Beyonic, a technology company that aims to eliminate the rampant use of cash in emerging markets, is announcing a partnership with Mobile Accord that will make Beyonic the largest mobile money aggregator in Africa. Beyonic currently operates in Uganda and Kenya, and will leverage Mobile Accord’s relationships with leading mobile carriers and expertise in building mobile solutions to bring their platform to 25 additional countries. Beyonic’s online platform enable businesses to quickly deploy, track and manage 2-way mobile money payments over multiple mobile carriers with one, easy-to-use system.
Mobile money allows those in emerging markets to pay or receive money through even the most basic mobile phones. For NGOs and businesses working in emerging markets, mobile payments enable fast, secure money transfers and reduce losses associated with cash payments. However, until now businesses making mobile payments needed to connect individually to every carrier they wanted to send money through, a time-consuming process for organizations that are operating in multiple countries. Beyonic’s cross-carrier solution allows businesses to manage payments in multiple countries through one intuitive platform.
“For those working in emerging markets, cash payments are riddled with security and logistical issues. Over the past few years, mobile money has become popular both for businesses looking to move away from cash, and for individuals who do not have the means to open traditional bank accounts. Beyonic’s system allows NGOs and businesses to utilize mobile money for expenses with very little set-up, and we are excited to expand this important tool across Africa” said Luke Kyohere, CEO, Beyonic.
Using Beyonic’s online interface, companies can manage payments to employees, aid beneficiaries, and vendors. The ability to make and track payments across any network opens up mobile money to businesses who previously did not have the resources to connect to every carrier in a country. Beyonic is already integrated with prominent mobile money systems including MTN and Airtel in Uganda and Safaricom’s m-Pesa in Kenya, and has been used by organizations including Save the Children, Educate! and Innovations for Poverty Action to reduce the need for cash payments and increase operational efficiency.
Mobile Accord has direct relationships with 78 mobile carriers in 44 countries in Africa and Asia, and will use their connectivity to expand Beyonic’s reach. Together, Mobile Accord and Beyonic will work to implement a roadmap for expansion, starting with 10 key markets: Tanzania, Rwanda, Malawi, Zambia, Mozambique, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Cote D’Ivoire, Liberia, and Niger.
