Digital payments are fundamentally transforming how SMEs operate and access financial services. But only 35% of SME payments in Sub-Saharan Africa remain digital, highlighting massive untapped potential. Traditional cash-based systems have excluded millions of small businesses from formal financial ecosystems, but digital payment innovations now enable real-time cash flow management, instant settlements, and access to embedded financial services like micro-lending and insurance.
The panel will explore how digital payment platforms are creating new pathways to financial inclusion, from mobile money services that enable street vendors to accept cashless payments to embedded finance solutions that provide instant working capital based on transaction history. Discussions will cover practical innovations like QR code payments, digital wallets, and instant settlement systems that improve cash flow predictability for SMEs. Expect insights on how payment data is revolutionizing credit assessment for underbanked businesses, the role of mobile money in building economic resilience during disruptions, and strategies for scaling digital payment adoption among informal sector enterprises to drive broader financial inclusion.
