The simple, fun hacks new-look M-PESA Super App can do for you
Next time you are in urgent need for cash, just turn go to your M-PESA “Request Money” option and the sender will only confirm the transaction by keying their PIN.
Sending money to multiple people at the same time has also been made simpler as M-PESA Super App comes with “Send to Many” option where customers can make multiple transactions to different recipients but only need to enter their PIN or authentication once.
What’s more, M-PESA customers will enjoy the option to provide personal explanations to transactions by attaching a GIF when sending money or by adding descriptions to the transaction details.
For M-PESA Global customers, one can now send money to other mobile phone customers around East Africa, as well as to recipients in other countries directly into bank accounts, Western Union, or link and transact through PayPal.
For thousands of businesses, M-PESA Super App is going beyond simply the regular collection of customer payments.
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Businesses will start paying for supplies and wages, as well as replenish stocks by buying from other businesses with much more convenience.
For instance, unlike before when cash transacted via Till Numbers and Pay bill usually lands in the bank before they can access it, businesses will now use the money a customer pays through M-PESA immediately; they do not have to wait days or hours for payments to settle.
“We recognized that there was a need to go beyond just payment collections for our business customers. The first thing we did was introduce an online portal where customers could apply for Lipa Na M-PESA Tills and Paybills,” said Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa during the launch today.
These new functionalities bring a new dawn for millions of M-PESA users around the world after telco giant Safaricom unveiled M-PESA Super App for customers and its M-PESA for Business App with an “Offline Mode” and “Mini Apps”.
“We have designed the M-PESA Super App to enhance our customers’ experience every time they use the service, providing them with a simple, fun, secure and convenient digital solution,” said Peter Ndegwa, CEO – Safaricom.
The “Offline mode” will enable customers to use the M-PESA Super App and complete transactions even without data bundles or when totally offline.
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The platform’s configuration with tens of Mini-Apps will enable customers and businesses to complete daily and occasional tasks within the M-PESA Super App and M-PESA for Business App, including deliveries, ticket booking, shopping, licenses applications, insurance and much more.
The applications will facilitate millions of transactions with hundreds of businesses, government agencies, utilities and other entities.
At the moment, Safaricom network supports roughly 8.5 million 4G smartphones.
Customers can access the Mini-Apps through the “Discover” option on the app while businesses on Lipa Na M-PESA can do so through the “Hub” option on the M-PESA for Business App.
The first services available under the Mini-Apps include Madaraka SGR ticketing, long distance bus booking with BuuPass, event tickets on Mtickets, shopping gift vouchers on GiftPesa Vouchers, insurance services on eBima, and gas delivery from Pro-Gas.
Mini-Apps for businesses on Lipa Na M-PESA will be available in coming weeks under the “Hub” option, Safaricom said.
“In March 2020, we had just over 170,000 businesses active on Lipa Na M-PESA. By the end of March this year, we had more than 300,000 businesses, almost double what we had before the pandemic,” said Mr Ndegwa.
To ensure security of transactions, the new look M-PESA provides customers with fingerprint or face unlock features, enabling them to confirm a transaction in place of their M-PESA PINs.
“We have added security measures without sacrificing convenience. You can now choose how you wish to unlock the app either through your pin, facial recognition, or your fingerprint,” noted M-PESA Africa Managing Director Sitoyo Lokopoiyit.
The M-PESA Super App has equally been designed to provide customers with a variety of convenient options when sending and receiving money including the addition of Pochi La Biashara.
Over 1.3 million customers have downloaded the M-PESA Super App while more than 100,000 businesses have downloaded the M-PESA for Business App since their introduction in December and June 2020 respectively.
