SystemSpecs emerges most innovative e-payment company

ITRealms:

SystemSpecs, the owner and operator of Remita, the e-payment platform that has generated over N7 trillion for the Federal Government has emerged as the most innovative for creating the payment platform, edging out Interswitch, Paystack and Konga Pay, reports ITRealms.

Organized by West Africa’s most authoritative business medium, Businessday newspaper, the award seeks to honour companies that have contributed to the sustainability of their customer-base, bottomline, overall organisational growth, and development of the country. Over 125 organsiation made the final list.

Addressing journalists after receiving the award, SystemSpecs’ Chief Marketing Officer, David Okeme, said that the award has shown that the company is winning on the kind of innovation the organisation is introducing into the electronic payment space.

“We see payment as an activity that is a must for everybody. Our mantra is that we are going out of our way to create innovations to simplify payment processes for Nigerians. What we have done is that we have marked about ten payment points for consumers and we are innovating around those payments points to make sure that they are delivered seamlessly”.

Publisher of Businessday, Frank Aigbogun, said the newspaper seeks to advance the philosophy and culture of innovation in our nation space, and to recognize the people and companies that are driving it.

“Today, innovation is a key driver of organic growth for all companies, regardless of sector or geography. Recognising the organization, agencies, and individuals that are driving and advancing the culture of innovation, the award brings together industry leaders across all sectors”, he said.

Special adviser to the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria [CBN], Emmanuel Ukeje, acknowledged that 2016 was particularly a tough year for many of the companies. He said the CBN’s response to the economic recession was supported by most of the private sector.

“In response to the recession, these companies looked for ways of going round the recession and remain profitable. We are witnesses to what happened”, he added.  

  

Remita has been adopted by the Central Bank of Nigeria [CBN] for the payment and collections of funds on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria, and it is used by all commercial banks and over 400 micro finance banks. The platform has helped to revolutionalize the e-payment industry in Nigeria.

Okeme explained that SystemSpecs is wholly owned and run by Nigerian with Nigerian software engineers, meaning that the “energy we talked about is being created by Nigerians”.

According to him, “Remita is the system that is powering the Treasury Single Account [TSA] and it has helped the country to save over N7 trillion. The benefits of this innovation is that Nigeria now has full visibility of its cash asset so there is a lot more security in terms of her assets and deploy its resources better”, he said.

He maintained that Remita app combines the functions of several applications, saying that, it is an app that allows users to connect to all the banks applications with one click. He added that with the app, user can respond to payment requests from restaurants, shopping outlets, schools, family, friends, or other billers by quickly snapping, a QR code from his smartphone or tapping his device against the biller’s to complete transactions.

Nonye Dom/GEE

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Cash-lite Nigeria: Clydestone says we’ve alternative payment brands

Ghana’s premier electronic payment firm, Clydestone, says it has an alterantive payment brands for the Nigerian market as the nation adapt electronic mobile channels.

Business Development Manager, Clydestone, Babafemi Sosanya, said that with office in Lagos, the company has been enabling banks, merchants and customers to plug into these alternative payment channels as such Paypal and Amazon Pay.
 

He also called attention to Clydestone’s suite of secure payment solutions, the firm would, at an event, present its G-secure Authentication Platform, which keeps the banks, customers and merchants secure, as the nation journeys into the cashlite era.

“This event is coming on the heels of the CBN’s cash-less policy and seeks to boost the knowledge and enlightenment of the participants for a more effective and secure transformation process,” he said.
 

Sosanya explained that Clydestone has taken this approach in order to address the concern raised by the banks, merchants and customers on how to leverage the growing payment systems of e-commerce and m-commerce channels without incurring increasing levels of revenue loss related to fraud in the face of the CBN’s cash-lite policy.
 

The event to be attended by the banks and other financial institutions would include an interactive session on how the banks could use the 3D-Secure payer authentication, how alternative payment brands such as PayPal, Google Check Out and Amazon could use this platform to their competitive advantage and grow their transaction volumes among others.
 

He emphasized that Clydestone develops cutting edge and innovative solutions for its clients in Ghana, and have implemented payments systems for financial institutions.

Stressing that the firm would participate in Nigeria’s transformation phase from its heavy dependence on cash to cash-lite one and is coming with an extensive experience in implementing solutions for some of the largest companies in Ghana.
 

According to him, the company has scheduled to present its ‘G-Secure Authentication Platform’ to banks and financial institutions on Wednesday, April 25, 2012.

 
Sosanya said banks and financial institutions are expected to attend and explore 3D-Secure payer authentication for the banks, their customers as well as explore the advantages that alternative payment brands can offer their merchant customers.

Remmy Nweke
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Nigeria: Use MasterCard earn rewards @ Starwood Hotels

The electronic payment solution leader, MasterCard Worldwide is partnering Starwood Hotels & Resorts on customers’ rewards, who book and pay for their accommodation online at any of the Starwood line of hotels and resorts using their Mastercards in Nigeria.

Also, ITRealms gathered that the partners offers Nigerian MasterCard travelers a breakfast buffet for two people, each time guests book and pay for their accommodation online at one of the group’s hotels using their MasterCard credit or debit cards.

Vice President and Country Manager for West Africa at MasterCard Worldwide, Mr. Omokehinde Ojomuyide, said this offer is available at 237 Starwood hotels in Europe, Middle East and Africa, including five leading hotels in Nigeria, from the March 1, 2012 through May 15, 2012.

He listed some of the participating Starwood Hotels & Resorts in Nigeria to include         Sheraton Abuja Hotel, Sheraton Lagos Hotel,  Four Points by Sheraton Lagos, Le Méridien Ogeyi Place in Port Harcourt and   Le MéridienIbom Hotel and Golf Resort in Uyo.

This offer, he also said is available at a selection of Starwood Hotel & Resorts throughout Africa including Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Cameroon, Chad, Ethiopia, Gambia, Mauritius, Seychelles, South Africa, and Uganda.

“MasterCard Worldwide uses its global relationships to create rewards for cardholders,” he said, describing the offer as a great addition to any holiday travel, but it also offers Nigerian business travelers the opportunity to host a business breakfast in the comfort and luxury offered by participating Starwood Hotels & Resorts.

The benefits, he said further support the ongoing ‘Cashless Lagos’ initiative spearheaded by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Equally commenting, Director Partner Marketing, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, EAME, Nadege Dumont, said that they are excited to continue long-standing relationship with MasterCard and to reward guests with this offer.

“A great breakfast selection complemented by a superior range of beverages and outstanding service is one of the features that have made our hotels famous, and we look forward to welcoming MasterCard cardholders to our establishments, in both Nigeria and abroad,” says Dumont.

Remmy Nweke
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D