Global digital payment provider Mastercard and KaiOS Technologies, Inc. have announced a collaborative initiative to integrate various digital payment methods, initially launching in Côte d'Ivoire and Nigeria.
The partnership aims to provide low-cost payment acceptance devices to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), promoting the development of a more inclusive and connected global economy.
Also, this initiative addresses the barriers SMEs face in adopting digital payments, such as the costs associated with traditional payment acceptance terminals and technical implementation issues.
The collaboration will leverage Mastercard's global payment technology, including Mastercard QR, Mobile Point-of-Sale solutions, and Tap & Go contactless payments, to enable millions of SMEs worldwide to accept digital payments using affordable KaiOS devices.
Jorn Lambert, Chief Product Officer at Mastercard, emphasised the importance of meeting people where they are today and moving them forward, intending to make it easy for merchants to accept digital payments.
Sebastien Codeville, CEO of KaiOS Technologies, highlighted that this innovation reduces barriers and enables affordable consumer devices to become powerful business tools. The partnership will initially focus on African markets, working with partners such as Touch and Pay Technologies (TAP) and Wizzit to expand access to in-market merchants. This collaboration is expected to unlock new opportunities for small businesses and entrepreneurs, allowing them to participate more fully in modern commerce.
