For the past few years, partly due to easier access to advanced technologies and more recently due to Covid containment measures, Kenyans have really gotten to enjoy and to deeply embrace electronic payments. This is mostly through cashless services like Visa, and mobile money. The simplicity, convenience, and speed of payments at restaurants, supermarkets, grocery stores and other shopping outlets is right in line with the needs of the modern shopper, and we are here for it.
In my case for instance, almost all my payments are seamlessly electronic either via Mpesa or card. Not just in-store shopping in markets and beauty shops for instance, but also bills I pay to international companies like Digital Ocean for hosting, Google console services for emails and storage, Yoast for SEO, and to other subscriptions that enhance my work as a digital content creator. I pay these and entertainment bills like Netflix and Spotify in seconds and this is not something I take for granted. More importantly, I pay them using Visa and get to enjoy the many benefits that come with using a Visa card. Here are some of these benefits.
Card safety
Visa has invested heavily in card and transaction safety through methods like multiple layers of protection, artificial intelligence to detect suspicious card activity in real time and working closely with third parties to safeguard against data breaches. The internet and the increased use of financial technologies can and have paved the way for unfortunate incidences of identity theft and card fraud in some outlets over the years. To safeguard against these, Visa has put in place tight measures and advanced security features to assure users of the safety of transactions. Visa also assures users of quick support in case of lost or stolen cards, and protects us against liability for transactions made with them. Read about Visa’s zero liability on unauthorized charges here.
No transaction charges
Visa does not apply any additional charges when you pay with their cards. There is beauty in spending exactly what you planned to spend and getting the full value for your money. Besides, transaction charges do add up. A casual glance at a statement or even a mental note of spending habits will show small figures that are easily dismissible. But a little math over an extended shopping duration will paint a clear picture of how transaction fees add up over time. One realizes that these are significant moneys that could be spent elsewhere, say on fuel or additional shopping.
It is important to note that different merchants and financial institutions may have additional charges of their own. Visa has no control over those and therefore does not cover them under the zero charges policy.
Global marketplace
Visa opens an almost unlimited world to shoppers. With millions of merchants globally accepting Visa, adding it as a payment method in any platform is almost always a success. This opens up the world in ways we could never have thought possible not too many years ago.
Offers and discounts from partner merchants
Through partnerships with thousands of merchants across the globe, users get to enjoy exclusive deals when they pay with Visa.
Contactless payments
For contactless enabled Visa cards and outlets, payments are made without physically handing your card to a teller. This ensures speed, efficiency, additional card security and hygiene since there is zero contact with people and/or surfaces. Watch this video from Visa on how to tap to pay.
From the above, it is clear that electronic payments have come of age and we are ready to embrace them and enjoy the benefits that come with them. With incentives like zero charges from Visa, the digital economy will only move forward.