Choosing what to accept.
WHAT CARDS PROVIDE
Familiarity Recurring capability International acceptance
WHAT THEY COST
Higher fees Chargeback exposure Failure rates, which vary by issuer
WHAT BANK TRANSFERS PROVIDE
Low cost Finality High local acceptance
WHAT THEY COST
Manual reconciliation, unless virtual accounts are used Poorer recurring support
WHAT MOBILE MONEY AND WALLETS PROVIDE
Access for people without cards Instant settlement between wallet users
WHAT THEY COST
Limited to their own network, unless interoperable
WHAT USSD PROVIDES
Access without internet or a smartphone.
WHY THAT MATTERS HERE
A substantial proportion of the population transacts this way.
WHAT DIRECT DEBIT PROVIDES
Recurring collection without card details.
WHAT IT REQUIRES
A mandate, and a process for disputes.
WHAT CASH REMAINS
Dominant in many contexts, and the alternative customers fall back to.
WHAT TO ACCEPT
What your customers actually use, established by asking rather than assuming.
WHAT TO MEASURE
Completion rate per method, not only volume.
