Technology must meet users where they are, not where we imagine them to be. Writes Maurice Bisungo, Key Account Manager of Avadapay.
Kenya has built an economy around mobile money, and for good reason. M-Pesa touches tens of millions of lives daily, making mobile wallets a lifeline for both consumers and businesses. Traditional card based systems, however robust in other markets, often fail to address these local realities. Businesses that ignore mobile money risk losing sales or frustrating their customers.
Connectivity i another persistent challenge. From roadside kiosks to small retail shops, many businesses operate where internet access is patchy or unreliable. A payment system that depends on constant connection isn’t just inconvenient- it’s unusable. Offline-capable solutions, where transactions are captured locally and reconciled once connectivity returns, are not a luxury; they are essential.
Beyond connectivity, African markets demand simplicity and clarity. SMS notifications, OTP confirmations and basic messaging remain the lowest common denominator for reaching customers across devices. Consumers expect instant confirmation that their payments went through, and businesses expect systems that reduce reconciliation headaches and speed up daily operations.
For businesses navigating Kenya’s diverse payment landscape, the lesson is simple: technology must meet users where they are, not where we imagine them to be. And when it does, both businesses and consumers win.
But payment systems in Africa aren’t just about technology- they’re about trust. Customers want assurance that their money is handled securely, while businesses need systems that don’t leave them second guessing whether a transaction truly went through. Building trust requires consistency; consistent uptime, consistent settlement cycles, and consistent user experiences. Without that reliability, even the most sophisticated platform will struggle to earn loyalty in a market that still keeps one foot in cash.
And then there’s scale. As Kenyan businesses increasingly expand into regional markets such as Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Zambia, the payment challenges multiply. Each country has its own mobile money ecosystem, regulatory landscape and consumer behaviors. A Kenyan company operating across borders cannot afford to juggle fragmented systems for every territory. What they need is a partner that understands these nuances and unifies them into a single, intuitive experience.
This is where platforms like AvadaPay demonstrate the value of building for the African context. By integrating local mobile money rails and accommodating multi-country operations, AvadaPay addresses the realities Kenyan businesses face every day. It’s a tool designed with the market in mind: flexible, reliable and practical- not a one-size-fits-all solution imported from elsewhere.
For businesses navigating Kenya’s diverse payment landscape, the lesson is simple: technology must meet users where they are, not where we imagine them to be. And when it does, both businesses and consumers win.
