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Digital merchant payments can help de-risk local business environments: here’s how
By Murray Gardiner, Managing Director, Bluecode Africa
Over the course of the past 12 months, the world has learned a lot about uncertainty. The financial space is no exception, having gone through the kind of ructions not seen in nearly a century. As governments around the world look beyond recovery and towards avoiding a similar crisis, financial regulators will look to take the risk out of their local financial markets and payment systems.
The Covid crisis has highlighted the risk of an increasingly perilous debtor book. This usually implies increasing capital adequacy and provisioning requirements and increasing the audit and fraud detection controls. Further consolidation can be expected. But one particularly poignant impact has been related to fraud with the spike in online transactions. Securing online payments and mobile banking channels has never been more urgent.
Tightening credit and doubling down on legacy payment security will have an economic dampening effect as African markets plunge into recession. A powerful tool that regulators have to respond to this crisis is by encouraging in-country digital merchant centric payments to focus on stimulating the local SME and informal business sector. Doing so not only improves the efficiency and security of payments, the digital transparency deepens the relationship between banks and business which in turn is good for consumers and producers alike.
Benefits from SMEs to Financial Institutions
One of the biggest benefits in-country digital payments have when it comes to de-risking local business environments is that they bring a greater degree of transparency and formalisation of the financial relationship between the bank and the SME.
In the SME space, for example, the advantages include contactless payments, instant access to funds on acceptance of payment, and digital transparency with their acquiring bank. The digital transparency and reliability of the in-bound receipts from digital payments to the acquiring bank promotes access to a wider range of financial services (insurance, savings, credit facilities, EFT payments) and establishes a business track record with suppliers and other service providers. A bank that can see the SME’s cash flow and rely on regular inbound payments can safely extend credit and other essential services that it could not reasonably do otherwise.
It also gives businesses a chance to open new sales channels, such as e-commerce and sales agent networks, and to offer value-added services to promote customer loyalty, sales campaigns, and partner programmes.
Importantly, these measures bring a greater degree of stability to these businesses and their workers, further helping the economies they operate in to reduce risk.
Financial institutions, meanwhile, benefit by being able to use digital transparency and data to understand the business and reduce lending risk and cost, increasing the size of the addressable market. Technology reduces the transaction costs associated with onboarding merchants as customers and creates a data-rich relationship that turns a thin file client into a data-rich client that is bankable. Digital merchant payments are a gateway to more comprehensive and conclusive finance to support and stimulate the productive economy.
Regulation and incentivisation
This is why it is important that governments embrace digital merchant payments on account rails, away from cards in a local scheme governed by local rules. This is a gateway to more comprehensive and meaningful finance to support growth and development of the productive economy.
It is often cited that digital disruptors run ahead of legislation by finding ways around the rules that were not anticipated when the rules were designed. The South African Reserve Bank has recently warned about a new activity with “Instant EFT start-ups that use a practice called “screen scraping” where a third-party is given access to a consumer’s bank account data and acts on behalf of said-consumer, using that consumer’s online banking access credentials to simulate instant clearing.
It’s important that regulators protect consumers and the confidence the public has in digital payments and needs to set parameters for the kind of digital payments adopted in their markets. Payments must be safe and customer data must be protected. But the payment also has to be sufficiently valuable to merchants and profitable enough for the financial institutions to build a meaningful commercial financial relationship bringing the merchant into the formal economy and create a merchant customer.
Minimising risk
While it’s impossible for regulators to totally eliminate risk particularly from unpredictable “black swan events” such as we have experienced in 2020, they can prepare payment systems for shocks and defend financial markets by encouraging transparency and financial inclusion with secure account rail digital payments.
While in-country digital merchant payments are just one measure, their use is one of the most powerful ways of generating growth in the local economy and “lighting up” the shadow economy. Ultimately, a local digital payment on the account rail can prove vital to a more comprehensive and conclusive impact to stimulate the productive economy.
9mobile has appointed Ina Alogwu as its new Chief Digital and Innovation Officer (CDIO), marking another significant step in the company’s business transformation agenda.
In his new role, Alogwu will be responsible for guiding the development and execution of 9mobile’s long-term strategy across the entire digital and technology ecosystem, including new technologies, digital platforms, and business models while nurturing a culture of innovation within the organization.
His appointment demonstrates 9mobile’s firm commitment to driving digital transformation and enhancing its innovative capabilities to better serve customers and stay ahead of market trends.
Alogwu is a visionary leader and seasoned strategist with nearly two decades of transformative experience in digital commerce, mobile payments, and technology ecosystems, making him an invaluable addition to 9mobile’s leadership team.
He has a proven ability to identify emerging trends and harness them to develop and execute groundbreaking digital products and strategies. His expertise spans product innovation, data strategy implementation, and agile business transformations, all of which have delivered significant and sustainable results across diverse industries and regions.
He joins 9mobile from ARM Holding Company, Nigeria, where he was the Group Director, Digital Transformation and spearheaded innovation initiatives, implemented a robust data strategy, and managed venture-building programmes that supported numerous African tech startups.
His very distinguished and diverse professional journey also includes an impactful tenure at Interswitch Limited, where he held roles such as Group Head, Verve Digital, and Group Head, Payment Processing. In these roles, he led the creation of groundbreaking payment platforms and digital solutions across West and East Africa.
Earlier in his career, Alogwu held roles at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as a Training Specialist and worked at Integrated Business Strategies as a Business Analyst.
Speaking about the appointment, 9mobile CEO Obafemi Banigbe expressed confidence in Alogwu’s ability to lead the company’s innovation efforts, saying, “Alogwu’s broad professional background makes him the perfect fit for our innovative and business transformation journey as he joins a team of recently appointed senior business leaders to drive this process and the next phase of our growth.
“His role is crucial for navigating today’s fast-paced digital environment. And he has been entrusted to lead the charge in harnessing new technologies, driving digital transformation, and ensuring the company remains adaptable to change, which is integral to fostering innovation and positioning 9mobile as a forward-thinking leader in its industry.”
The New CDIO said, “I’m delighted to join 9mobile and collaborate with the CEO and the leadership team on the innovative initiatives already in progress.
As we navigate the rapidly evolving digital landscape, I’m eager to leverage my expertise in digital strategy, technology, and innovation to drive 9mobile’s mission to deliver exceptional customer experiences and achieve our strategic objectives.”
Alogwu’s academic credentials further underline his readiness for this role. He holds an Executive Master’s in Digital Transformation and Innovation Leadership from IE Business School, Madrid, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Digital Business from Emeritus Institute, in collaboration with MIT and Columbia Business School.
He also completed the Senior Management Program at Lagos Business School, Pan-Atlantic University, and earned a BSc. in Geology & Mining from the University of Jos, Nigeria.
His education is further enriched by certifications in Product Management, Lean Six Sigma, and Strategic Innovation, equipping him with a robust foundation to drive innovation, lead digital transformation, and achieve business excellence in competitive landscapes.
His ability to combine academic knowledge with practical expertise has positioned him as a trailblazer in the digital commerce and technology sectors.
Beyond his technical expertise, Alogwu is adept at cultivating and managing strategic relationships with global multilateral organizations and financial institutions, leveraging these partnerships to unlock profitable opportunities. He has consistently demonstrated excellence in leading multicultural teams and navigating complex, multi-stakeholder environments to deliver transformative outcomes.
The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), has signed agreement with the Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC) with the aim of enhancing data protection within the insurance sector.
According to NAICOM, the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has as its objectives training and capacity building in the area of providing training to enhance awareness and skills in data protection, establishing privacy clinics by setting up specialised clinics to address data protection concerns and provide guidance.
NAICOM said other objectives of the agreement include conducting compliance activities, regularly monitoring and enforcing compliance with data protection regulations, promoting awareness in the area of educating insurance companies on the importance of data protection and the benefits of adhering to best practices.
Developing data protection guidelines through creation of specialized guidelines for insurance institutions to ensure they are equipped to handle data protection responsibilities effectively.
NAICOM said the collaboration marked a significant milestone in safeguarding the personal data of insurance policyholders and promoting trust in the insurance sector.
The commission said to ensure the effective implementation of the agreement, an implementation committee would be established. The committee, the commission said, would comprise of representatives from the two agencies, as well as other key industry associations, including the Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA) and the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB).
Businesses worldwide are increasingly embracing mobile advertising services, allowing them to connect with potential customers directly on their smartphones and engage with them more effectively.
This trend is rapidly gaining momentum, and companies in Nigeria are also taking part in this shift.
Every day, more Nigerian businesses are seeking the most efficient strategies to reach their target audiences and convert them into loyal customers.
MTN Nigeria is redefining digital advertisement with MTN Mobile Ads. With a rich customer base of 79.5 million subscribers in Nigeria, MTN Mobile Ads continues to help businesses reach millions of customers nationwide.
Here are five reasons you should use MTN Mobile Ads for your business advertisements:
Targeted marketing
MTN Mobile Ads uses first party data to enable specific targeting of audience based on behaviour, interests and demographic. This ensures that your marketing efforts are directed toward the most relevant audiences, thereby increasing engagement and conversion.
Data-Driven Insights:
Businesses can gain valuable insights from their advertising campaigns, allowing them to fine-tune their strategies for maximum impact. This data-driven approach helps in optimizing campaigns based on real user behaviour and preferences
Diverse advertising formats
This service supports several advertising formats including targeted SMS, marketplace listing on the MyMTN app, display banners, and Rich messaging services (RCS) across both mobile and web platforms. This versatility allows your business to customize your marketing strategy to suit different audience preferences and increase engagement opportunities.
Data-free solutions
MTN Mobile Advertising provides data-free solutions. That means users can view your Ads with or without data. This feature significantly increases engagement rate as it allows your business connect with customers who may have been avoiding ads to save their data.
Cost-effective
With MTN Mobile Ads, you can choose an advertising plan that suits your budget. This flexibility allows businesses to enjoy the benefits of advertising without overspending.
As competition in businesses increase, the need to make advertising a crucial part of your marketing strategy cannot be over-emphasized.
MTN’s Mobile advertising services are the most result-oriented strategy your business should engage in so you can have the same opportunities your competitors may have.
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