payments partner for Shopify, Adyen will provide large-scale customers the agility to succeed in the fast-moving ecommerce industry Adyen, the global financial technology platform of choice for leading businesses, announces a new global partnership with Shopify, a provider of essential internet infrastructure for commerce, to strengthen ecommerce capabilities, simplify the customer
Consumers in South Africa are experiencing escalating levels of financial stress and are actively seeking alternative forms of payment due to the country’s rising cost of living. The use of developing digital payments are gaining pace in South Africa and statistics show that there is a rising desire for credit among consumers with digital payment
Moment offers expanded payment infrastructure for businesses across Africa to help them collect and make payments easier, quicker, and more affordable MultiChoice Group, Rapyd and General Catalyst today announced a joint venture aimed at developing an integrated payment platform for Africa. The joint venture will operate under a new company, called Moment. Moment offers expanded
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