Businesses are in for a treat after DPO unveiled a business to business payment card dubbed DumaCard that will be available both as a physical plastic card as well as in a virtual form. The card which targets over 10,000 business in Kenya and Tanzania will later be unveiled in additional regions starting with those it currently has operations in. DumaCard is said to be the first of its kind to offer this type of payment processing technology to businesses in East Africa.
While speaking on the development, DPO Group CEO Eran Feinstein said the move was essential for businesses in Africa considering their impact on economic growth. He also added that DPO was particularly interested in supporting growth of businesses across Africa by allowing them to pay and be paid securely and effortlessly throughout the continent and internationally. DumaCard will therefore ensure that businesses in in Africa are financially included and have the same opportunity to transact online as elsewhere in the world, he concluded.
How DumaCard can be used by businesses;
There are two major modes that businesses can utilize DumaCard services; either as single or multiple use card which can be loaded using various methods including mobile money. Businesses will not require a bank account to enjoy its services and can be used as a multi-currency card in which case, transactions can be made in multiple currencies at a breeze in Africa as well as internationally.
DumaCard comes just after DPO partnered with Mastercard in collaboration with banks to allow issuance of physical plastic cards. Mastercard enabled DPO Group to act as a Pan-African switch via Mastercard Payments Gateway Services, (MPGS) meaning it can independently authorize transactions with no need for bank integration.
The Virtual card provides businesses with a 16-digit number with an expiry date and security code linked to their systems. The virtual card then allows businesses to make payments in a flexible and secure way. The process is highly sophisticated with end-to-end fraud prevention and risk management systems that holds PCI DSS Level 1 Certification in all 16 markets DPO operates.
According to the firm, DumaCard is particularly expected to be popular amongst its travel partners (tour operators & airlines) who will use the card to pay international airlines and global distribution systems. The card will be showcased at East Africa’s largest tourism fair, the Karibu Kilifair held in Arusha, Tanzania. The firm is also expected to diversify DumaCard services to include receiving and paying for everything from household bills to entertainment subscriptions in the days ahead. The card will enable consumers shop online and make payments on services like Amazon and Netflix, bringing consumers in Africa access to e-commerce opportunities previously unavailable to them.