Konga.com, Nigeria’s largest online marketplace, has tipped its e-payment solution- KongaPay as morale booster for e-commerce market buyers and sellers in the country, as the platform is made available to all users on Konga.
The revolutionary online payment platform allows customers pay for their orders without using the debit cards or having access to the internet, thereby reducing their dependence on “payment on delivery” and restores “trust” among users.
J. R. Kanu, vice president, Payment and Digital Goods for Konga.com, made the remarks while speaking to journalist at the weekend, adding that the product unveiled by Konga.com on June 2015 brings convenience to users.
According to him, through a partnership with Nigerian banks, KongaPay would change the face of online shopping in Nigeria by removing the uncertainties customers associate with pre-paying for goods and services they are yet to receive.
He identified main reasons Nigeria prefer “payment on delivery of goods” to include, the inability to access items ordered; refund of fund should a user decides to cancel transaction; low rated merchants approach to delivery, among others.
These, Kanu said, were taken into considerations while developing the platform that also allows users to perform one-click payments on the Konga marketplace, using the codes to their KongaPay accounts.
According to him: “The customer who wants to use KongaPay will sign in to create his or her own account which will be linked to his or her bank account through a code that will be generated and delivered to his or her mobile phone.
“This code will be used to authorize future transactions initiated by the customer anytime he or she triggers a transaction.”
He said, ”KongaPay is unique in the sense that on the KongaPay platform all payment made are safe and secure as they are held in escrow until the transaction is satisfactorily completed and payments for unsuccessful or cancelled transactions are reversed and refunded immediately”.
He further explained that unlike other online payment platforms, KongaPay eliminates the need for customers to enter sensitive personal information such as credit or debit card details or Internet banking passwords.
Also any customer who has a bank account and a registered mobile phone can use the KongaPay without necessarily signing up for internet banking.
The platform offers convenience for e-Transactions, but presently only on Konga.com platform, with the OTP culled from the user’s bank verification number (BVN), which Kanu said, is more secured and sure-proof against cyber traitors.
This makes KongaPay the first non-banking sector to link BVN to its process through its partnership with the NIBSS.
During a demo session, Gabriel Gab-Umoden, vice president, Marketing, Konga.com, reiterated that upon opening an account on KongaPay, the use gets instant loyalty reward of N500.
Gab-Umoden said that Kongapay is not only more secure but also easier to use than other e-commerce payment methods as sign up and subsequent usage can be completed in just a few steps.
Explaining the process, he said, “What the shopper is required to do to register on KongaPay is select his or her bank, enter his or her name, account number and date of birth and then finish registration by using the code sent via SMS to the individual’s registered mobile number code.
This code will be used to authorize his or her transactions anytime the user shops on Konga.com.
After successful launch and integration with Access Bank, Diamond Bank, Ecobank, FCMB, First Bank, GTB, Heritage Bank, UBA and Zenith Bank, most Nigerian banks now offer access to KongaPay.
“We are unrelenting on our efforts to better the worth of shoppers on Konga.com. We try as much as possible to make sure merchants live up to expectations by offering them tips on quick delivery. Over time, those who find it difficult to deliver accordingly or with low ratings are blacklisted from our special sales period such as Yakata.
“We have zero tolerance for treating shoppers with levity. This is one of the reasons Konga Express was established to speed up delivery and customers have been enjoying the benefits. We are highly customer-centric and are committed towards finding innovative ways of improving our customers’ shopping experience,” he added.
Konga.com since launch in July 2012 has grown to become Nigeria’s largest online mall.
It serves a retail customer base that continues to grow exponentially, offering products that span various categories including Phones, Computers, Clothing, Shoes, Home Appliances, Books, healthcare, Baby Products, personal care and much more.