Payment providers need to go beyond processing transactions, executives said at Moonshot 2026. The panel emphasized that accepting digital payments is only the first step in technology adoption.
Payment firms urged to broaden services
The session, titled “The Business Behind the Transaction,” featured leaders from Mastercard, Remita and OPay. They argued merchants require services that link payments to broader operations, along with reliable support and staff training.
“Let’s understand the customer, let’s solve for the customer problem rather than providing a generic product push across the different businesses,” said Shabir Ahmed, Mastercard’s senior vice president for customer solutions in Central Africa.
Ahmed named connectivity, data-driven intelligence and trust as top priorities for providers. He said payment technology’s value hinges on what firms can do beyond simply collecting money.
Abimbola Onyluka, Remita’s head of corporate and consumer business, said the firm is extending into financial management, invoicing and statutory compliance.
She said tools that connect financial information to banks, lenders and regulators turn payment records into assets for borrowing, reporting and operational decisions.
Onyluka stressed that expanding services still requires dependable core payment operations. She warned that downtime can halt sales and damage customer service, so quick resolution and solid support are essential.
Isimeme Ayobami Owobo, OPay’s director for key account merchants, said faster-growing businesses integrated technology into workflows and trained employees to use it effectively.
He noted that installing a terminal is only the first step; merchants must also leverage tools like QR-code payments to speed transactions. The discussion highlighted a challenge for payment providers seeking a larger role in merchants’ businesses. Processing a transaction gives them a point of contact with the customer, but turning that relationship into a broader service requires an understanding of how each business operates.
The executives argued that payment acceptance alone offers a limited measure of digital adoption. The greater value comes when businesses can use the information generated by transactions to manage cash, serve customers and plan growth.
