Absa Bank Botswana has introduced the Absa Mobi Tap app, which allows merchants and SMMEs to use their phones instead of traditional point-of-sale devices to process contactless card transactions.

South African-headquartered Absa is introducing the app to six countries Botswana, Ghana, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Seychelles.

According to Absa, this solution transforms commercial off-the-shelf Near Field Communication smartphones and tablets into secure contactless payment terminals that require no additional hardware, plug-ins, card readers or dongles to accept PIN-protected card payments.

ABSA said this enables digital transacting of small micro and medium enterprises such as taxi associations, home and repair services, sports venues, flea markets, exhibitions, and farmers markets.

“This is a huge step towards getting the economy digitised. The bank is very interested in the financial inclusion use case by availing this solution to the non-traditional segment of street vendors, hawkers and individuals having side hustles,” said Absa's head of cards and lending, John D’Souza.

Keabetswe Pheko-Moshagane, the bank’s managing director, added: “This solution speaks to our key focus in the drive towards digital-first solutions, particularly solutions that are digitally agile and responsive to our customers' needs.

“We are looking at empowering businesses that do deliveries, transportation, exhibitions, and auctions to bring convenience to cardholders and grow their business.”